MostAmericansgetwhatmoneytheyhavefromtheirwork;thatistheyearnanincomefromwagesorsalaries.TherichestAmericanshowevergetmostoftheirmoneyfromwhattheyown—theirstocksbondsrealestateandotherformsofpropertyorwealth.AlthoughtherearefewaccuratestatisticstogobywealthinAmericansocietyappearstobeconcentratedinveryfewhands.Morethan20percentofeverythingthatcanbeprivatelyownedisheldbylessthanonepercentoftheadultpopulationandmorethan75percentofallwealthisownedby20percentofAmericanadults.TheplainfactisthatmostAmericanshavenowealthatallasidefromtheirhomesautomobilesandasmallamountofsavings.
IncomeintheUnitedStatesisnotashighlyconcentratedaswealth.In1917therichest10percentofAmericanfamiliesreceived26.1percentofallincomewhilethepoorest10percentreceived17percentmainlyfromSocialSecurityandothergovernmentpayments.ThemoststrikingaspectofincomedistributionisthatithasnotchangedsignificantlysincetheendofWorldWarII.Althougheconomicgrowthhasroughlydoubledrealdisposable(可自由使用的)familyincome(themoneyleftaftertaxesandadjustedforinflation)overthelastgenerationthesizeofthesharesgiventotherichandthepoorisaboutthesame.ByanymeasureeconomicinequalityisgreatintheUnitedStates.
TherealitybehindthesestatisticsisthatalargenumberofAmericansarepoor.In191814percentofthepopulationwaslivingbelowthefederalgovernment’spovertylinewhichatthattimewasanannualincomeof$9287foranonfarmfamilyoftwoadultsandtwochildren.InotherwordsaboutoneoutofsevenAmericansover31millionpeoplewasofficiallyconsideredunabletobuythebasicnecessitiesoffoodclothesandshelter.Thesuggestedpovertylinein1981wouldhavebeenanincomeofabout$11200forafamilyoffour.Bythisrelativedefinitionabout20percentofthepopulationormorethan45millionAmericansarepoor.
1.WhatdoesthemajorityoftheAmericanshaveintermsofwealth?
A.Theirincomeandsavings.
B.Everythingtheyownintheirhomes.
C.Actuallytheyhavenowealthatall.
D.Theirhousecarsandsmallamountsofsavings.
2.Whatistheperc
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