But the world of work has been less kind to other young folks. Florence Moreau, a young architect in Paris, had the double misfortune to leave university in 2009, when the world economy was on its knees; and to be French. "I really need a full­time, permanent job，" she says. Under France's 3，800­page labour code, workers on permanent contracts receive generous benefits and are extremely hard to get rid of. So French firms have all but stopped hiring permanent staff: Four­fifths of new employees are on short­term contracts. Ms Moreau has had eight jobs, none lasting for longer than 16 months. With a small child at home, she has to keep looking for the next one. "It's tiring，" she sighs.

　　Joblessness matters. The longer people are out of work, the more their skills and their self­confidence atrophy,_the less appealing they look to potential employers and the more likely they are to give up.

　　Trade unions often favour a minimum wage. This can help those who already have jobs, but if it is set too high it can crowd out those with the fewest skills and the least experience, who tend to be young.

　　A labour system where companies can hire and fire easily is urgently needed.

　　Making it easier for young people to start their own business is essential, too. They may be full of energy and open to new ideas.

　　Also, there is a huge mismatch everywhere between the skills that many young people can offer and the ones that employers need. Ms Fonseca says she cannot find the right talent for Talkdesk. As economies grow more complex, demand for practical skills will keep rising. The world's schools are not even close to meeting it.

　　8．What can we learn about Cristina Fonseca?

　　A．She does business only in Portugal.

　　B．When seeking a job, she was refused many times by employers.

　　C．Her company is not related to information technology.

　　D．She can't find the talents she wants.

　　9．What does the underlined word "atrophy" in Paragraph 4 mean?

　　A．Increase. B．Shrink.

　　C．Overcome. D．Survive.

　　10．Why can't Moreau find a permanent job?

　　A．Employers don't want to give workers good welfare.

　　B．She didn't finish university studies.

　　C．The world economy is booming.

　　D．The French government hasn't taken any measures for unemployment.

　　11．Which measure is actually useless for unemployment?

　　A．Making labour rules more flexible.

　　B．Training students to gain skills.

　　C．Raising the minimum wage.

　　D．Encouraging young people to start companies.

　　D

Twelve­year­old Leonardo was born in a poor family in Bambamarca in Peru. He knew how to read but he had never seen a book in his life. So he asked the new priest (牧师) in his village to give him one. But there was no electricity. So Leonardo borrowed candles from the church and sat