About "We live in a lot of old houses"...

[DanielGou]

Dear Teacher.

passage:
...I was shamed of where I lived. We had a big family. Several of the members of the family were sleeping in one room....We live in a lot of old houses.Some of were in bad shape ten years before we moved in...

The question 1:
About"We live in a lot of old houses"
This sentence means "We live in a lot of old rooms"?
or means "Our house among a lot of old houses"?

passage:
...We never made much progress up the soical ladder...

The question 2:
Can I copy this sentence above as:
I am make much progress up the English.？

passage:
...That was how it was in those days in the United States.

The question 3:
What means this sentence above?

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thank you very much.

danny.

[Mister Micawber]

1. The passage is not by a literate native speaker. I presume that he meant 'we have lived in a lot of old houses', which means 'a succession of old houses'.

2. No. It has nothing to do with English. The social ladder is success in society-- becoming more rich and well-known in the community.

3. 'That was the situation in the US then'.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[DanielGou]

Thank your very much. Mr. Micawber.

About the first question,Does it mean：“His family moved house frequently.”？

[Mister Micawber]

Yes, that's right.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[DanielGou]

I'm much obliged to you.Mr.Micawber. :)