Dialogue. (Molly, Yolanda, Arnold, and Jack are walking through Central Park in New York City.)

(Molly, Yolanda, Arnold, and Jack are walking through Central Park in New York City.)

YOLANDA: Look at that homeless person over there. I guess that park bench is his home. Isn't it awful that he has to make his home in a park? This country has to do something about its homeless people.

JACK: I agree that we have a serious problem, but you know, that guy doesn't have to sleep in the park. There are shelters¹ where he can go.

ARNOLD: Yeah, but sometimes those shelters are dangerous places. Some of the homeless people there are really crazy or even violent. There are fights in those places all the time. A lot of the homeless² say it's safer to sleep outside.

YOLANDA: The government just doesn't do enough to help the poor.

¹ I shelter is a place where homeless people can get out of the cold and sleep for the night. It is usually operated by the city government.

² The homeless means «homeless people.» (The poor means «poor people.»)

JACK: What are you talking about? What about all the money the government spends on welfare?³

YOLANDA: That's a drop in the bucket.⁴

ARNOLD: I agree with you. The government spends billions of dollars on the military, but, by comparison, it doesn't spend much on social programs. Why does this country have to spend so much on making war? We must do something to cut back on military spending.

JACK: Hold on!⁵ The military is vital to our defense. Social programs aren't.

ARNOLD: You sound like my father. Why do you have to be so conservative all the time?

JACK: All I'm saying is that we mustn't weaken our military defense system too much. I mean, I know relations with Russia are improving.

ARNOLD: Listen, the Russians want to stop the arms race just as much as we do. You don't know what you're talking about!

JACK: Come on, Arnold. You don't have to be so insulting. My opinions are valid too. We just have a different point of view.

MOLLY: Hey, why don't we all stop arguing? We don't have to fight about our ideas.