12.Poverty is not first thing that comes to mind when you think of Japan.After all,there are no children begging on the streets in major cities here.You do not often see Japanese citizens publicly letting out their complaints over the country's economic decline.But senior government researcher Aya Abe says Japan has the fourth highest rate of child poverty among developed countries.
She says she sees that poverty in schools where students admit to only bathing once a week.Some cannot afford to buy pencils for class.
"They may not be on the streets begging or they may not be turning into criminals,but it's there.It's just that we have to open our eyes and see,"Abe said.
Abe owes the increase in child poverty to the country's changing demographics(人口統(tǒng)計),struggling economy and high social security premiums(保險費).She says fewer people live in three-generation households,where the parents and grandparents work.The number of single mothers has increased.The salary for young fathers has declined with the economic downturn.Social security premiums have increased in the last 20years,putting families on the edge of poverty.
Abe says studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD ) point to rising poverty in Japan before the global economic crises in 2008.But the Japanese government and the public refused to acknowledge it until then partly because of the shame associated with poverty.
"It was very unpopular for Japanese media to say anything about Japanese poverty,"said Abe."Even though OECD Japan announced it in Japanese,Japanese media didn't make it into the articles."
Abe says new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has taken one important step to help alleviate (緩解) the problem.Next year,his Democratic Party of Japan plans to double monthly child care allowances given to families.
But Abe wants the government to expand its financial help even more.She wants it to simplify the process to apply for public assistance and provide educational grants for students struggling to pay for tuition at high schools and colleges.The country now only offers loans.
Abe also says the government must act quickly because she says the problem will only get worse in the next few years.
36.The passage is intended toB.
A.report the result of the studies conducted by OECD
B.tell us about the increase in Japanese child poverty
C.prove that Japan is no longer a developed country
D.introduce Aya Abe,a senior government researcher
37.It seems to be hard to associate Japan with poverty becauseA.
A.no children are seen begging in the streets of main cities in Japan
B.its citizens never complain about the country's economic decline
C.it is one of the few wealthiest countries in the world
D.its government and public refused to acknowledge it
38.According to Abe,several things contribute to the rising child poverty exceptD.
A.high social security premiums
B.the increase of the number of single mothers
C.the decrease of the salary for young fathers
D.the expansion of three-generation households
39.Why was it unpopular for Japanese media to say anything about Japanese poverty?C
A.The Japanese public didn't think it true.
B.It was forbidden by the Japanese government.
C.The Japanese public regarded it shameful to be poor.
D.OECD Japan had already announced it in Japanese.
40.Which of the following is NOT the author's suggestion for alleviating this problem?A
A.Doubling monthly child care allowances given to families.
B.Expanding government's financial help even more.
C.Providing educational grants for poor students.
D.Simplifying the process to apply for public assistance.
分析 本文屬于說明文閱讀,作者通過這篇文章主要向我們描述了日本的貧困兒童增加,但日本媒體不說日本的貧窮因為日本人認為貧窮是可恥的,作者認為政府應該及時采取措施.
解答 36.B.主旨大意題.根據(jù)第一段:But senior government researcher Aya Abe says Japan has the fourth highest rate of child poverty among developed countries可知這篇文章意在告訴我們關(guān)于日本的貧困兒童增加;故選B.
37.A.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第一段:Poverty is not first thing that comes to mind when you think of Japan.After all,there are no children begging on the streets in major cities here可知很難把日本與貧窮聯(lián)系起來因為不會的孩子乞討,在主要城市的街道上,在日本;故選A.
38.D.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第四段:She says fewer people live in three-generation households,where the parents and grandparents work.The number of single mothers has increased.The salary for young fathers has declined with the economic downturn.Social security premiums have increased in the last 20years可知三代同堂減少,單親母親的數(shù)量增加.年輕的父親的工資與經(jīng)濟不景氣,社會保障費升高有助于兒童貧困的增加;故選D.
39.C.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第五段:But the Japanese government and the public refused to acknowledge it until then partly because of the shame associated with poverty可知日本媒體不說日本的貧窮因為日本人認為貧窮是可恥的;故選C.
40.A.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段:She wants it to simplify the process to apply for public assistance and provide educational grants for students struggling to pay for tuition at high schools and colleges可知Abe希望政府擴大財政援助,她希望政府簡化申請公共援助的程序,并為那些在高中和大學里努力支付學費的學生提供教育補助;故選A.
點評 考察學生的細節(jié)理解和推理判斷能力,做細節(jié)理解題時一定要找到文章中的原句,和題干進行比較,再做出正確的選擇.在做推理判斷題不要以個人的主觀想象代替文章的事實,要根據(jù)文章事實進行合乎邏輯的推理判斷.