四、閱讀測驗【請依照段落上下文意，選出最適當的答案】
第一篇：
       Poverty has long been a part of history, and, as a result, there have been various efforts to combat povertyin America. During the Great Depression, soup kitchens were established to help folks who couldn’t affordmeals. In the years that followed, more structured forms of government assistance have been implemented. Asa result, this has required officials to define a poverty line based on income levels. So, how have governmentagencies gone about establishing a federal poverty level — and how has it changed over time?
       As one can see in the federal government’s official poverty level resources, there are three sets ofguidelines. One set pertains to the 48 contiguous states (or continental) states； one applies to Alaska； and thethird covers Hawaii. Both Alaska and Hawaii have separate guidelines because the cost of living in those statesis so different. For example, it’s more expensive to ship food and “common goods” to those states.
       However, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories, such as the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Micronesia, do not haveseparate poverty guidelines. If a government agency that regularly uses poverty guidelines is operating in thoseterritories, the agency has the authority to set specific guidelines for those territories on a project-by-projectbasis.
       As of 2021, a household of one person who makes $12,000-$16,000 annually is considered impoverished.Moreover, a family of four that earns $26,000-$33,000 per year is currently considered to be living at thepoverty level. While the guidelines stop at households of eight, additional people are counted by adding$4,500-$5,700 each to the allowable household annual income.
【題組】41. What is the passage mainly about?
(A) The set-up and the criteria of the poverty levels in the USA.
(B) The reasons why poverty levels were set up by the U.S. government.
(C) The guidelines for the U.S. to decide the poverty levels.
(D) The efforts made by the U.S. government in helping the poor.