Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Mar 28, 2025, 05:27

The IELTS Reading section tests your ability to understand and analyse different types of texts. You will have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions based on three passages, which assess skills like identifying main ideas, recognising opinions, and understanding specific details. The texts are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers to reflect real-world reading situations.
 

Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading answer passage explores how microfinance initiatives support street youth by providing small loans to help them start businesses. It examines the impact of these programmes on economic independence and social stability.
 

Let’s look at the Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth reading answer passage, questions, and answers with explanations.

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1. Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answer Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 13 based on the Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer Passage below.

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2. Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth.

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1.

Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answer Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answer Passage

 


Paragraph A. "I am from a large, poor family and for many years we have done without breakfast. Ever since I joined the Street Kids International program, I have been able to buy my family sugar and buns for breakfast. I have also bought myself decent second-hand clothes and shoes." 

 

Doreen Soko
 

Paragraph B. 'We’ve had business experience. Now I'm confident to expand what we've been doing. I've learnt cash management, and the way of keeping money so we save for re- : investment. Now, business is a part of our lives. As well, we didn't know each other before - now we've made new friends.'

 

Fan Kaoma

 

Participants in the Youth Skills Enterprise Initiative Program, Zambia


Introduction

 

Paragraph C. 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 young people. Even less attention has been paid to children living on the street or in difficult circumstances.

 

Paragraph D. Over the past nine years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organisations 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 partners have learned.
 

Background

 

Paragraph E. Typically, children do not end up on the streets due to a single cause, but to a combination of factors: a dearth of adequately funded schools, the demand for income at home, family breakdown and violence. 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, urban crime, and abuse.

 

Paragraph F. Children who work on the streets are generally involved in unskilled, labour-intensive tasks which require long hours, such as shining shoes, carrying goods, guarding or washing cars, and informal trading. Some may also earn income through begging, or through theft and other illegal activities. At the same time, there are street children who take pride in supporting themselves and their families and who often enjoy their work. Many children may choose entrepreneurship because it allows them a degree of independence, is less exploitative than many forms of paid employment, and is flexible enough to allow them to participate in other activities such as education and domestic tasks.
 

Street Business Partnerships

 

Paragraph G. S.K.I. has worked with partner organisations 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, and which they were required to pay for gradually from their wages. A similar program was taken up in Bangalore, India.
     
  • Another successful project, The Shoe Shine Collective, was a partnership program with the Y.W.C.A. in the Dominican Republic. In this project, participants were lent money to purchase shoe shine boxes. They were also given a safe place to store their equipment and facilities for individual savings plans.
     
  • The Youth Skills Enterprise Initiative in Zambia is a joint program with the Red Cross Society, and the Y.W.C.A. Street youths are supported to start their own small business through business training, life skills training and access to credit.

 

Lessons learned

 

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

 

  • Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, nor for every street child. Ideally,  potential participants will have been involved in the organisation's programs for atleast six months, and trust and relationship building will have already been established.
     
  • The involvement of the participants has been essential to the development of relevant programs. When children have had a major role in determining procedures, they are more likely to abide by and enforce them.
     
  • It is critical for all loans to be linked to training programs that include the development of basic business and life skills.
     
  • There are tremendous advantages to involving parents or guardians in the program, where such relationships exist. Home visits allow staff the opportunity to know where the participants live, and to understand more about each individual’s situation.
     
  • Small loans are provided initially for purchasing fixed assets such as bicycles, shoe shine kits and basic building materials for a market stall. As the entrepreneurs gain experience, the enterprises can be gradually expanded, and consideration can be given to increasing loan amounts, The loan amounts in S.K.I. programs have generally ranged from US$30-$100.
     
  • All S.K.I. programs have charged interest on the loans, primarily to get the entrepreneurs used to the concept of paying interest on borrowed money. Generally, the rates have been modest (lower than bank rates).

 

Conclusion

 

Paragraph I. There is a need to recognise the importance of access to credit for impoverished young people seeking to fulfil economic needs. The provision of small loans to support the entrepreneurial dreams and ambitions of youth can be an effective means to help them change their lives. However, we believe that credit must be extended in association with other types of support that help participants develop critical life skills as well as productive businesses.
 

Let’s explore the questions and answers of the Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth  Reading passage.

2.

Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below.

Questions and Answers 1-4
  • Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
  • Write your answers in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

 

1. The quotations in the box at the beginning of the article

 

A. exemplify the effects of S.K.I.

B. explain why S.K.I. was set up.

C. outline the problems of street children.

D. highlight the benefits to society of S.K.I.
 

2. The main purpose of S.K.I. is to

 

A. draw the attention of governments to the problem of street children.

B. provide schools and social support for street children.

C. encourage the public to give money to street children.

D. give business training and loans to street children,
 

3. Which of the following is mentioned by the writer as a reason why children end up living on the streets?

 

A. unemployment

B. war

C. poverty

D. crime
 

4. In order to become more independent, street children may

 

A. reject paid employment.

B. leave their families.

C. set up their own businesses.

D. employ other children.
 

Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth  Reading Answers with Explanations (1- 4)

 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.
     
