The Mole People
mole [maul] — кріт
inhabitant— житель
solitude— усамітнювання, самотність
runaway— втікач
menial— зневажлив. слуга, лакей
perception— сприйняття, відчуття
scared— наляканий
hostility— ворожість
dweller — житель
New York is famous for its 24-hour street life. But below street level, in New York’s thousands of tunnels, there is a very different city with a population of around 14,000. This is where the “Mole People” live. The “Mole People” don’t like being called “Mole People”. Many don’t like being called “the underground homeless” either because they have finally found somewhere to call home in the network of subway and railroad tunnels. In some areas these tunnels are often seven levels below the street. Unlike most American homes, the smell of waste hits you in face. But the people that live there get used to that quite quickly and learn the places where there’s less of a smell… and fewer rats! (although, some actually eat the rats!)
People live here for a variety of reasons; two very common ones are that it’s safer and warmer than the streets or they are hiding from abusive family members. Some inhabitants say they were attacked when they were homeless on the streets and are too scared to live there again. Other more “extreme” tunnel inhabitants simply reject the outside world and “the system”. Although some live in solitude, the population generally divides into different communities. Runaways and drug addicts are two large groups but there are more. Some inhabitants are mentally ill. Some are women who don’t want their children taken away from them, so they take them to live in the tunnels. Many inhabitants criticize mothers doing this, saying that it’s a terrible place for children to live in. It’s not most adults’ choice either.
The best place to live is not too near the surface because there can be too much noise from the trains (and the rats live at the top), but not too deep either. “There are some who live so deep down that nobody sees them and they don’t really speak”, says one inhabitant. This is many people’s perception of how most of the tunnel people are, but this is incorrect; some have menial jobs above ground, in some tunnels there are fresh water pipes, and although it is dark most of the time in the tunnels, some have power cables so that electrical devices and lights can be used. Some tunnels even have their own mayor or representative. Although some tunnel inhabitants never leave, others beg for food during the day. In theory, it’s hard to starve in New York because people and restaurants tend to throw so much food away.
Another way of surviving is to collect cans. Some stores will give a couple of cents per can collected.
The outside world is not invited into the tunnels, visitors are not welcome and are often treated with suspicion and hostility. It is for this reason there is not much written about them. Many tunnels have “guards”, others require a “code” to get in. As the tunnel dwellers are not part of “the official city”, they are not given much help with their health or welfare.
Multiple Choice Questions
Read the text. Choose the one best answer А, В, С, D to each question.
1. The text is primarily about…
A. the advantages of street life.
B. the disadvantages of underground life.
C. the life of underground homeless.
D. the animals’ life.
2. The “Mole People” live…
A. in caves. C. in mines.
B. in tunnels. D. in basements.
3. The most common “neighbours” of the homeless are…
A. rats. C. cats.
B. moles. D. dogs.
4. The “Mole People” are called like this because…
A. they are compared with an animal that lives under the ground.
B. they dig the ground like that animal.
C. they are as dumb as a mole.
D. they like moles.
5. Some family members of the “Mole People” are called abusive because…
A. they used their homes in the wrong way.
B. they were unkind to their own children.
C. they spoke the rude language.
D. they treated them badly.
6. The following ways of life mentioned in the text are typical of the “Mole People” except…
A. solitude. C. communities.
B. large groups. D. clans.
7. The children also live under the ground because…
A. they are abused to the underground life.
B. they want to exercise the underground life.
C. their mothers don’t want to part with them.
D. their fathers have driven them away.
8. Some “Mole People” don’t even speak because…
A. they are dumb.
B. they have nobody to communicate with.
C. they don’t want to do it.
D. they don’t know the language.
9. The “Mole People” use few modern gadgets because…
A. the use of many electrical appliances is forbidden under the ground.
B. some of them won’t work underground.
C. they can’t afford themselves to buy many of them.
D. they are indifferent to them.
10. The “Mole People” don’t get help from the government because…
A. they don’t need it.
B. they don’t live the official life.
C. they are quite safe under the ground.
D. they don’t obey the state laws.
11. Another way of surviving is …
A. to collect cans.
B. to dance in the streets.
C. to sing songs.
D. to take part in sports competitions.
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