Question 5 • Social Problems 1: A World in Crisis (IS)
Different cities have different costs of living, meaning the amount of income that one needs to live above the poverty level varies. Housing is one of the most significant factors, and the cost of a home varies greatly depending on where you live. For example, the average home in Los Angeles, California, costs $689,500 while the same home in Louisville, Kentucky, costs $160,800. Why do these kinds of differences make it difficult to define poverty in the United States?
Answer
A
Because there is no standard way to measure whether or not people are poor.
B
Because Los Angeles will always have more poor people than Louisville since it is more expensive.
C
Because everything is measured in dollars, and no thought is given to varied costs of living.
D
Much more money will be required to live above the poverty level in Los Angeles than Louisville.
Explanation
Poverty is tied to whether a person has enough income to meet basic needs, and housing costs differ sharply between cities. The example shows that an average home costs $689,500 in Los Angeles but $160,800 in Louisville, so people in Los Angeles generally need more income to maintain a similar standard of living. Therefore, much more money is required to live above the poverty level in Los Angeles than in Louisville.
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