1. A - exemplify the effects of S.K.I

 

Reference: From Paragraph A: “Ever since I joined the Street Kids International program, I have been able to buy my family sugar and buns for breakfast.”

 

Explanation: This statement shows how joining the S.K.I. program has directly benefited Doreen Soko by improving her family's financial situation. This exemplifies the impact of S.K.I., making option “A” the correct answer.

 

2. D - give business training and loans to street children

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: "Over the past nine years, Street Kids International (S.K.I.) has been working with partner organisations 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 partners have learned."

 

Explanation: This line highlights S.K.I.'s main purpose—helping street children by providing them with economic opportunities, which includes business training and loans. Hence, option “D” is correct.
 

3. C - poverty

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: "Typically, children do not end up on the streets due to a single cause, but to a combination of factors: a dearth of adequately funded schools, the demand for income at home, family breakdown and violence."

 

Explanation: The demand for income at home suggests that poverty is a key reason why children end up on the streets. This supports option “C” as the correct answer.
 

4. wooded interglacials

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: "Many children may choose entrepreneurship because it allows them a degree of independence, is less exploitative than many forms of paid employment, and is flexible enough to allow them to participate in other activities such as education and domestic tasks."

 

Explanation: This sentence states that children prefer entrepreneurship because it gives them independence, confirming that setting up their own businesses is a way for them to become self-reliant. Thus, option “C” is the right answer.

 

To build a strong word bank that can help you approach the Reading section with clarity and confidence, go through the list of IELTS Reading Vocabulary!

Questions and Answers 5-8
  • Complete the table below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 5-8 on your answer sheet.

 

Country Organisations Involved Type of Project Support Provided
5 ______
  • S.K.I.
    		•  courier service
  • provision of 6 _____
    		•
    Dominican Republic
  • S.K.I.
  • Y.W.C.A.
    		•  7 _____
  • loans
  • storage facilities
  • savings plans
    		•
    Zambia
  • S.K.I.
  • The Red Cross
  • Y.W.C.A.
    		•  setting up small businesses
  • business training
  • 8_____ training
  • access to credit
    		•

     

    Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth  Reading Answers With Explanations (5-8)

     

    Type of question: Table Completion

     

    Under this task, you are required to fill in missing information in a table based on the information provided in the passage. These questions typically appear as part of the matching information or summary completion tasks.

     

    How to best answer: 

     

    • Quickly skim the passage for the main idea and relevant details.
    • Note keywords or headings in the table to place missing information.
    • Read surrounding sentences carefully for specific details.
    • Use accurate and grammatically correct information from the passage.
    • Verify and finalise your answers.

     

    5. Sudan and India

     

    Reference: From Paragraph G: “The S.K.I. Bicycle Courier Service first started in the Sudan.”

     

    Explanation: This line confirms that the S.K.I. Bicycle Courier Service was initially launched in Sudan and later expanded to India. Since both locations are explicitly mentioned as part of the programme, "Sudan and India" is the correct answer.

     

    6. bicycles

     

    Reference: From Paragraph G: “Participants in this enterprise were supplied with bicycles, which they used to deliver parcels and messages, and which they were required to pay for gradually from their wages.”

     

    Explanation: This line states that bicycles were provided to participants as part of the S.K.I. Bicycle Courier Service, enabling them to work as couriers. Since bicycles were the key resource given to them, "bicycles" is the correct answer.
     

    7. Shoe Shine// Shoe Shine Collective

     

    Reference: From Paragraph G: "Another successful project, The Shoe Shine Collective, was a partnership program with the Y.W.C.A. in the Dominican Republic."

     

    Explanation: This line specifies that the Shoe Shine Collective was a joint initiative with the Y.W.C.A. in the Dominican Republic. Since the project is directly named, "Shoe Shine" or "Shoe Shine Collective" is the correct answer.

     

    8. life skills

     

    Reference: From Paragraph G: “Street youths are supported to start their own small business through business training, life skills training and access to credit.”

     

    Explanation: This line highlights that street youths received life skills training alongside business training and financial support. Since life skills training was explicitly mentioned as part of the programme, "life skills" is the correct answer.

    Questions and Answers 9-12
    Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth Reading Answers Passage?
    In boxes 9-12 on your answer sheet, write
    • YES if the statement agrees with the information.
    • NO if the statement contradicts the information.
    • NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this.

     

    9. Any street child can set up their own small business if given enough support.

    10. In some cases, the families of street children may need financial support from S.K.I.

    11. Only one fixed loan should be given to each child.

    12. The children have to pay back slightly more money than they borrowed.

     

    Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth  Reading Answers With Explanations (9-12)

     

    Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

     

    In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

     

    How to best answer: 
     

    • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
    • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
    • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
    • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
    • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

     

    9. No

     

    Reference: From Paragraph H: "Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone nor for every street child."

