Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 50 · What a Volunteer Actually Does
Audio track 50
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
I joined a volunteer team at the town sports day. I expected to lead games, but my first job was to fill water bottles and keep the entrance clear. “Is this really helping?” I asked the leader.
She showed me the schedule. If the entrance became crowded, younger children could not find their groups. If bottles were empty, players would have to leave the field. Small jobs kept the whole event moving.
Later, I helped a child find the right team. At the end of the day, I was tired but understood the word “support” differently. It did not always mean standing in front. Sometimes it meant noticing what needed to happen before anyone asked.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
我加入了镇上运动会的志愿者队伍，原以为自己会带大家做游戏。没想到，第一份工作是给水瓶装水，保持入口畅通。‘这些事真能帮上忙吗？’我问负责人。
她给我看活动日程。入口一旦拥挤，年纪小的孩子就找不到自己的队伍；水瓶空了，运动员就得离开场地。小事让整场活动得以顺利进行。
后来，我帮一名孩子找到了所属队伍。忙完一天，我很累，却对‘支持’有了不同理解：它不一定意味着站在前面。有时，是在别人开口之前，就留意到接下来需要做什么。
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 team
- 志愿者队伍；协助运动会运作。
- expect to do
- 预期做某事；主人公原以为要带游戏。
- lead
- 带领；引导大家开展游戏。
- fill
- 装满；给水瓶补水。
- keep ... clear
- 保持畅通；入口不能堵住。
- crowded
- 拥挤的；孩子难以找到队伍。
- whole event
- 整场活动；小任务影响整体流程。
- support
- 支持；不一定是台前工作。
- stand in front
- 站在前面；主人公原先想象的角色。
- notice
- 注意到；主动发现需要帮助的地方。
Background notes (Chinese)
大型活动能否顺利进行，常取决于补水、疏导入口、指引队伍等不起眼的任务。志愿服务的价值不只在台前，也在及时发现并完成这些支持工作。