A tiny house gives them hope

山東 孫啟祿

一棟棟房子，給無家可歸的人提供了無限的希望。

主題語境：公益事業 篇幅：342詞 建議用時：7分鐘

1“There was a morning when our son asked for a glass of milk and I knew I didn't have any to give him,”says Erica Lacerda de Souza.The 32?year?old Brazilian and her husband,Bruce Lee Sousa, 28, sold both of their cars, closed their wine shop and sent their son Henrique, then 6 years old, to live with his grandmother in the east end of S?o Paulo.With a few changes of clothes in a backpack and nowhere to go, the two ended up living at S?o Paulo's downtown Barra Funda Terminal.That was in July 2020.

2Three years later,their life has had a remarkable turnaround.For the past six months,Lacerda de Souza and Lee Sousa have lived with their son in a tiny home.They're one of 37 fami?lies in the Anhangabaú neighborhood to benefit from a new program in S?o Paulo called Vila Reencontro.It's one of the ways this city of 12 million is trying to help its rising number of un?housed people.The tiny houses of S?o Paulo are part of a global effort to find homes for those unhoused people around the world.

3Its shelters constantly overflowing, S?o Paulo wanted a program that would not only put a roof over people's heads but also give them a fresh start.With that in mind, the city created and funded Vila Reencontro in December 2022.While there, unhoused people not only receive shelter and meals but also the support of other social services provided by the city.

4Lee Sousa is now taking part in a work program and hopes to soon start a job with the city as a public health agent working with the unhoused.He eventually wants to go back to college to become a social worker.Lacerda de Souza wants to study again too, to become a psychologist.They hope to be back on their feet in fewer than two years and to earn back everything they lost.Because of their tiny home, they say they have a sense of security and hope.

Reading Check

Detail1.Why did Lacerda de Souza and Lee Sousa live at a terminal?

A.They tried to sell more wine.

B.They wanted to benefit from the Vila Reencontro program.

C.They needed a fresh start and support from social services.

D.They had nowhere else to go and were homeless.

Detail2.What is the purpose of the Vila Reencontro program in S?o Paulo?

A.To provide shelter and meals for unhoused people.

B.To offer job opportunities to individuals.

C.To provide college education for poor families.

D.To create tiny homes for childless people.

Inference3.What does the underlined word“them”in paragraph 3 refer to?

A.Tiny houses.B.Voluntary programs.

C.Modern cities.D.Homeless people.

Detail4.What is Lacerda de Souza's future goal?

A.To work as public health agents with the city.

B.To earn back everything they lost in less than two years.

C.To become a psychologist.

D.To participate in the Vila Reencontro program.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

unhousedadj.無家可歸的

sheltern.避難所

remarkableadj.卓越的；非凡的

turnaroundn.轉變；好轉

benefitv.受益；獲益

psychologistn.心理學家

fresh start 新的開始

social service 社會服務

sense of security 安全感

Ⅱ.語法填空

The article discusses the story of a Brazilian couple, Erica Lacerda de Souza and Bruce Lee Sousa, 1.________went from being homeless to living in a tiny home in S?o Paulo.They had to sell their cars, close their business, 2.________send their son to live with his grandmother.After 3.________(third)years,they became part of a program called Vila Reencontro, which aims 4.________(provide) housing and support for the unhoused in S?o Paulo.At just under 194 square feet—slightly 5.________(small)than a one?car ga?rage—the tiny home 6.________the family now lives gives them enough space for a joint living.It has a bedroom,a kitchenette with a fridge,a sink and two burners for cooking and a bathroom with a hot shower.

The program 7.________(offer) shelter, meals, and access to social services.Lee Sousa is now participating 8.________a work program and aims to work as a public health agent for the unhoused.Lacerda de Souza also plans to study and become 9.________psychologist.They hope to recover and rebuild their lives within two years.The initiative of providing tiny homes is part of a 10.________(globe) effort to help those homeless people.