Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Volunteering & Community Work 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a volunteer position at a youth summer school.

There are descriptions of eight summer school programs.

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

1   Lucas has helped out at kids’ clubs before. He wants to volunteer from Monday to Friday this summer. He loves being outdoors and is looking for a role where he can accompany children on day excursions.

2   Sofia can only volunteer on Saturdays and Sundays. She is very energetic and wants to lead sports games for the teenagers. She also hopes the program will give her an official document to prove she completed the work.

3   Wei doesn’t have a car, so his volunteer location must be near a train or bus station. He wants to help teenagers with painting and drawing. He only has a fortnight free to give his time this summer.

4   Emma loves baking and wants to help organise simple cooking classes. She prefers working with little kids under the age of eight. Because she is a student with no money, she needs a place that provides lunch for free.

5   Jamal is looking for an evening volunteer position. He plays the guitar and wants to help youths put on a musical show. He is also studying French and wants a role where he can practice speaking it with international students.

Youth Summer School Programs

A Adventure Quest Summer Camp

If you have a background in supervising youths, we need you! Our camp runs daily throughout the working week. Volunteers will leave the camp building every morning to guide our groups on exciting outdoor adventures and visits to local nature spots. Come and share your valuable skills with us!

B Explore More Youth Club

We run weekend-only activity programs for local teens. You don’t need any previous history of working with youths, as our managers will teach you everything. You will travel by bus to accompany the kids on exciting museum visits and park outings. It is a great way to spend your Saturdays!

C Little Chefs Academy

We need enthusiastic helpers for our kitchen program, designed specially for little ones aged five to seven. You will assist them in making delicious biscuits and simple sandwiches. In return for your hard work, all volunteers receive complimentary hot meals during their shift to keep their energy up. Join us!

D Creative Minds Project

Our creative camp is situated directly opposite the main city railway stops, making it incredibly easy to reach. We need assistants to support teens with their sketching and painting projects. We offer short-term placements, so you can join our friendly team for just fourteen days during the summer break.

E Teen Talent Hub

We are looking for daytime volunteers to help teenagers aged thirteen to fifteen learn how to play instruments and act on stage. Although we cannot provide any food or drinks for staff, you will have a wonderful time helping older kids discover their confidence. Basic musical ability is required.

F Global Stage School

Our fantastic sunset program operates from 6 p.m. onwards. We are hosting a large group of teenagers from Paris this year, giving you the perfect chance to improve your spoken French! Volunteers will assist these talented youths in practicing their instruments and performing a spectacular pop concert for their parents.

G Active Youth Centre

This fantastic summer program needs weekend volunteers to referee football and basketball matches for active local teenagers. The sports hall is located right next to the main bus station for easy travel. We require a minimum commitment of two months. Please note that we cannot offer any formal volunteer qualifications.

H Champion Sports Camp

If you want to spend your Saturdays and Sundays keeping fit, this is the place for you! We need energetic people to organise athletics and team games for teenagers. At the end of the summer, every helper receives a printed, signed qualification demonstrating their hard work and dedication to youth leadership.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a program to help them get a job.

There are descriptions of eight youth employment programs.

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

1   Leo wants a program that operates only on Saturdays because he studies during the week. He hopes to get one-on-one advice from an experienced professional. He needs a location in a local community center so he can walk there.

2   Maya is looking for evening classes to help her prepare for her job search. She wants to learn how to answer difficult questions from employers. She also needs someone to help her write her first CV.

3   David enjoys being in nature and hopes to discover how to find outdoor employment. He is looking for a training program that will actually pay him while he learns. He is only free to participate on Sundays.

4   Sophia wants to get a job in technology but has no experience. She needs a program she can join from her home computer. She also wants to create a collection of digital projects to show to future bosses.

5   Ahmed wants to work in a shop and needs to understand customer service. He is looking for a weekday morning program. He wants a course that gives him a formal certificate to prove his new skills.

Youth Employment Programs

A The Hub Job Club

Based at the local public hall, we offer a fantastic employment project just for teenagers. Every Saturday, you will be paired with a successful business expert who will guide you personally through your job search. Please note, our building is completely closed on Sundays and throughout the standard working week.

B Future Stars

Join our after-dark workshops designed to get you hired! We will show you exactly how to design a professional document detailing your skills and education. Furthermore, we do role-play exercises to practice speaking confidently with hiring managers. Sessions run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday.

