Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Volunteering & Community Work

Exercises:   12345

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a local library reading buddy program.

There are descriptions of eight reading programs.

Decide which reading program would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to assist children aged 6-9 to improve their reading skills out loud. He finishes college at 4 p.m., so he needs an after-school role. He requires a completely silent environment to focus properly.

2   Maya enjoys reading with teenagers who find literacy difficult. She only has free time on Saturday mornings due to her studies. She wants a program that gives volunteers a printed certificate to show future employers.

3   Sam wants to help children who are learning English as a foreign language. He is looking for a weekday after-school position. Instead of a silent room, he prefers a lively place with group reading games.

4   Olivia is keen to read picture books to young children under five years old. She needs to volunteer on Sunday afternoons. She hopes the library offers a free training course before she begins her role.

5   Daniel wants to support primary-school kids with their reading homework. He is available right after his classes finish on weekdays. He travels by bus, so the library must be located right next to the main bus station.

Library Reading Buddy Programs

A The Whispering Pages

Join us between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Volunteers will listen to younger pupils, specifically those in their first few years of primary education, sound out their books. We enforce a strict no-talking rule for everyone else, ensuring the space remains perfectly peaceful without any background noise.

B Weekend Wordsmiths

We need helpers early every Saturday to support high schoolers who struggle with reading comprehension. You will guide them through complex texts and novels. To thank you for your time, we provide an official document confirming your volunteer hours, which looks fantastic on any job application. This program runs from 9 a.m. to midday.

C Global Voices Hub

We run afternoon sessions during the week for children arriving from other countries who need to practice their new vocabulary. We don’t believe in sitting in silence! Instead, our buddies play energetic vocabulary activities and fun pronunciation matches in a busy, noisy hall that kids absolutely love. It is perfect for active volunteers.

D Tiny Tales Corner

If you adore toddlers and babies, come share wonderful illustrated stories with them! Our sessions happen at the end of the weekend, right after lunch. Because working with little ones requires patience, our expert staff will provide a complimentary preparation workshop to teach you everything you need to know first.

E Next Stop Reading

Situated directly opposite the town’s central coach terminal, we are incredibly easy to reach. We need volunteers on weekday afternoons, once normal lessons finish, to help children aged seven to eleven complete their daily reading assignments. It is a wonderful, convenient way to give back to the local youth community!

F The Silent Study

We offer a completely noiseless environment for volunteers to help kids from foreign countries practice their reading. We are open from Monday to Friday, but our sessions only happen during the morning hours when children are usually on school trips. It is a very calm, serious place for youths to learn.

G Story Builders

We run a fantastic Saturday morning reading buddy scheme for toddlers and babies. If you love little ones, this is for you! We hand out a formal printed award to all our helpers at the end of the year. Please note that no introductory classes are provided for new staff.

H Central Chapters

Located just a one-minute walk from the main railway station, this program focuses on helping primary school pupils with their reading homework. However, we only run our sessions on Sunday mornings, so you will need to be available on the weekend. The atmosphere is very relaxed with quiet background music.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a beach rescue and cleanup group.

There are descriptions of eight beach rescue and cleanup groups.

Decide which group would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to join a group that meets very early in the morning. She is looking for an activity that focuses specifically on picking up plastic waste. Because she lives near the coast, she wants a group that operates in her local area.

2   Mark is looking for a group that meets on Sunday afternoons. He wants to help rescue injured seabirds and other wildlife. He also needs the organisers to provide all the necessary tools and protective clothing.

3   Chloe wants to clean up the beach on Saturday mornings. She is looking for a group that also teaches volunteers about local marine life. She doesn’t drive, so the meeting point must be very close to a bus stop.

4   David wants to collect rubbish and glass from the sand. He works during the day, so he needs an evening group that meets after sunset. He also wants a group that ends the activity with a barbecue on the beach.

5   Elena is looking for a group that removes fishing nets from the water. She wants an activity that happens every single morning. She has a car, so she needs a meeting spot with free parking nearby.

Beach Rescue and Cleanup Groups

A Coastal Guardians

If you reside by the sea, join our dedicated dawn patrol! We gather right on our local sands at 5:30 a.m. every day. Our main goal is to clear the shoreline of synthetic bottles and wrappers before the tide comes in. It’s a great way to start your day and protect your neighbourhood!

B Ocean Rescue Team

We meet every Sunday at 2 p.m. to protect our coastal environment. Our volunteers work hard to safely capture and treat hurt gulls and pelicans. You won’t need to buy your own thick gloves or boots, as our team leaders supply everything you need for the day.

C Sandy Shores Cleanup

Join us every Saturday at 9 a.m. for a fun morning of cleaning the coast! While we pick up trash, our expert guides will give a short talk explaining all about the fascinating crabs and fish that live here. The meeting location is just twenty metres from the main coastal transit stop, making it incredibly easy to reach.

