阅读理解 One of the largest youth organizations in the world is the 4-H, an organization of clubs for young people between 9 and 19．The main purpose of 4-H is to provide young people with the practical skills and understanding they will need to become useful members of their communities．The four H’s stand for head, heart, hands, and health．? When 4-H clubs first began in America in the early 1900s, members were mostly young people from rural(乡村的)areas．The focus was on farm projects, such as raising pigs and growing and canning food．Today over 75％ of the club members come from towns, cities, and suburbs, and hundreds of projects exists, each adapted to its geographical area．While rural districts abound in conservation, forestry, and farm management projects, projects in urban(城市的)areas often involve nutrition(营养学), health, automotive care, and money management．? The 4-H program in America is a joint service of the U．S．Department of Agriculture, state universities, and county governments．Additional funding(供以款项)is provided by business firms and private organizations．Members of the clubs are guided by volunteer adult leaders and their teenage assistants．In the clubs, 4-H’ers learn about and work on solving serious problems that face their communities, issues like environmental protection and community safety．? In addition to the 4-H clubs in the U．S．states and territories, more than eighty countries, have adapted the 4-H idea to fit their own needs．In the less developed countries, many clubs offer courses in proper nutrition and in new farming technology． |
