Charities and Charity Shops

The RSPCA （a group that protects animals）， Oxfam， Cancer Research UK and The Salvation Army are some of the most well-known charity organisations in the UK， but there are many more. People living in London give ￡2 billion a year to charity. Most people in the UK give money once a month， in cash. The most popular charities work with children and animals， improve education and do research for new medicines.

Charity shops are run by a paid manager and volunteers. People can donate mostly second-hand clothes， toys， books and other things that they no longer use. The volunteers then wash or steam the things to make sure they are clean before being sold. The money that is made from these sales then goes to a parent charity company. Many people believe that you can find very rare and expensive items in charity shops; you just have to know where to look！

Sports events are also organised to help charities. You can take part in a charity race and get people to sponsor you. This usually means asking your friends and family to give money to the charity that you are supporting. You are sponsored for every kilometre that you complete， but the money will be used to help others， of course！

Activity 1

Before you read， decide which word （1–4） goes with which meaning （a–d）.

1. donate 2. sponsor 3. steam 4. volunteer

a. give money or things to help a charity organisation

b. give money to support someone， an organisation or an event

c. heat water so that it becomes gas

d. someone who works to help people without getting paid

Activity 2

Decide if each sentence is true， 1 or not given.

1. Charities that help animals are the most popular.

2. You cannot donate new things to a charity shop.

3. You can sometimes find valuable things in charity shops.

4. You have to pay for every kilometre you complete in a charity race.

5. The money you get in a charity race will go to a charity organisation.

Activity 3

Complete the sentences with one word from Activity 1.

1. Soap and water doesn’t always clean everything properly. Sometimes you need to ____ things before you can sell them.

2. Not all charity shop workers are paid; these shops need ____ to work in them too.

3. People in London ____ ￡2 billion to charity every year.

4. Charity races give people the opportunity to ____ their friends and their friends’ charities.

Activity 4

We form the passive voice with be + past participle.

Example： Charity shops are run by a paid manager and volunteers.

Underline all the examples of the passive voice in the text.

Activity 5

Write the correct form of the passive voice in each space. Use the present simple form of the verb to be.

1. ￡6 billion ____ （give） to charity in the UK every year.

2. New medicine ____ （develop） with the money that charities make.

3. Used toys ____ （steam） before they ____ （sell）.

4. People who take part in charity races ____ （sponsor） by their friends and family.

5. Some charity races ____ （hold） abroad.

Activity 6

1. Do you give money to charity？

2. What are the most popular charities in your country？

3. Would you like to take part in a charity race？

Answers

Activity 1

1. a; 2. b; 3. c; 4. d

Activity 2

1. Not given （NG）; 2. False （F）; 3. True （T）; 4. F; 5. T

Activity 3

1. steam; 2. volunteers; 3. donate; 4. sponsor

Activity 4

being sold; is made; are organised; be paid; be used

Activity 5

1. is given; 2. is developed; 3. are steamed， are sold;

4. are sponsored; 5. are held