For years, children in the industrial areas of Europe and America seldom left their smoky
In 1970, a young German schoolmaster had an idea which changed this state of affairs. He decided to turn his little schoolhouse into a dormitory or hostel for the summer holidays. Anyone who brought his sleeping bag and cooking equipment along could stay there for a very small quantity of money. The idea was a success. A few years later, the schoolhouse was much too small to hold the many young people who wanted to stay there. As a result, a dormitory was set up in an old castle nearby. This was the first Youth Hostel.
Today, young students and workers of every country can meet in the hostel and get to know each other. When young people arrive at the hostel, they have only to show their card of membership in a hostel organization in their own country. This card will permit him to use the facilities of hostels all over the world for very low prices.
Often, at the evening meal, a group of boys and girls from various parts of the country or the world will happen to meet at the same hostel. They may put their food together and prepare a dinner with many kinds of dishes. Sometimes a program will be organized after the meal with dances, songs, or short talks followed by a question period. One can learn a lot of things about other places, just by meeting people who come from those places. For this reason, a few weeks spent "hostelling" can be just as useful a part of one's education as classes in school.
The author says children in the city seldom went to the woods and fields because
A.all these places were too far away for them to go between morning and nightfall
B.it was impossible for them to go and get back in one day
C.they were not old enough to take such a trip
D.they were not permitted to go to these places