At 13, Hawa Abdulai Yorke left her family’s home, in Ghana, Africa, to live with an aunt who promised to send her to school. Instead, the aunt put Yorke to work as her maid(佣人). Determined to go to school, Yorke returned home and began selling water in a nearby city to raise money for her education. However, her father spent the money she had earned on a motorcycle.

Yorkers story is familiar to girls growing up in Ghana. There, a girl’s place is in the home. Educating girls is considered a waste of money.

“It happens more than it should, where parents have money to send their girls to school but choose not to,” says Ryan Roach, a volunteer in Ghana, where nearly 55% of girls are not allowed to attend secondary school. Cultural beliefs say education is not a wise investment (投资).

The White House’s Let Girls Learn is working to change this view of girls’ education, in Ghana and in countries worldwide. Former First Lady Michelle Obama says parents have to be persuaded that girls’ education is a better investment than household labor. A study shows that for every year of secondary-school education, a girl’s earning power increases by 18%. Today, Let Girls Learn works in 13 countries, and there are plans to expand the program. Recently, Let Girls Learn hosted a 24-hour event to come up with creative solutions for the barriers (障碍) to girls’ education.

Yorke, now 22, is about to finish high school. Thanks to Let Girls Learn, she plans to attend college and study computer science. She says working alongside college students at the Let Girls Learn event strengthened her determination. “I’m focused on my books,” says Yorke. “I know if I study hard, I, too, can go to university and live a happy life.”

【小题1】What was the attitude of Yorkers aunt towards girls attending school?

A．She was against it.	B．She had no idea of it.
C．She was in favor of it.	D．She considered it hard work.

【小题2】According to Ryan Roach, the reason for girls not receiving enough education is that

A．they are too busy to go to school

B．their families are too poor to afford it

C．there are few secondary schools for girls

D．cultural beliefs prevent girls from attending school

【小题3】What can we learn about Let Girls Learn?

A．It has spread all over the world.

B．It is a Ghana-based organization.

C．It aims to offer free education to girls.

D．It has got support from Michelle Obama

【小题4】What’s Yorke’s next plan?

A．To further her studies.

B．To join in Let Girls Learn.

C．To write some books for girls.

D．To get a computer-related job.