The most_________reason why people volunteer is to improve their skills.

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

European Union, almost 100 million citizens of all ages invest their time, talents and money to make a positive contribution to their community by volunteering in civil society organisations, youth clubs, hospitals, schools, in sport clubs, etc. For the Commission, volunteering is an active expression of civic participation which strengthens common European values such as solidarity and social cohesion. Volunteering also provides important learning opportunities, because involvement in voluntary activities can provide people with new skills and competences that can even improve their employability. This is especially important at this time of economic crisis. Volunteering plays an important role in sectors as varied and diverse as education, youth, culture, sport, environment, health, social care, consumer protection, humanitarian aid, development policy, research, equal opportunities and external relations.

Objectives of the Year:

1. To create an enabling and facilitating environment for volunteering in the EU;

2. To empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering;

3. To reward and recognise volunteering activities; and

4. To raise awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.

The Commission expects that the European Year of Volunteering will lead to an Increase In volunteering and to greater awareness of its added value, and that it will highlight the link between voluntary engagement at local level and its significance in the wider European context.

(EU Citizenship Portal)

1. What does the word “their” in paragraph 1 refer to?

Write a short paragraph (120 -150 words) about doing volunteer work.

You can use the following questions as cues:

* Why do people do volunteer work?

* Which volunteer activities do you like?

* What situations need volunteer workers?

*   What benefits can you get from volunteer work?

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There/ be/ lots/ reasons/ people/ want/ volunteer.

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Listen to the information about Rosa Louise McCauley Parks and (decide whether the statements are True (T) or False (F).                 

They are going to treat drinking water and widen roads in_________areas.