C Green Careers

Do you want a career working with plants or wildlife? Our weekend project takes place exclusively on the last day of the weekend. You will spend time in local parks learning forestry skills. Best of all, you receive a weekly wage for the hours you spend training with us!

D Digital Path

Discover how to find employment in the computing industry without ever leaving your bedroom! Our completely web-based classes help you learn coding and software design. By the end of the course, you will have built a personal website displaying your best work, which you can easily send to technology companies.

E Shop Skills Academy

Prepare for your first store position with our early-day classes! Running Monday through Friday before midday, this program teaches you how to politely handle shoppers and use a cash register. Upon finishing, every student receives an official printed document proving they are fully trained and ready for retail employment.

F Town Square Youth

Located at the main community center, we run a fantastic job preparation group every Saturday morning. You will work in large teams of teenagers to search for available positions online. We don’t have individual advisors, but our group activities are a great way to make friends while job hunting.

G Career Builders

Need help writing your resume or practicing for meetings with employers? We have experts ready to help you shine in front of bosses! Our office is open for drop-in sessions from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. We are completely shut in the evenings and over the entire weekend.

H Office Prep Plus

Earn a real salary while you learn! We offer a fantastic paid preparation program teaching teenagers how to do standard administrative work like typing and filing. You will train inside our modern city-center office building. We hold these sessions exclusively on Sundays, so it won’t interrupt your regular school studies.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a park litter picking group to join.

There are descriptions of eight litter picking groups.

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

1   Anna wants to help clean up her local green space. She is only free to join an activity on Sunday mornings. She doesn’t own any bags or gloves, so she needs a group that lends equipment to volunteers.

2   Ben wants to collect rubbish and also help to plant new trees. He is looking for a group that meets on Sunday afternoons. After working hard, he would like to buy a hot drink to warm up.

3   Chloe is looking for an outdoor litter picking group just for teenagers. She needs an activity that happens every Sunday without fail. She also requires an official certificate of her volunteer work for a school project.

4   David wants to tidy up a park located next to a river. He works on weekends, so he needs a group that meets during the week. He also hopes to learn interesting facts about local wildlife.

5   Elena wants to collect rubbish in a large forest park with lots of trees. She wants a group where she can bring her pet dog. She also needs the organisers to provide all the necessary cleaning tools.

Park Litter Picking Groups

A Green Rescuers

Join our weekly nature rescue team! We gather at the end of the weekend from 9 a.m. until midday to remove plastic from the grass. Don’t worry if you lack supplies; we give everyone protective hand-wear and rubbish sticks. Enjoy a wonderful time improving the local environment with friendly neighbours.

B Greenhill Meadows Team

Help us keep Greenhill Meadows beautiful! We gather on the last day of the week at 2 p.m. Volunteers spend time clearing waste and putting young plants into the ground. When the hard work finishes, everyone goes to the visitor centre’s snack bar to purchase delicious tea and warm coffee.

C Youth Action

Youth Action is a brilliant outdoor cleanup club designed strictly for people aged 13 to 19. We gather in the public gardens once a week, on the final day of the weekend. At the end of the year, we hand out printed documents proving your community service for your teachers.

D Riverside Rescuers

The Riverside Rescuers meet every Wednesday to remove trash from the water’s edge. While we work together, our expert guide will teach you all about the birds and fish living in the area. Please remember to bring your own bags and equipment, as we do not supply any cleaning items.

E Oakwood Reserve Helpers

Come to Oakwood Reserve and help us clear waste from the paths under the tall, ancient trees. We welcome volunteers and their four-legged animal friends to join the fun. You won’t need to bring anything from home, as we hand out thick gloves and long grabbers to all our helpers.

F City Street Cleaners

The City Street Cleaners gather every Sunday morning to remove rubbish from the busy shopping centre pavements. We supply everything you need, including protective gloves and bags. It is a great way to help the town, though we strictly clean concrete areas and do not visit parks or green spaces.

G Blue Water Team

The Blue Water Team focuses on keeping the paths beside the river completely free of rubbish. We meet on Sunday afternoons to enjoy the fresh air and protect nature. After we finish collecting waste, we go straight home, as there are absolutely no food or drink facilities near the site.

H Pine Tree Valley

Join us at Pine Tree Valley to clear rubbish and plant beautiful new flowers deep in the forest. We provide all the spades and rubbish bags you need for the day. Because we want to protect the wild rabbits and birds, we ask that you strictly leave your pets at home.

Exercises:   123456