The poverty line is the minimum income that people need for an acceptable standard of living. People with incomes below the poverty line are considered poor. Economists study the causes of poverty in order to find solutions to the problem.

    As the general standard of living in the country rises, the poverty line does, too. Therefore, even with today's relatively high standard of living, about 10 percent of the people in the United States are below the poverty line. However, if these people had stable jobs, they could have an acceptable standard of living. Economists suggest several reasons why poor people do not have jobs.

    For one thing, more than half of the poor people in the United States are not qualified to work. Over 40 percent of the poor people are children. By law, children less than 16 years old cannot work in many industries. A large number of poor people are old. Many companies do not hire people over 65 years old, the normal retirement age.

    Some poor adults do not look for jobs for a variety of personal reasons: they are sick, they do not have any motivation, they have family problems, or they do not believe that they can find a job.

    Other poor people look for a job, but cannot find one. Many poor adults never went to high school. Therefore, when they look for jobs, they have few skills that they can offer.

    At the present time, the government thinks it can reduce poverty in the country in the following ways:

    First, if the national economy grows, businesses and industries hire more workers. Some of the poor who are qualified to look for jobs may find employment. Then they will no longer below the poverty line.

    Second, if society invests in the poor，the poor will become more productive.

    If the government spends money on social programs, education and training for poor people, the poor will have the skills to offer. Then it is more probable that they can find jobs.

    Finally, if the government distributes society's income differently, it raises some poor people above the poverty line. The government collects taxes from the non-poor and gives money to the poor. These payments to the poor are called welfare.

    Some economists are looking for better solutions to the poverty problem. However, at the present time, many people depend on welfare for a minimally acceptable standard of living.

    The poverty line is the minimum income that people need for an acceptable standard of living. People with incomes below the poverty line are considered poor. Economists study the causes of poverty in order to find solutions to the problem.

    As the general standard of living in the country rises, the poverty line does, too. Therefore, even with today's relatively high standard of living, about 10 percent of the people in the United States are below the poverty line. However, if these people had stable jobs, they could have an acceptable standard of living. Economists suggest several reasons why poor people do not have jobs.

    For one thing, more than half of the poor people in the United States are not qualified to work. Over 40 percent of the poor people are children. By law, children less than 16 years old cannot work in many industries. A large number of poor people are old. Many companies do not hire people over 65 years old, the normal retirement age.

    Some poor adults do not look for jobs for a variety of personal reasons: they are sick, they do not have any motivation, they have family problems, or they do not believe that they can find a job.

    Other poor people look for a job, but cannot find one. Many poor adults never went to high school. Therefore, when they look for jobs, they have few skills that they can offer.

    At the present time, the government thinks it can reduce poverty in the country in the following ways:

    First, if the national economy grows, businesses and industries hire more workers. Some of the poor who are qualified to look for jobs may find employment. Then they will no longer below the poverty line.

    Second, if society invests in the poor，the poor will become more productive.

    If the government spends money on social programs, education and training for poor people, the poor will have the skills to offer. Then it is more probable that they can find jobs.

    Finally, if the government distributes society's income differently, it raises some poor people above the poverty line. The government collects taxes from the non-poor and gives money to the poor. These payments to the poor are called welfare.

    Some economists are looking for better solutions to the poverty problem. However, at the present time, many people depend on welfare for a minimally acceptable standard of living.

    Last Sunday. I went to the neighborhood cafe with my friend. On the way, 1 an old lady,2 cart had been knocked over and her goods were scattered across the pavement. She was 3 her goods. People passing by were 4 her as if she were a beggar.

    I hesitated. Many things were running through my mind. “What should we do?” I asked my friend 5“It's none of our business. 6 you may get both of us into trouble and 7 it if you help,” my friend said 8 and then continued to walk ahead. However, I had great 9 on this poor lady. “She really needs help.” I said seriously and began to 10 the lady.

    I cautiously 11 beside the lady, helping her. I could feel the passers-by eyeing me 12 I knew they were thinking that I was 13 for helping her or that I had knocked over her cart and therefore I was assisting her out of  14.

    “Thank you!” She whispered.

    “You are welcome!” I murmured, offering a 15.

    She also smiled. After all goods were picked up, she slowly rose 16 her feet. She thanked me again, and continued walking down the street. Yet I knew that her smile and 17would always he impressed on my mind.

    At that moment, I didn't care anymore 18 other people thought.

    I smiled to myself because although I had helped that lady in such a 19wav, she had helped me more by showing me how I could be 20 in the world.

    There is a woman {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（name）Daisy who has devoted all her life to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（attend）to the homeless children. It's generally recognized that what she has done for children {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（deserve）to be respected by everyone. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}（personal）speaking, her selfless behavior sets a good example to us.

    There was a time when I came across Daisy who {#blank#}5{#/blank#}（invite）to deliver a speech, during which she indicated, “{#blank#}6{#/blank#}（take）care of homeless children is just {#blank#}7{#/blank#} ordinary job, but it doesn't mean that you can look down {#blank#}8{#/blank#}it. Every job is equal. We can't say which one is {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（good ）.” She also said, “Once you set out to do something, you ought to carry on with it to the end, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you will gain nothing in the end.”

    There is a woman {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（name）Daisy who has devoted all her life to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（attend）to the homeless children. It's generally recognized that what she has done for children {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（deserve）to be respected by everyone. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}（personal）speaking, her selfless behavior sets a good example to us.

    There was a time when I came across Daisy who {#blank#}5{#/blank#}（invite）to deliver a speech, during which she indicated, “{#blank#}6{#/blank#}（take）care of homeless children is just {#blank#}7{#/blank#} ordinary job, but it doesn't mean that you can look down {#blank#}8{#/blank#}it. Every job is equal. We can't say which one is {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（good ）.” She also said, “Once you set out to do something, you ought to carry on with it to the end, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you will gain nothing in the end.”