Questions

Why does he say our cities are dying?

What are the things that are causing this?

What sort of process is it?

He says there is something even more serious. What?

What exactly does he say about (a) the air and (b) the noise?

Does he say the motor car is the only cause of all this?

What does he say we’ve got to do?

2. Прочитайте текст и выберите правильный ответ из четырех предложенных.

Crime in big cities

Crime is a serious problem in big cities. And it is getting worse every year. This is what police departments around the country said in their reports last week. There were more robberies and murders this year than last year. The subways are more dangerous. The streets are more dangerous. You may not even be safe in your own home.

Why is the problem so serious now? This is not an easy question to answer. There may not be a single answer. Many problems together seem to make cities so dangerous.

One of the problems is money. To fight crime a city needs police officers, cars and guns. These cost a lot of money. But right now cities do not have much extra money. So there are not enough police officers, cars and guns for the cities.

Another problem is drugs. Crime studies show that many criminals use and sell drugs. After they start taking drugs, they want to have more. But drugs are very expensive. So these people may sell drugs to other people to make money. Or they may steal money to get more drugs.

The laws about guns are also part of the crime problem. It is very easy to buy a gun in the United States. Anyone can have a gun. That means robbers carry guns. Many people are killed during robberies. Anyone can have a gun at home. So an angry husband may shoot his wife or children. A crazy person is more dangerous with a gun. In general, crimes are more serious because everyone has guns.

But there is an even more important cause of crime. Cities have rich and poor neighbourhoods. In the poor neighbourhoods, the schools are often very bad. Jobs are hard to find. Many young people don’t have much hope for a better life. They only know one way to make a better living for themselves. That way is to sell drugs or steal. So, some of these young people become criminals.

It is not going to be easy to change these crime problems. We must first change many of the laws about drugs and guns. We must change the way cities spend their money. We must also begin to make changes in the neighbourhoods. Until then, the crime problem will not go away. And we will live our lives in fear.

Choose the best answer.

1. This passage is about

1. police department reports.

2. the drug problem in big cities.

3. problems of city life.

4. the crime problem in big cities.

2. People in big cities are

1. usually safe on the streets.

2. safer this year than last year.

3. not very worried about crime.

4. afraid of crime.

3. Money is part of the crime problem because

1. it costs a lot to fight crime.

2. the city needs extra money.

3. drugs are expensive.

4. criminals steal money.

4. Many criminals

1. have extra money.

2. use or sell drugs.

3. stop taking drugs.

4. are afraid of drugs.

5. In the United States

1. only police officers have guns.

2. children have guns.

3. many people have guns.

4. only robbers have guns.

6. Many young people in poor neighbourhoods

1. work hard for a better life.

2. move to richer neighbourhoods.

3. don’t have much hope for a better life.

4. don’t want a better life.

7. These young people can only make a better living

1. through hard work.

2. through education.

3. by stealing or selling drugs.

4. by changing the laws.

8. The crime problem will not go away

1. until there are no drugs.

2. in big cities.

3. until there are many changes.

4. if there are changes.