This document contains a reading comprehension exercise about a passage on voluntary work. The passage discusses how a woman named Eileen has been volunteering for three years and enjoys helping others. It explains that young people often volunteer to feel good about themselves and make a difference. They have opportunities to choose activities related to their interests, such as helping animals, children, sick people, or teaching sports. Volunteering provides benefits like experience, skills, confidence and an advantage when applying for jobs or internships.

1. Bem Explicado
Centro de Explicações Lda.
Inglês 9º Ano – Teste Diagnóstico
Nome: _________________________________________________ Data: ___/___/___
Voluntary work
My name is Eileen and I’ve been working as a volunteer for three years. I started when I as still at
school and now, while I’m writing applications letters and waiting for job interviews. I’m carrying on
with this type of work.
Sometimes people ask me that what makes these young people spend their free time in the
service of others instead of enjoying themselves doing what most teens usually do. Well, many
young people decided to do voluntary work because they get the chance to feel good about
themselves. It can be very gratifying. They feel they can make a difference being useful to
someone in need (they often think adults don’t listen to them or take them seriously). On the other
hand they can choose what they want to do. For example, if they like animals, they may help out a
local animal shelter. If they like children, there are many ways in which they may be useful. If they
care about old people, they may help out a retirement home. If they like to help the sick, they may
work with organizations that raise money for research or they may go to hospital and keep ill
people company. If they like sports, they may work in clubs teaching children to play basketball,
tennis, football, etc. at the same time they meet other young people who have similar interests.
They may make new friends, have fun, gain experience, confidence, develop their sense of
responsibility and learn new skills that may be very useful in future.
When the time comes to choose a career or to get a job, things may be easier because they
already know the kind of tasks they are best and which things they enjoy the most. Besides, the
experience they acquired may be of great advantage when they write their CV’s or to job
interviews.
I – COMPREHENSION
a) Who/ What do the following words refer to?
1. This type of work (line 3) _______________________________________________
2. Me (line 4) ___________________________________________________________
3. Their (line 4) __________________________________________________________
4. They (line 6) __________________________________________________________
b) Choose the meaning of the words or expressions in the box.
Have the opportunity
work in activities they feel strongly about
A house for old people Spend time with them so that don’t feel lonely
The feeling of being sure about yourself
a place to keep abandoned animals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Get the chance _________________________________________________________
Get involved in issues they care about ____________________________________
Animal shelter ___________________________________________________________
A retirement community _________________________________________________
Keep people company __________________________________________________
Confidence _____________________________________________________________

2. c) Find evidence in the text for the following statements.
1. Voluntary work is not a new activity for Eileen.
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2. At the moment she is looking for a job.
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3. People don’t understand why these teenagers are volunteers.
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4. Young people work as a volunteer because they are happy with it.
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5. They believe grown-ups don’t pay much attention to them.
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d) Answer the following questions:
1. When did Eileen star her voluntary work?
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2. Why is being a volunteer gratifying and enjoyable?
a) _________________________________________________________________________
b) _________________________________________________________________________
c) _________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the different types of voluntary work mentioned in the text?
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4. Which one would you like to do? Explain why.
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5. What are the personal advantages of being volunteer?
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3. 6. How important is it to have done voluntary work to get a job?
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e) Complete the following.
1. 1964 was the year ____________________________________________________
2. “Hangman” was ____________________________________________________
3. She says “I’ve hit the jackpot when ___________________________________
II – COMPOSITION
To apply for a job you must write a application letter. The letter below is an
example.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriated words.
18, Spencer St.
London SW 12
Smith and Co.
Bellevue Av. 289
Cambridge
CI23YD
_________________________________
___________________________________
I am writing to ______________ for the position of assistant web programmer
which was ________________ in this morning’s Guardian.
I ________ twenty-two years old and I ____________ a University degree in
Social Studies. I am a friendly person and I find it easy to communicate with
other people, old or ___________________.
As you can see from the enclosed ________________ I am currently studying
computing and have all the relevant _____________________ you are looking for.
I also have three years experience with web programming and I worked as a
volunteer in a summer camp. Three years ago I had a part-time in a Youth
Centre. I am highly _______________ and enjoy working alone or as a part of a
team.
I hope that you will consider me for this ____________ and I look forward to
hearing from you soon for a possible ___________________.
Yours _____________________________
Robert Smith.

4. III – GRAMMAR
a) The interview is usually the second step when you’re looking for a job. Put
the words in these questions in the correct order.
1. Here work why want you do to?
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2. Your what skills are?
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3. Leave why do to your want you current job?
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4. Much want do earn you how to?
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5. Have questions do you any job about this?
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6. Start you immediately can?
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b) Choose the most suitable for each space.
The wrong age for school!
Are the years you ____________(1)at school the best years of your life?
Personally, I found most ____________(2) very uninteresting. We had to sit at our
____________(3) in silence and ____________(4) attention.
The teachers used to ____________(5) on the blackboards and
____________(6) us difficult questions. We also had to ____________(7) lots of
homework, and ____________(8) it on time.We had to wear a school ____________(9)
and we had to obey lots of ____________(10).
I ____________(11) school as soon as I could and started ____________(12).
I read books at the public ____________(13) and later I decided to
____________(14) college. I really enjoyed studying because I was older and knew
that I wanted some __________(15). When I was at school, I was just the wrong age.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
go
lectures
chairs
pay
read
make
answer
write
uniform
ways
passed
job
bookshop
go
qualifications
have
lessons
desks
make
sit
do
do
hand
robe
rules
qualified
employer
shelves
attend
examinations
pass
them
posts
have
write
get
take
pass
dress
laws
examined
employee
library
study
papers
spend
class
parts
follow
talk
ask
finish
complete
cloth
time
left
work
university
follow
grades

5. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
c) Put each verb given into the simple past or past continuous.
Two burglars ________________ (break) into the house while ________________
(watch) TV.
What ________________ (you, do) when the police officer ________________
(knock) on the door?
Jim ________________ (study) to be a doctor, when he ________________ (meet)
his wife Sally.
Tony ________________ (buy) his first motorbike 25 years ago.
Most of the young people ________________ (leave) the village a long time ago.
d) Look at the picture and write the story of this man. The following
suggestions may help you.
What do you think happened to this man?
How did he get to this situation?
What are his feelings?
How is his story going to end?
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