首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Economic conditions have improved during the past decade in many North American and European CBDs, primarily because of an unpre
Economic conditions have improved during the past decade in many North American and European CBDs, primarily because of an unpre
admin
2010-06-18
54
问题
Economic conditions have improved during the past decade in many North American and European CBDs, primarily because of an unprecedented pace of office construction. Downtowns that were generally considered dead and beyond help as recently as the 1970s are now filled with both local residents and tourists, even during evenings and weekends when offices are closed. The new downtown offices, shops, and recreation facilities provide cities with additional tax revenues that can be used to maintain essential services.
The underclass The atmosphere of animation and prosperity found in many CBDs does not extend to the surrounding residential areas. With the exception of a handful of renovated neighborhoods, the zone in transition is inhabited by large numbers of persons who are frequently referred to as a permanent underclass. These inner, city residents are increasingly trapped in unending cycle of economic and social problems and are not able to share in the revival of the CBDs.
The underclass suffers from relatively high rates of unemployment, alcoholism, drug addiction, illiteracy, juvenile delinquency, and crime. For them, schools have deteriorated, and affordable housing is increasingly difficult to find. Neighborhoods lack adequate police protection, fire services, and shops, as well as hospitals, clinics, and other health-care facilities.
Future prospects are especially bleak for the underclass because they are increasingly unable to compete for jobs, Inner-city residents lack the technical skills needed to obtain most jobs, because fewer than half complete high school. The gap between the skills typically demanded by employers and the training of inner-city residents is getting much larger. In the past, people with limited education could become factory workers or filing clerks, but today these jobs require knowledge of computing and handling electronics. Meanwhile, inner-city residents don’t even have access to the remaining low-skilled jobs, such as janitors and fast-food servers, which are increasingly located in the suburbs.
Fiscal problems. The concentration of low-income minority residents in the central cities has produced financial problems. Despite higher taxes generated by new CBD projects, central cities face a growing gap between the cost of needed services and the availability of funds to pay for them. The percentage of people below the poverty level living in U.S. central cities increased during the 1980s and is more than twice as high as in the suburbs. Since 1950, overall population has declined by more than 40 percent in the central cities of Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis, and by more than one-fourth in a number of other cities. The number of tax-paying middle-class families and industries has invariably declined by higher percentages in these cities.
A city has two choices to close the gap between the cost of services and the amount of available taxes. One alternative is to raise taxes, a move that could drive remaining wealthier people and industries from the city. The other alternative is to reduce services by closing libraries, eliminating some public-transit routes, collecting trash less frequently, and delaying replacement of outdated school equipment. Aside from the hardship imposed on those laid off from work, cutbacks in public services could also encourage middle-class residents and industries to move from the city.
To avoid this dilemma, cities have increasingly sought funds from the state and federal governments. The federal government increased its share of contribution to city budgets from 1 percent in the 1950s to 25 percent in the early 1980s. Since the early 1980s, though, the federal government has substantially reduced its contributions to local governments. State governments and private corporations have increased financial assistance to cities to offset partially the loss of federal funds. The high level of outside financial support has obscured the intensity of the fiscal crisis faced by cities as a result of shifting patterns of land use.
As is suggested in the passage, the most likely result of the two alternatives in solving the fiscal problem is ______.
选项
A、a greater concentration of middle-class residents in central cities
B、a sharp decline of the life quality in central cities
C、a boom in setting up factories and offices in central cities
D、a rapid development of public transportation
答案
B
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/mhlO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
A、Tofundhugeincreasesinhealthandeducationexpenditure.B、Tohindertheeconomicgrowthbytheway.C、Toearnthetrustof
SincetheendofWorldWarII,abroadconsensusinsupportofglobaleconomicintegrationasaforceforpeaceandprosperityh
In2014,America’seducationsystemmarkedanimportantmilestone.Forthefirsttime,childrenofcolorbecameamajorityamong
Mychildrenwenttoprivateschool,andgiventhewaythingsareinoureducationsystemIamgladtheydid;but1wishIhadno
Bycomparison,farmers______receivemoregovernmentsubsidiesthanothers.Thewriter’sattitudetowardsnewfarmsubsidiesi
TheHistoricalBackgroundofSocialPsychology1Whiletherootsofsocialpsychologylieintheintellectualsoilofthew
AtthebeginningofthepassagethewritersoundscriticalofThefollowingadjectivescanbesuitablyappliedtoCookeEXCEPT
ElizabethwasfortunatetobeborninthelullflushofRenaissanceenthusiasmforeducation.Womenhadalwaysbeeneducatedof
WhenGermanyinvadedPoland,BritainandFrancedeclaredwaronGermany.ThentheU.S【1】______indebate.Rooseveltaskedc
Therehavebeenagreatmanyexplanations,someofthemverycomplicated,ofthegreatdemandforcollegeeducationinAmerica,
随机试题
鼓胀后期出现危候多有
海陆过渡相按沉积环境可细分为溩湖相、三角洲相、砂洲相、砂坝相、砂嘴相等,其中与油气关系最密切的是砂洲相。()
多元复合型集团化战略
患者,女性,30岁。便秘2年,近半月来大便时肛门疼痛,粪便表面及便纸上附有鲜血,其诊断最可能是
张某是红叶有限公司的小股东,持股5%;同时,张某还在枫林有限公司任董事,而红叶公司与枫林公司均从事保险经纪业务。红叶公司多年没有给张某分红,张某一直对其会计账簿存有疑惑。关于本案,下列哪一选项是正确的?
某安装公司在南方沿海承担了一化工装置的安装工作,该装置施工高峰期正值夏季,相对湿度接近饱和。该公司建造了临时性管道预制厂房,采用CO2气体保护焊进行焊接工作。根据装置内管道的特点,项目部技术人员确定了管道预制程度为30%,制定了一条直管段配焊一个管件(弯头
下列有关信息技术一般控制、应用控制与公司层面控制的说法中,正确的有()。
下列对朝鲜族描述正确的是()。
教学过程是教师教、学生学的基本过程,具有若干环节,其中心环节是()。
A、ThebestwaytodoYoga.B、Thetypicalprocessofyoga.C、ThemedicalbenefitsofYoga.D、Therelationshipbetweenhealthand
最新回复
(
0
)