Unit 4: Volunteer work - Reading

Choose the correct word or phrase- a, b, c or d - that best completes the passage. In the United States, volunteering is (1) ______ as a good way to give children a sense of (2) ______ reponsibility and to bring the family together. Volunteerism is (3) ______ across the United States today because people are trying to put more emphasis on family (4) ______, and they are looking for ways to help young people have a feeling of hope and satisfaction. It is (5) ______ that volunteering helps children discover their talents, develop their skills, and learn about (6) ______ and problem solving. (7) ______ , family volunteering has some (8) ______ it benefits the community that is (9) ______, it benefits the family for serving together, and it benefits each (10) ______ in the family. 

Read the text carefully, then choose the correct answers. A YEAR WITH OVERSEAS VOLUNTEERS I was with Overseas Volunteers (OV) for a year after leaving university, and I was sent to an isolated village in Chad, about 500 km from the capital N'Djamena. Coming from' a rich country, I got quite a shock as conditions were much harder than I had expected. But after a few days I soon got used to living there. The people were always very friendly and helpful, and soon I began to appreciate how beautiful the countryside was. One of my jobs was to supply the village with water. The well was a long walk away. And the women used to spend a long time every day carrying heavy pots backwards and forwards. So I contacted organization and arranged to have some pipes delivered. We built a simple pipeline and a pump, and it worked first time. It wasn't perfect - there were a few leaks, but it made a great difference to the villagers, who had never had running water before. And not only did we have running water, but in the evenings it was hot, because the pipe had been lying in the sun all day. All in all, I think .my time with OV was a good experience. Although it was not well-paid, it was well worth doing, and I would recommend it to anyone who was considering working for a charity.