33、HOW AMERICANS LIVE

                                   New York is America’s largest city, however, it may also be the country’s loneliest city. People living alone make up forty-eight percent of all households(家庭) on the island of Manhattan.

   “I think it’s the best way to live,” James Conaboy, a 35-year-old New York musician said, “If you want to make a mess, you can make a mess. If you want to paint the walls a certain color, you can do  it . “

   In the USA, there are more single-person households than classic nuclear families----a married couple and their natural children----according to a latest report. Other cities with high percentages(百分比) of single households are Washington DC, St. Louis, Denver and San Francisco.

   The high number of single households shows today’s values. People living alone, especially unmarried women used to have something to do with sadness. That feeling is no longer true. Self-esteem（自尊）isn’t based on having children and being married any more.

1. New York may be the loneliest city of the USA because_______

A. many people often feel lonely.

B. most of the people there often live alone.

C. there are nearly half of single-person households.

D. people can do what they like by themselves.

2.What does the underlined word it refer to (指的是)？

     A. Painting the walls.     B. Making a mess.

     C. Living alone.         D. Being married.

3. Which of the following can best explain the chart(图表) on the left of the text ?

A.     There are more single-person households than classic unclear families.

B.     The high number of single households shows today’s values,

C.     People living alone make up 48% of all households in the world.

D.     Unmarried women used to have something to do with sadness