人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT15-1

On the annual International Volunteers Day, the world acknowledges¹ the work of millions of people who give their time to help others. Many of those who do voluntary work are young people, and the numbers are growing. Around 24,000 Young Volunteers Community Service Stations in China are welcoming increasing numbers of Chinese youth who want to make a contribution to society, and the work they are doing is important. As Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations said "... each contribution -- no matter how small -- can help make a difference." Lu Hao, Lin Ying and Meng Yu are just three of the 13.5 million young Chinese who are making a difference, and they are also discovering that being a volunteer brings many personal benefits.
 
Lu Hao is a middle school student in Guizhou, who joined the "1 helps 1" scheme of the Youth Volunteer Community Development Project last year. Every Tuesday and Friday he visits an elderly gentleman who lives alone. "Mr Zhao is weak and cannot do much for himself without getting breathless and dizzy, so I give him some assistance². I help with shopping, do jobs in the house, or read the newspaper to him as his eyesight is not good. But mostly we just drink tea and chat. He cannot get out to see his friends any more, so he enjoys having company." Since Lu Hao began his twice weekly visits, Mr Zhao's health has improved, and he feels more energetic and optimistic. Lu Hao has also found their relationship beneficial. Previously³ history was his weakest subject, but it is one which greatly interests Mr Zhao and they often discuss it. Mr Zhao's enthusiasm⁴ has inspired Lu Hao to concentrate more on history lessons and his grades have improved a great deal.
 
    When Lin Ying graduated from Zhengzhou Normal University, she decided⁵ not to apply for a job straight away. Instead she joined the Go West Project organized by the Communist Youth League of China.      
                                                                                            
 Now she is spending a year in a remote part of southwest China working as a volunteer teacher in a village school. "The people here are poor, but they have big hearts and make me feel very welcome. I am hoping to improve the standard of education in the school by introducing the modem⁶ teaching⁷ methods used in the east. It is hard work, but I get a lot of satisfaction because the kids are eager to learn. It is amazing to see how quickly they improve. I really feel I am doing something worthwhile and I am having a great time doing it." Lin Ying and the other volunteer teachers in rural⁸ areas have helped to achieve astonishing results. In one school the pass rate for the national exams rose from 25% to 75% in just one year. Education is essential to poverty relief, so Lin Ying's work is making a big difference to the children's future. At the same time she is acquiring valuable skills and experience for her own career. Voluntary work often opens up opportunities for young people because employers⁹ and education leaders know that it builds confidence, self-awareness¹⁰, good communication skills and leadership ability.
 
       Meng Yu is studying for her master's degree in Canada. She has a busy timetable, but still finds time for voluntary activities during the weekends. "Last month I took part in an event to help starving children in some of the least developed countries. Twenty-two of us went without food for 30 hours! It was a challenge, but we could drink as much as we liked and we had a doctor there, so it was not dangerous. We wanted to promote awareness of hunger because every day children are dying¹¹ of starvation. It was a great success. The local newspaper and TV reported it and we received many donations¹²." Meng Yu and her classmates organised this activity to raise money for a good cause, and in the process she formed strong friendships. "Coming to another country to study requires a big adjustment arid¹³ it takes a while to fit in. I used to feel lonely and homesick at times, but doing this with the other students brought us really close and I made new friends from different backgrounds. I also feel more positive. In the past I often felt I could not handle the pressure 0f studying, but this experience made me realise how lucky I am to have enough food and a chance to get a good education. It has given me the motivation to succeed."
 
         Lu Hao, Lin Ying and Meng Yu are all helping¹⁴ to make other people's lives better, and have found their own lives enriched¹⁵ as a consequence. By serving their local or national community, or an international project, youth volunteers become confident and mature. They also make great friends, gain new skills and increase their chances of getting the job of their dreams. Would you like to make a difference by becoming a volunteer?

1 acknowledges   

v.承认( acknowledge的第三人称单数 )；鸣谢；对…打招呼；告知已收到

参考例句：

• Chagrin is not something a great man often acknowledges. 一位伟大的人物往往是不肯承认自己恼羞成怒的。 来自辞典例句
• The Daily Food Guide acknowledges this by identifying the fat-sweets group. 每日膳食指南通过鉴定脂肪一糖类确认了这一点。 来自互联网

2 assistance   

n.援助，帮助

参考例句：

• She called and called but no one came to her assistance.她叫了又叫，但没有人来帮。
• He will get the great possible assistance.他将获得尽可能大的帮助。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 modem   

n.调制解调器

参考例句：

• Does your computer have a modem?你的电脑有调制解调器吗？
• Provides a connection to your computer via a modem.通过调制解调器连接到计算机上。

7 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

8 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。

9 employers   

雇主( employer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws. 雇主有义务遵行健康安全法。

10 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

11 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

12 donations   

n.捐赠( donation的名词复数 )；赠送；捐款；捐赠物

参考例句：

• The hospital receives a good deal of money in donations. 这家医院收到捐赠来的大笔款项。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The charity is completely reliant on public donations. 这一慈善团体完全依靠公众捐款。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 arid   

adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的

参考例句：

• These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。

14 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

15 enriched   

使富有( enrich的过去式和过去分词 )； 使富裕； 充实； 使丰富

参考例句：

• The study of science has enriched all our lives. 科学研究丰富了我们的整个生活。
• breakfast cereals enriched with vitamins 增加了维生素的早餐谷物食品