Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 47 · A Volunteer Shift at the Library
Audio track 47
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
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On Saturday, I helped at the town library for two hours. My job was to put returned books back on the shelves.
At first, I thought it would be easy. Then I saw the small labels on the books. Each number and letter showed where the book should go.
A little girl asked me where the animal books were. I could not answer right away, so I asked the librarian.
Volunteering did not mean I knew everything. It meant I was there to help and learn.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
星期六，我在镇上的图书馆当了两小时志愿者。我的任务是把归还的书放回书架。
起初我觉得这很容易，后来才注意到书上的小标签。每组数字和字母都指明这本书应该放在哪里。
一个小女孩问我动物类的书在哪里。我一时答不上来，就去请教图书管理员。
做志愿者不代表什么都知道，而是愿意在那里帮忙，也愿意学习。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- volunteer
- 志愿服务；主人公在图书馆帮忙。
- shift
- 班次、值班时间；这次持续两小时。
- returned book
- 归还的书；需要放回书架。
- shelf
- 书架；图书有固定摆放位置。
- label
- 标签；书上的数字和字母在上面。
- letter
- 字母；与数字一起标明位置。
- should go
- 应该放的位置；每本书都有对应书架。
- right away
- 立刻；主人公没能马上回答。
- librarian
- 图书管理员；帮助寻找动物类书籍。
- mean
- 意味着；结尾重新理解志愿服务。
Background notes (Chinese)
图书馆把书按一定规则编排，标签帮助工作人员和读者找回它们的位置。志愿者遇到不会回答的问题时，请教熟悉馆藏的管理员，也是认真服务的一部分。