Traditionally in America, helping the poor was a matter for private charities or local governments. Arriving immigrants depended mainly on predecessors from their homeland to help them start a new life. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several European nations instituted public-welfare programs. But such a movement was slow to take hold in the United States because the rapid pace of industrialization and the ready availability of farmland seemed to confirm the belief that anyone who was willing to work could find a job.

   Most of the programs started during the Depression era were temporary relief measures, but one of the programs Social Security – has become an American institution. Paid for by deductions from the paychecks of working people, Social Security ensures that retired persons receive a modest monthly income and also provides unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and other assistance to those who need it. Social Security payments to retired persons can start at age 62, but many wait until age 65, when the payments are slightly higher. Recently, there has been concern that the Social Security fund may not have enough money to fulfill its obligations in the 21st century, when the population of elderly Americans is expected to increase dramatically. Policy makers have proposed various ways to make up the anticipated deficit, but a long-term solution is still being debated. In the years since Roosevelt, other American presidents have established assistance programs. These include Medicaid and Medicare; food stamps, certificates that people can use to purchase food; and public housing which is built at federal expense and made available to persons on low incomes. Needy Americans can also turn to sources other than the government for help. A broad spectrum of private charities and voluntary organizations is available. Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, especially among retired persons. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of Americans over age 18 do volunteer work, and nearly 75 percent of U.S. households contribute money to charity.

The passage mainly discusses ______.

Câu hỏi liên quan

• The word "others" in paragraph 3 refers to ................

• What is the main idea of this passage?

• The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to ______.

ZUNIA12

• The speaker’s main topic is ...................

• In order to operate a computer, a student does not have to be _______

• The word “laundry” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ...........

• What does the author imply in the last sentence of the passage?

• The word "espouse” is contextually closest in meaning to "_______"

• Which of the following is NOT true?

• What can be inferred about the government?

• What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about cold storage before the invention of artificial refrigeration?

• The word “means” in the passage most closely means ______.

• It is stated in the passage that torches for lighting were made from ................

• What does the passage mainly discuss?

• According to the passage, the full-time university students have ............. of about 10 weeks in each year.

• According to the author, what is one reason why the Internet is sometimes slow?

• Green algae is generally found .............

• According to decision-worksheet theory, an optimal decision is defined as one that ............

• The word “moderate” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to .............

• The word "drastically" in line 21 is closest in meaning to ..........