Other social and global issues
Poverty, homelessness, unemployment, crime and discrimination, are examples of social and global issues. Develop your understanding of these issues and practise translation, reading and listening skills.
Reading practice - Foundation
Homelessness is a major social issue. As well as los 'sin techo', homeless people may also be referred to as los sin hogar, la gente sin hogar or even las personas que no tienen hogar.
Read this headline from an online newspaper.
El Ayuntamiento de Málaga ha puesto en marcha un nuevo centro para acoger temporalmente a jóvenes de 18 a 21 años que no tienen hogar.
- Question
What is this article about?
A new centre for young homeless people.
There is no need to translate the entire headline to answer this question. The text tells us that the town council in Málaga has opened a new centre to give temporary accommodation to young homeless people aged between 18 and 21, but all of the detail is not needed. Try to give a brief summary only without trying to include everything.
Now read the rest of the article.
Ayer abrió el primer centro municipal de alojamiento para jóvenes 'sin techo' de Málaga. Dispone de veinticinco plazas de acogida temporal para jóvenes entre 18 y 21 años, para estancias temporales no superiores a un año.
Cuando entran en el centro, los jóvenes necesitan tener un plan de acción para buscar trabajo y tienen que firmar un contrato. Cada uno tiene su habitación y deben cumplir con las tareas de limpieza de su cuarto y las zonas comunes. Todos los días a las seis de la tarde los habitantes del centro cenan juntos.
- Question
How many spaces are there?
25. The text says dispone de veinticinco plazas (it has twenty-five places). Be careful as more than one number is mentioned in the first paragraph.
- Question
How long can they stay there for? Choose the correct answer.
A over a year B up to a year C a year The correct answer is B (up to a year). The text says estancias temporales no superiores a un año (temporary stays no more than a year). Read this section carefully as the multiple-choice options are designed to catch you out.
- Question
What two things do they have to do when they enter? Choose the two correct answers.
A clean their room B have a plan to find work C pay money D sign a contract E lock the doors The correct answers are B (have a plan to find work) and D (sign a contract). The text says cuando entran en el centro, los jóvenes necesitan tener un plan de acción para buscar trabajo y tienen que firmar un contrato (when they enter the centre the young people need to have an action plan to look for work and they have to sign a contract).
- Question
What is everyone responsible for?
A cleaning their room B cleaning the kitchen C doing their laundry The correct answer is A (cleaning their room). The text says deben cumplir con las tareas de limpieza de su cuarto (they have to comply with the task of cleaning their room).
- Question
What happens every day at 6 o'clock?
A they have a meeting B they eat dinner together C they go out The correct answer is B (they have dinner together). The text says todos los días a las seis de la tarde los habitantes del centro cenan juntos (every day at six o'clock in the evening the residents of the centre have dinner together).