Unit4-Reading-Listening
Unit 4: VOLUNTEER WORK
Each nation has many people who voluntarily take care of others. For example, many high school and college students in the United States often spend many hours as volunteers in hospitals, orphanages or homes for the aged. They read books to the people in these places. Sometimes the students just visit them, play games with them or listen to their problems.
Other young volunteers work in the homes of sick or old people. They clean up their houses, do their shopping or mow their lawns. For boys who no longer have fathers, there is a voluntary organization called Big Brothers. College students take these boys to baseball games and help them to get to know things that boys usually learn from their fathers.
Some high school students take part in helping disadvantaged or handicapped children. They give care and comfort to them and help them to overcome their difficulties. Young college and university students participate in helping the people who have suffered badly in wars or natural disasters. During summer vacations, they volunteer to work in remote or mountainous areas to provide education for children.
Each city has a number of clubs where boys and girls can go to play games. Some of these clubs organise short trips to the mountains, beaches or other places of interest. Most of these clubs use a lot of high school and college students as volunteers because they are young enough to understand the problems of younger boys and girls.
Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others.