VOA常速英语:Charities Struggle to Cope With Rising US Poverty

短语讲解：

1. That’s the highest amount on record since the agency began tracking poverty rates in 1959. 

on record有记载的, 记录在案的, 公开发表的
例句：The police kept his name on record.
警方将他的名字记录在案。

2. Gina Zbikowski says struggling to find a job while living on a meager disability allowance is not the American dream.

live on以…为食; 靠…为生
例句：That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.
那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。

3. I can’t even dream about that now

dream about梦想, 向往
例句：He got the first place this time, but he never dreamed about it.
这回他得了第一名, 但他做梦也没想到。

4. The prescription is really expensive, and I pay for it every month.

pay for为…付钱
例句：I have to pay 150 dollars for the sewing machine.
我得花150美元买这台缝纫机。

5. When I don’t have money to pay for it, I have to rely on my grandmother.

rely on信赖, 依赖
例句：You can't rely on the weather being fine for anything you plan in England.
在英国你无论计划干什么事都不要指望会碰上好天气。

6. People who have led successful lives, who were educated, are now finding themselves in poverty because they cannot bring in enough, their unemployment benefits have ended and there are not enough federal, state or local programs, to be quite honest, that are available to help support their needs

bring in 赚(钱), 挣(钱)
例句：The boys are bringing in good wages every week.
这些男孩每周的工资不低。

7. She says she would rather have a job so she can take care of herself.

take care of照顾
例句：Please take care of the baby for me for a while, will you?
请替我照顾一下这孩子,好吗?

8. “I’m hoping one of these days to get out of this, but things look grim right now," she said.

get out of停止; 改掉; 戒掉; 脱离, 摆脱, 克服; 避免做某事
例句：It is not easy to get out of a bad habit.
改掉坏习惯是不容易的。

9. Zbikowski says unless something is done to reverse the unemployment rate, now just above nine percent, the lines of people looking for help will continue to grow.

look for寻找
例句：She is looking for her lost child.
她正在寻找失去的孩子。