Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis, But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.

　　1. It is implied in the first paragraph that ____.

　　A) the writer himself is homeless, even in his eighties

　　B) many older homeless residents are going on strike in 25 cities

　　C) there is a serious shortage of academic facilities

　　D) homeless children are denied the opportunity of receiving free education

　　2. The National Coalition for the homeless believes that the number of homeless children is _____.

　　A) 350,000

　　B) 1,500,000

　　C) 440,000

　　D) 110,000

　　3. One part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate. The reason might well be ____.

　　A) the homeless children are too young to be counted as children

　　B) the homeless population is growing rapidly

　　C) the homeless children usually stay outside school

　　D) some homeless children are deserted by their families

　　4. The McKinney Act is mentioned in this passage in order to show that ___.

　　A) the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized

　　B) the estimates on homeless children are hard to determine

　　C) the address of grade-school children should be located

　　D) all homeless people are entitled to free education

　　5. The passage mainly deals with ____.

　　A) the legal problems of the homeless children

　　B) the educational problems of homeless children

　　C) the social status of older males

　　D) estimates on the homeless population

　　答案：

　　C C D A B

　　直到20世紀80年代，美國無家可歸的人口主要包括的還是年齡較大的男性。現在，社會上年齡較小的一些人也面臨無家可歸的威脅。的確，美國會議在1987年對25個城市進行了一項調查，結果表明，在無家可歸的人口中，兒童的增長比例是最快的。許多無家可歸的兒童都聚集在城市的中心地帶。其中學齡兒童四處流浪，飽受驚嚇。這給已經負擔考試大過重的城市教學和教學管理帶來了許多額的外的麻煩，其中既涉及法律問題又涉及教育問題。

　　美國無家可歸的人口數量估計在35萬到300萬人之間。同樣，無家可歸的學齡兒童人數也無法做出準確的估計。一份根據各州估計數字而得出的美國教法的育部的報告指出，有22萬無家可歸的學齡兒童，其中約有三分之一沒有按規定上學。然而國家關于無家可歸人員的聯盟會卻估計，這樣的兒童人數至少還應該多一倍，其中半數以上沒有正常入學。考試大

　　有一部分無家可歸的人口尤其難以統計，就是那些遭家庭遺棄的“浪蕩”少年。據紐約小學中心估計，這樣的人口有150萬左右。其中還有許多小孩沒有估計進去，因為這些小孩不呆在安全的家中，卻往往獨自在街頭流浪。

　　聯邦法律(1987年斯圖爾德•B•麥肯尼無家可歸人員救助法案)有一部分專門指出了無家可歸兒童的教育需要。法案中有關于教育的條款所依據的觀點是所有無家可歸的兒童都有權接受正規的義務教育

　　四級閱讀理解精選模擬練習二：

　　Upon reaching an appropriate age (usually between 18 and 21 years)， children are encouraged， but not forced， to “leave the nest” and begin an independent life. After children leave home they often find social relationship and financial support outside the family. Parents do not arrange marriages for their children， nor do children usually ask permission of their parents to get married， Romantic love is most often the basis for marriage in the United States; young adults meet their future spouses (配偶) through other friends， at jobs， and in organizations and religious institutions， Although children choose their own spouses， they still hope their parents will approve of their choices.

　　In many families， parents feel that children should make major life decisions by themselves. A parent may try to influence a child to follow a particular profession but the child is free to choose another career. Sometimes children do precisely the opposite of what their parents wish in order to assert their independence. A son may deliberately decide not to go into his father’s business because of a fear that he will lose his autonomy in his father’s workplace. This independence from parents is not an indication that parents and children do not love each other. Strong love between parents and children is universal and this is no exception in the American family Coexisting with such love in the American family are cultural values of self – reliance and independence.

　　1. The writer discusses the marriage of young adults in order to show which of the following?

　　A) They enjoy the freedom of choosing their spouses.

　　B) They want to win the permission of their parents.

　　C) They have a strong desire to become independent.

　　D) They want to challenge the authority of their parents.

　　2. Most young adults in the U.S. get married for the sake of ____.

　　A) love

　　B) financial concern

　　C) their parents

　　D) family background

　　3. Based on the passage， it can be assumed that ______.

　　A) American young adults are likely to follow the suit of their parents

　　B) most American people never make major decisions for their children

　　C) American young adults possess cultural values of independence

　　D) once a young person steps into his twenties， he will leave his home permanently

　　4. A son is unwilling to work in his father’s business mainly because _____.

　　A) he wishes to make full use of what he has learnt in school

　　B) he wants to prove his independence

　　C) he wishes to do the opposite of what his parents approve of

　　D) he wants to show his love for his parents

　　5. The subject matter of this selection is _____.

　　A) family values

　　B) marriage arrangements

　　C) the pursuit of a career

　　D) decision making

　　答案：

　　CACBA

　　子女一旦到適當年齡(通常是18至21歲)，要鼓勵而不是強迫他們“離開窩的，財政的巢”，開始獨立生活。小孩離開家后，往往在外能夠與人交往，并自謀出路。父母不為子女安排婚姻，子女結婚也通常無需獲得父母同意。在美國，浪漫的愛情往往是婚姻的基礎，青年人通過朋友在學校、單位、組織以及宗教團體認識自己的，愛情的未來的伴侶。盡管子女自己擇偶，他們仍然希望父母能認同他們的選擇。

　　許多家庭的父母認為，應由子女自己來做他們生活中的重大決定。家長可能會設法影響子女去從事某一職業，但子女也有選擇其它職業的自由。有時為了證實自己的獨立性，子女從事的工作正好與父母希望的相反。兒子可能執意不去父親的企業工作，因為擔心在那里就不能獨立自主。這種不依靠父母的獨立性并不意味著父母與子女之間缺乏愛心。父母和子女之間普遍都有摯愛，美國家庭也毫不例外。只不過在美國家庭之中，還融合了自主、獨立的文化價值觀念。