Fundamentally，income disparity describes two disparate groups：rich and poor．It is hardly news that the rich are getting richer．The underlying story is a familiar one：the wealthiest households own the most assets，namely stocks，and asset prices have risen at a ferocious pace in recent years．Beyond the standard explanation，it is also the case that the emergence of technology，rising productivity，and an expanding global market have brought forth a new upper class among corporations．①These newly wealthy firms pay skilled employees well and in an ever-tighter labor market，they are forced to constantly sweeten their employees’compensation．
Then there are the poor，where conditions are a little murky．Falling unemployment，anecdotal evidence of rising starting wages for low level service jobs，and the relative non-event of welfare reform so far suggest that conditions at the low end are improvin9．Yet at the same time，whole communities under siege by crime and hopelessness cannot be ignored．
That said，income inequality as a blanket indictment on our economic system does not fly．Income disparity is the gas that runs our economic engine．The ability to someday earn more，to live at a higher standard，is what gets people out of bed in the mornin9，particularly in our consumer-oriented economy． Income disparity only becomes a problem if it widens to the extent that the labor force believes that greater wealth can only be achieved by the already wealthy．
Indeed，it is unreasonable to state that income disparity is eroding the labor force’S will to improve productivity and move ahead．Increasin9 1abor force participation，record homeownership，surging consumer confidence and spendin9，near record levels of immigration，and urban renewal are all anecdotal evidence that hopes are high．All types of people are flourishing in the New Economy and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that most still want their shot at the brass rin9．
So why are there still very poor households in this country?There are many reasons．Our economy is shifting towards the production of higher value goods and services．Unskilled labor is not valued to the degree that it once was，and unskilled workers are paid accordingly．There has also been a recent surge of immigration into the U．S．Many migrants to this country，particularly those who are unskilled or language challenged，require time to be absorbed into our economy．If skills are lackin9，it may take a generation or two to move ahead．
It is also important to remember that it is not the ultimate goal of every person to be fabulously rich．0ne of the fundamentals of economics is that one decides how hard to work，where to work，and what risks to take．Monetary wealth is not the sole means of maximizing utility．Each person has a finite life span and finite abilities；it is up to the individual to apply those as they see fit．The wealthy getting wealthier is not always evidence to others that they themselves are falling behind．[498 words]
1．In the author's country，______may benefit from the development of its economy．
A．a(chǎn)ll the people
B．a(chǎn)ll the immigrants
C．only skilled employees
D．the wealthy rather than the poor
2．It is implied in this passage that income inequality is______．
A．beneficial only to the rich
B．deleterious to the development of economy
C．destructive rather than constructive
D．not necessarily detrimental to the poor
3．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Every person wants to become rich．
B．Most immigrants are very poor．
C．Unskilled people tend to be poor．
D．The wealthy is getting wealthier．
4．The author believes that income disparity will______．
A．persist as ever before
B．disappear sooner or later
C．be gradually narrowed
D．be more and more widened
5．The main idea presented in the last paragraph is that______．
A．what a person pursues in the world is not monetary wealth
B．every person is not willing to become as wealthy as possible
C．each individual knows exactly what his ultimate goal is
D．it is understandable for the wealthy to get wealthier
Then there are the poor，where conditions are a little murky．Falling unemployment，anecdotal evidence of rising starting wages for low level service jobs，and the relative non-event of welfare reform so far suggest that conditions at the low end are improvin9．Yet at the same time，whole communities under siege by crime and hopelessness cannot be ignored．
That said，income inequality as a blanket indictment on our economic system does not fly．Income disparity is the gas that runs our economic engine．The ability to someday earn more，to live at a higher standard，is what gets people out of bed in the mornin9，particularly in our consumer-oriented economy． Income disparity only becomes a problem if it widens to the extent that the labor force believes that greater wealth can only be achieved by the already wealthy．
Indeed，it is unreasonable to state that income disparity is eroding the labor force’S will to improve productivity and move ahead．Increasin9 1abor force participation，record homeownership，surging consumer confidence and spendin9，near record levels of immigration，and urban renewal are all anecdotal evidence that hopes are high．All types of people are flourishing in the New Economy and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that most still want their shot at the brass rin9．
So why are there still very poor households in this country?There are many reasons．Our economy is shifting towards the production of higher value goods and services．Unskilled labor is not valued to the degree that it once was，and unskilled workers are paid accordingly．There has also been a recent surge of immigration into the U．S．Many migrants to this country，particularly those who are unskilled or language challenged，require time to be absorbed into our economy．If skills are lackin9，it may take a generation or two to move ahead．
It is also important to remember that it is not the ultimate goal of every person to be fabulously rich．0ne of the fundamentals of economics is that one decides how hard to work，where to work，and what risks to take．Monetary wealth is not the sole means of maximizing utility．Each person has a finite life span and finite abilities；it is up to the individual to apply those as they see fit．The wealthy getting wealthier is not always evidence to others that they themselves are falling behind．[498 words]
1．In the author's country，______may benefit from the development of its economy．
A．a(chǎn)ll the people
B．a(chǎn)ll the immigrants
C．only skilled employees
D．the wealthy rather than the poor
2．It is implied in this passage that income inequality is______．
A．beneficial only to the rich
B．deleterious to the development of economy
C．destructive rather than constructive
D．not necessarily detrimental to the poor
3．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Every person wants to become rich．
B．Most immigrants are very poor．
C．Unskilled people tend to be poor．
D．The wealthy is getting wealthier．
4．The author believes that income disparity will______．
A．persist as ever before
B．disappear sooner or later
C．be gradually narrowed
D．be more and more widened
5．The main idea presented in the last paragraph is that______．
A．what a person pursues in the world is not monetary wealth
B．every person is not willing to become as wealthy as possible
C．each individual knows exactly what his ultimate goal is
D．it is understandable for the wealthy to get wealthier