Question

Micro-Enterprise Credit for Street Youth

Introduction

Although small-scale business training and credit programs have become more common throughout the world, relatively little attention has been paid to the need to direct such opportunities to youth living on the street or in difficult circumstances. Over the past years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organizations in Africa, Latin America and India to support the economic lives of street children. The purpose of this paper is to share some of the lessons S.K. I. and our partner organizations have learned.

Background

Typically, children end up on the streets not due to a single cause, but a combination of factors: the lack of adequately funded schools, the demand for income at home and so on. The street may be attractive to children as a place to find adventurous play and money. However, it is also a place where some children are exposed, with little or no protection, to exploitative employment, and urban crime.

Street Business Partnerships

S.K.I. has worked with partner organizations in Latin America, Africa and India to develop innovative opportunities for street children to earn income.

● The S.K.I Bicycle Courier Service first started in the Sudan. Participants in this enterprise were supplied with bicycles, which they used to deliver parcels and messages, but they were required to pay for it gradually from their wages.

● The Youth Skills Enterprise Initiative in Zambia is a joint program with the Red Cross Society. Street Youths are supported to start their own small business through business training, life skills training and access to credit.

Lessons Learned

The following lessons have emerged from the programs that S.K.I. and partner organizations have created.

● It’s important for all loans to be linked to training programs that include the development of basic business and life skills.

● Small loans are provided initially for purchasing fixed assets such as bicycles, shoe shining kits.

● All S.K.I. programs have charged interest on the loans, primarily to get the business runners used to the concept of paying interest on borrowing money. Generally the rates have been modest.

Conclusion

There is a need to recognize the importance of access to credit for poor young people seeking to fulfill economic needs.

1.The organization, S.K.I., aims to ________.

A. give business training and loans to street children

B. provide schools and social support for street children

C. share the lessons S.K. I. learned to help street children

D. draw the attention of the government to street children

2.This passage implies that with the help of S. K. I. street children may ________.

A. reject paid employmentB. set up their own business

C. leave their familiesD. employ other children

3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The link of all loans to training programs is important.

B. Interest is charged for the loans in all S.K.I. programs.

C. The S.K.I Bicycle Courier Service provides the participants with free bicycles.

D. The Youth Skills Enterprise Initiative in Zambia works with another organization.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍了一个帮助街道青年创业的国际组织——Street Kids International (S.K.I.)。

1.A 细节理解题。根据第一段的Over the past years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organizations in Africa, Latin America and India to support the economic lives of street children. 可知，S.K.I帮助街头青年的经济生活。故选A。

2. 细节理解题。根据Street Business Partnerships第二点中Street Youths are supported to start their own small business through business training, life skills training and access to credit.可知，S.K.I可以帮助青年人开创自己的事业。故选B。

3. 推理判断题。根据文章的描述S.K.I是提供资金，并非提供自行车等东西。故C项错误，选C。

考点：考查经济类阅读

【名师点睛】

英语高考阅读理解细节题解题技巧

一、语义转换题——跳读查找法这是做事实细节题最基本也是最常用的方法。在通常情况下，细节题主要考查考生对某句话或某几句话的理解，同学们若能根据题干内容从原文中找到相关的句子，然后进行比较和分析，便可确定最佳答案。

运用跳读查找法时，同学们要特别注意试题（包括选项）与原文之间的适当变换。根据近几年的考题情况来看，现在很少有直接用原文中的句子进行考查和测试的，而通常要进行一定的处理。而这种“处理”主要就是指进行语义转换，其中包括同义变换、概念解析、归纳事实等。比如第21题：细节理解题。根据第一段的Over the past years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organizations in Africa, Latin Africa and India to support the economic lives of street children. 可知S.K.I帮助青年的经济生活。故选A。

二、生活应用题——常识理解法生活应用题要求考生在读懂文章的基础上结合一定的生活常识进行判断。不过，有趣的是，高考有时会出现一些“低级”常识判断题，即无需看懂文章，也可选出最佳答案。

三、细节排序题——首尾定位法

这种试题要求考生根据动作发生的先后顺序和句子之间的逻辑关系，找出事件发生的正确顺序。同学们在做这种题时可采用“首尾定位法”，即最先找出第一个动作和最后一个动作，迅速缩小选择范围，从而快速选出正确答案。比如第23题：推理判断题。根据文章的描述S.K.I是提供资金，并非提供自行车等东西。故选C。

四、寻找信息题——题干定位法快速寻找信息题一般为功能阅读题，主要形式有广告、公告、演出信息、航班时间表等。做这类题时没有必要阅读全文，宜采用“题干定位法”。