     

    Explanation: This line clearly states that entrepreneurship is not suitable for every street child. It implies that even with enough support, not all children can successfully start a small business. Therefore, the claim that any street child can do so is incorrect, making "NO" the right answer.

     

    10. Not Given

     

    Reference: N/A

     

    Explanation: The passage does not provide any information regarding financial support for the families of street children. Since there is no reference to S.K.I. offering such assistance, it is impossible to determine whether the statement is true or false. Therefore, the correct answer is "NOT GIVEN".

     

    11. No

     

    Reference: From Paragraph H: "Small loans are provided initially for purchasing fixed assets such as bicycles, shoe shine kits and basic building materials for a market stall.”

     

    Explanation: This line shows that small loans are initially given for fixed assets, but additional loans may be provided as children gain experience. It contradicts the idea that only one fixed loan is given to each child. Therefore, the statement is incorrect, making "NO" the right answer.

     

    12. Yes

     

    Reference: From Paragraph H: "Generally, the rates have been modest (lower than bank rates).”

     

    Explanation: This line states that S.K.I. programs charge interest on loans, meaning children must repay more than they borrowed. Although the interest rates are lower than those of banks, repayment still exceeds the original loan amount. This supports the statement, making "YES" the correct answer.

     

    Also, check out: IELTS Reading Practice Test 2025 with Sample Answers

    Questions and Answers 13
    • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C or D.
    • Write your answer in box 13 on your answer sheet.

     

    13. The writers conclude that money should only be lent to street children

     

    A. as part of a wider program of aid.

    B. for programs that are not too ambitious.

    C. when programs are supported by local businesses.

    D. if the projects planned are realistic and useful.
     

    Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth  Reading Answers With Explanations (13)
     

    Type of question: Multiple choice questions

     

    In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

     

    How to best answer: 
     

    • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
    • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
    • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
    • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
    • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.

     

    13. A - as part of a wider program of aid.

     

    Reference: From Paragraph I: “However, we believe that credit must be extended in association with other types of support that help participants develop critical life skills as well as productive businesses.”

     

    Explanation: This line suggests that financial aid alone is not enough for street children. It must be combined with other support systems like life skills training and business development to ensure long-term success, making "as part of a wider program of aid" the correct answer.

     

    Read more about the IELTS General Reading Practice Test 2025
    3.

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    Below are some top 35+ free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. We have provided sample passages for each test type for your reference.
     

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    FAQs

    Q. What are common keywords in the Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth reading passage?

    Ans. Common keywords may include microfinance, street youth, entrepreneurship, small loans, financial independence, business development, and economic empowerment. Identifying synonyms and paraphrased forms of these words can help locate key information in the passage.

    Q. How to answer matching headings questions in Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth reading passage?

    Ans. First, skim the passage to understand the main idea of each paragraph. Then, match the headings based on keywords, synonyms, and overall themes. Avoid selecting headings just because they contain familiar words—focus on the paragraph’s central idea.

    Q. What is a challenging aspect of the Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth reading passage?

    Ans. One challenge is understanding complex financial terms and their implications. The passage may also include paraphrased information, making it harder to locate exact answers. Additionally, multiple-choice and matching headings questions can be tricky due to similar answer options.

    Q. Are Micro Enterprise Credit For Street Youth passages part of the IELTS Academic or General Reading?

    Ans. This passage is typically found in the IELTS Academic Reading test. It discusses financial programs and their impact on youth, which aligns with the more analytical and research-based focus of the Academic module.

    Q. Is there a specific vocabulary I should focus on for the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. Yes, focus on academic and topic-specific vocabulary related to common IELTS themes like education, environment, business, health, and technology. Learn synonyms and paraphrasing techniques, as IELTS passages often rephrase key terms in questions.

    Q. Are there any tips for guessing answers in the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. If unsure, use context clues, eliminate unlikely options, and look for keywords or synonyms in the passage. For True/False/Not Given questions, be careful not to assume information that isn't mentioned. Always make an educated guess rather than leaving an answer blank.

    Q. How is the IELTS Reading test scored?

    Ans. The test consists of 40 questions, with each correct answer earning one point. The total score is converted into a band score ranging from 1 to 9. Academic and General Reading tests have different score conversion charts.

    Q. Are spelling mistakes penalised for the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. Yes, spelling mistakes can result in a wrong answer, especially in fill-in-the-blank and short-answer questions. Ensure correct spelling and avoid unnecessary capitalisation or incorrect word forms.

    Q. Is grammar necessary for the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. While grammar isn’t directly tested, it is important for short-answer and sentence-completion questions. Using the wrong tense or singular/plural form can lead to incorrect answers.

    Q. What are some common misconceptions about the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. Many believe they must understand every word, but comprehension of key ideas is more important. Another misconception is that answers appear in order—while this is often true, some question types require a broader understanding of the passage.

    Q. How can I stay calm and focused during the IELTS Reading test?

    Ans. Practise timed reading regularly to build confidence. If stuck on a question, move on and return later. Deep breathing and positive self-talk can help manage stress. Stay focused by underlining keywords and keeping track of time.