A Vacation You'll Work For

For most people, traveling is relaxing, educational, and fun. For some, it is
also an opportunity to give something to others. Volunteer vacationing,
or traveling as a worker-learner, is a mix of adventure travel and cultural
immersion. The primary purpose is to use your skills to benefit others and
the world around you as you learn about other people and places.
This type of volunteering is open to almost anyone. There are usually no1
language requirements or professional prerequisites, and training is
provided. Contributors are of all ages and backgrounds. However,
volunteers must have good health, a sense of adventure, and be willing to
try new things.
Many companies organize these types of vacations. Volunteers can choose
projects close to home, such as clearing nearby hiking trails, or projects in
other countries, such as aiding in the protection of coral reefs off the coast
of Fiji or studying the environment near Hong Kong to learn how to
preserve nearby wetlands. Many people choose to work on projects in
locations they would not ordinarily visit on their own.
An assignment can last from a week to several months. Projects range
from teaching and providing health care to building community
structures, helping to plan businesses, and setting up libraries. There are
also ecological projects, such as the ones mentioned above, in which the
environment is the central focus.
Volunteers help people even as they benefit from the trips
themselves. They not only get the satisfaction of helping others but
also have the opportunity to learn. Some volunteers stay in
community centers and private homes, making interaction with local
people inevitable.
Usually, volunteers pay a fee for the privilege of participating in a
program. Often, housing and meals are included, but transportation to
and from the project is not.
Working while traveling is not for everyone. Lounging on a beach with a
book or camping in the mountains may be the kind of trip you need to get
away from the stress of work or school. However, if you have the
inclination, a volunteer vacation may be the most rewarding experience of
your life.
Reading Time: _____

How difficult was the reading for you? (Circle the number that best
represents your answer.”
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Comprehension Test
Without looking at the reading, circle the best answer for each item. Do not look back at the
passage.

1. According to the passage, people who volunteer must

a. be young.
b. have experience traveling to foreign countries.
c. be willing to try things that are different.
d. have a particular set of skills.

2. Volunteer vacationing is
a. going on vacations in place of others
b. traveling as a worker-learner
c. the same as any other vacationing
d. very expensive

3. What is the primary purpose of volunteer vacationing?

a. Learn a new language.
b. T ake a break from work or school.
c. See the world.
d. Use your skills to benefit others.

4. How long are the volunteers’ assignments?

a. One year.
b. Two years.
c. From a week to several months.
d. Less than one week.

5.According to the passage, which is NOT an example of a volunteer vacationing

project?
a. teaching
b. providing healthcare
c. clearing trails
d. rock climbing

6. How can volunteers learn about the people and culture of the country they
visit?
a. Stay in a community center or someone's home.
b. Buy a guidebook.
c. Set up a library.
d. Travel alone.
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7.The kind of person who would NOT like this kind of traveling is
a. a university graduate.
b. someone looking to increase their knowledge.
c. someone who just wants to relax.
d. someone wanting to learn about other cultures.

Comprehension score: /8

How difficult were the comprehension questions for you? (Circle the number
that best represents your answer.)
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Very easy Just right for me Very difficult

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