1. Poverty is a relative measure that depends on prices, the standard of living, and the ......... that others earn.





2. Poverty is a major problem in America, and one that is extremely difficult to ..........





3. Families and individuals are defined as living in ......... if their incomes fall below certain levels.





4. Poverty in the United States is more ......... than most people realize.





5. One reason for the continued high poverty numbers is the growing gap in the ......... of income.





6. Weekly ......... tend to be lower for people employed in service industries.





7. During the 1990s, salaries for highly skilled employees ........., while wages for those who are less skilled remained about the same.





8. The decline of unions means that lower skilled workers have to work ......... for less pay.





9. The shift from two-parent families to single-parent families and other non-family arrangements tends to ......... average family income.





10. According to recent ........., nearly 35 million Americans live in poverty.