D Sunset Sweepers

We gather at 8 p.m. under the stars to make our beaches safe again. Our volunteers spend the night searching the sand for sharp glass and hidden rubbish. Once our hard work is finished, everyone comes together around a warm fire to grill sausages and burgers right on the sand!

E Net Busters

Our team is dedicated to pulling dangerous, abandoned fishing ropes out of the shallow water. We meet every single day as the sun comes up to complete our mission. Volunteers who travel by vehicle can leave their cars in the large, complimentary area right behind the lifeguard tower.

F Blue Horizon Helpers

Blue Horizon Helpers meet every Saturday morning to collect general rubbish from the busy tourist beaches. We provide all the bags and grabbers you need. However, our meeting point is located far away from any public transport routes, so volunteers must either drive or walk a long distance to join us.

G The Morning Tide

We start our beach cleaning activities at 6 a.m. sharp every Sunday. Our volunteers focus on collecting natural debris like broken shells and seaweed to keep the sand looking perfect. We do not focus on removing man-made rubbish or synthetic materials. After we finish, we enjoy a hot coffee together at the local cafe.

H Evening Coast Care

Join our evening patrol every Thursday at 7 p.m. to help rescue stranded sea creatures. We provide headlamps and special animal carriers for all our volunteers. Unfortunately, there are no food or drink facilities nearby, so please remember to bring your own dinner if you get hungry after the shift.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a volunteer museum guide position.

There are descriptions of eight museum guide roles.

Decide which museum guide role would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Lucas wants to volunteer by leading groups of primary school children around the museum. He hopes this role will help him become a more confident public speaker. He is busy studying during the week and can only help on Sunday mornings.

2   Elena is fascinated by the history of her city and wants to discover more about its past. She prefers showing small families around instead of huge tourist crowds. She needs a position that provides volunteers with complimentary branded clothing.

3   Marco speaks fluent French and German, so he wants to guide international visitors. He suffers from bad allergies, so he must stay completely inside the building. He also wants a role that rewards helpers with free tickets to special art shows.

4   Sarah wants to bring the past to life by wearing traditional historical clothes while guiding tourists. She loves fresh air and specifically wants to work outdoors. She also hopes to receive an official piece of paper proving her volunteer experience.

5   David wants to study ancient machines and inventions. He hopes to be a guide for elderly guests or those who use wheelchairs, moving at a slow pace. As he lives far away, he needs the museum to pay for his bus tickets.

Unpaid Museum Guide Roles

A Future Explorers

Help us inspire the next generation! We need weekend volunteers to guide classes of young pupils from 9 a.m. until midday, every Sunday. Our expert trainers will teach you how to talk bravely and clearly in front of an audience, making this perfect for building your presentation abilities while dealing with kids.

B Town Heritage Tours

If you want to uncover the secrets of our town’s fascinating background, join our team! You will lead tiny groups of just three or four guests through our galleries, ensuring a personal experience. There is no need to worry about what to wear, as we give all our guides complimentary museum t-shirts and jackets.

C Global Treasures Gallery

We welcome thousands of tourists from abroad every day, so we desperately need guides who can converse in various European tongues. Your entire shift will be spent comfortably inside our climate-controlled halls. To say thank you, our helpers never have to pay to enter any of our temporary, exclusive displays.

D The Open-Air Village

Step back in time at our exterior museum! We need guides to walk tourists around our reconstructed historic farm while dressed in authentic nineteenth-century dresses or suits. It is a wonderful way to enjoy the sunshine. Once you complete fifty hours, we will present you with a formal document for your career portfolio.

E The Science of the Past

Discover how early civilizations created incredible tools and engines in our new history wing! We are looking for patient individuals to push chairs and assist our older visitors who have mobility issues. We understand commuting can be costly, so we will return any money you spend on public transport.

F Castle Ruins Experience

Do you love working outside in the fresh air? We need enthusiastic guides to walk primary school groups around our beautiful castle gardens and ruined walls. We run these specific tours from Monday to Friday only. Although we don’t provide official paperwork, you get free hot drinks in the cafe!

G City Museum Highlights

Learn all about the rich background of our famous city! We require loud, confident guides to lead massive crowds of up to fifty tourists at a time through our main halls. Volunteers must buy their own smart black clothes, but we will gladly cover the cost of your daily train journeys.

H The Palace Park

If you want to practice speaking clearly to groups in Spanish or German, come help us! You will lead foreign holidaymakers around our huge outdoor gardens, pointing out rare plants and statues. It is brilliant presentation practice, though volunteers do have to pay full price if they wish to view our indoor exhibitions.

Exercises:   12345