Final answer:
Most poor people in the United States do not live in absolute poverty but rather in relative poverty, unable to reach the average standard of living.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that most poor people in the United States live in or very close to absolute poverty is false. Relative poverty is the predominant condition in the U.S., where individuals can afford basic necessities but are unable to reach the average standard of living in society.
In the United States, issues like job loss, lower wages, and a changing job market can lead to relative poverty, where people are unable to live the lifestyle of the average person in their country. Moreover, the experience of poverty in the United States, including among those who are white and African American populations who have higher poverty rates, is usually relative rather than absolute.