Most Americans get what money they have from their work; that is, they earn an income from wages or salaries. The richest Americans, however, get most of their money from what they own -- their stocks, bonds, real estate, and other forms of property, or wealth. Although there are few accurate statistics to go by, wealth in American society appears to be concentrated in very few hands. More than 20 percent of everything that can be privately owned is held by less than one percent of the adult population and more than 75 percent of all wealth is owned by 20 percent of American adults. The plain fact is that most Americans have no wealth at all aside from their homes, automobiles, and a small amount of savings. Income in the United States is not as highly concentrated as wealth. In 1917 the richest 10 percent of American families received 26.1 percent of all income, while the poorest 10 percent received 17 percent, mainly from Social Security and other government payments. The most striking aspect of income distribution is that it has not changed significantly since the end of World War II. Although economic growth has roughly doubled real disposable   family income (the money left after taxes and adjusted for inflation) over the last generation, the size of the shares given to the rich and the poor is about the same. By any measure economic inequality is great in the United States. The reality behind these statistics is that a large number of Americans are poor. In 1918, 14 percent of the population was living below the federal government's poverty line, which at that time was an annual income of $ 9 287 for a nonfarm family of two adults and two children. In other words, about one out of seven Americans over 31 million people was officially considered unable to buy the basic necessities of food, clothes, and shelter. The suggested poverty line in 1981 would have been an income of about $11, 200 for a family of four. By this relative definition, about 20 percent of the population or more than 45 million... Why is economic inequality still great in the US in spite of the economic growth? A) Because the economic growth has widened the gap of the family income between the rich and the poor. B) Because income in the US is still concentrated in the hands of the richest 10% of American families. C) Because the proportion of income received by the rich and the poor remains almost the same as in 1917. D) Because some Americans made great fortunes during the Second World War.
C

A Dutch artist and designer has come up with a device which he hopes will get rid of pollutants from Beijing's smog skies, creating clean air for the city's mask-wearing people. An electromagnetic field  will pull particles  in the smog to the ground where they can be easily cleaned. "It's like when you have a balloon which has static  and your hair goes toward it. Same with the smog," says artist Daan Roosegaarde. His studio has reached an agreement with the Beijing government to test the technology in one of tile capital's parks. With its skies regularly covered by dirty gray smog, Beijing this week announced a series of emergency measures to handle the problem. Roosegaarde says an indoor model device has already proven it works and is confident that the results -- with the help of a team of scientists and engineers -- can be replicated outside. "Beijing is quite a good place because the smog in Beijing is quite low. It lies in a valley so there's not so much wind. It's a good environment to explore this kind of thing." "We'll be able to purify the air and the challenge is to get the top of the smog so you can see the sun again." Roosegaarde acknowledges that projects like this are a way of drawing attention to the problem, rather than a practical solution to Beijing's awful air pollution. "This is not the real answer for smog. The real answer has to do with clean cars, different industry and different lifestyles." However, he hopes the project will make a "fundamental statement" by allowing the city's people to realize the difference between breathing clean and smog-filled air. What does Roosegaarde really mean by saying "Beijing is quite a good place...... "? A) The air pollution in Beijing is not quite serious. B) The weather in Beijing is good for foreigners to live in. C) Beijing is quite fit for using the air-cleaning device. D) It is easy to get the top of the smog in Beijing.
C

Carl studied in our middle school three years ago. Last August his father found a job in another city and his family moved there. He began to study in the new school and we often write to each other. He often tells me something about the city where he lives now and his studies in the school. So I can know what happens to him. Last Friday Carl came to our city again. He hoped to accompany  his old grandpa during the summer holiday. He was taller and stronger than before. We swam in the river outside the city together and had a picnic on the island. It surprised me that he had learnt to cook when we were traveling in the wild forest. He told me his parents were both busy and sometimes he stayed at home and he had to look after himself. "How do you like your school?" I asked. "Wonderful," said the young man." It has a tall building and there 're two chemistry labs, two biology labs and three physics ones. And its library is big and there're plenty of books in it." "I can see you are satisfied with it." "Yes," he answered. "But our geography teacher often says it himself in class." "So does our new history teacher." I said. "But he doesn't notice it. He often talks on and on in a flow of the eloquence , but none of us listens to him." I can know what happens to Carl because  _  . A) he lives near to me. B) he often calls me C) I often visit him D) he often writes to me.

D