Lesson 4A Reading — Kindness

• I can understand complex and compound sentences in articles.

Kindness and charity: eight words to know

In pairs, look at the titles of the texts on page 21. What do you think they mean?

1. Being busy or working very hard
2. Money that is paid to a salesperson for selling something
3. A (usually young) person who does a job to get experience of it and to learn
4. Very important to, or an essential part of, something
5. Not having the correct tools or skills to do something
6. Referring to someone whose name is not known or not made public
7. The total money received from selling or organising something
8. An organisation started for a specific purpose, such as research

Now match each meaning to its word.

Which highlighted word means: «Being busy or working very hard»?

Which highlighted word means: «Money that is paid to a salesperson for selling something»?

Which highlighted word means: «A (usually young) person who does a job to get experience of it and to learn»?

Which highlighted word means: «Very important to, or an essential part of, something»?

Which highlighted word means: «Not having the correct tools or skills to do something»?

Which highlighted word means: «Referring to someone whose name is not known or not made public»?

Which highlighted word means: «The total money received from selling or organising something»?

Which highlighted word means: «An organisation started for a specific purpose, such as research»?

These young men, who are often ill-equipped themselves and poorly paid, work daily in dangerous conditions to help climbers achieve their goals.

Underlined sentence 1: which part is the independent clause, and which is the dependent clause?

This is then kept on the wall and can be used by strangers, who may not have enough money, to enjoy a slice of the delicious pies.

Underlined sentence 2: which part is the independent clause, and which is the dependent clause?

Tracy paid for the stranger’s milk and other items and, after thanking her and asking her name, he was on his way.

Underlined sentence 3: which part is the independent clause, and which is the dependent clause?

Long sentences: independent and dependent clauses

Long sentences often include a mixture of dependent and independent clauses, e.g.

• Integral to Lisa’s business philosophy is making Sister Pie a part of the community.

• … , bringing in $26,593

• She even did a 24-hour fund-raising activity, bringing in $26,593, which allowed her to open Sister Pie in April, 2015.

In text A, why did Vern Jones choose to go to Mount Kilimanjaro?

a. He felt it would be a good opportunity to start a business.

b. He wanted to join his family who were planning to go there.

c. He’d been inspired by images of the area from a young age.

d. He wanted to learn how to help other people climb it.

In text A, what difference has Kili Summit Club made?

a. It helps guides find well-paid work in other areas.

b. It raises money and provides resources for guides.

c. It reduces the risk of accidents for guides.

d. It ensures guides receive a higher salary than before.

In text B, what is mentioned as being important for Lisa about her business?

a. It needs to be a place where all local people feel welcome.

b. It should raise as much money as possible for charities.

c. It has to be successful enough to open more bakeries in the area.

d. It must become the most famous place in Detroit for pies.

In text C, what was the result of Tracy’s actions?

a. Tracy was given a job with more money and responsibility.

b. People suffering from illness were able to receive additional help.

c. There was an increase in the number of donations to her charity.

d. Tracy was able to meet the stranger and thank him for his help.

Your turn: kindness in your community

• What do you think you could do as a kindness for people in the community you live in even if you don’t know them?

• industrious
• commission
• intern
• integral
• ill-equipped
• anonymous
• proceeds
• foundation

Text A: a climber thanks his guides

As a teenager, the sight of Mount Kilimanjaro rising majestically above the Serengeti made Vern Jones desperately want to climb it.

• Finally in 2014, at the age of 62, Vern finally realised his dream while accompanied by his daughters and their husbands.
• However, he was all too aware that he couldn’t have succeeded without the help of the guides.

• These young men, who are often ill-equipped themselves and poorly paid, work daily in dangerous conditions to help climbers achieve their goals.
• Vern’s response was to found Kili Summit Club which raises money to help the guides from the proceeds of mountain gear sales.

• They receive footwear and equipment to help them with their work, as well as commission from sales, allowing climbers to support them long after their adventure is over.

Text B: a pie shop that pays kindness forward

In the Autumn of 2012, Lisa Ludwinski started her business from her parents’ kitchen when she made and sold 40 pies.

• The reaction to them was so positive that she kept going.
• What followed was an industrious few years.

From kitchen to bakery, then to a community idea.

• Lisa took a business class, took on an intern and raised money for her own bakery in Detroit, Michigan.
• She even did a 24-hour fund-raising activity, bringing in $26,593, which allowed her to open Sister Pie in April, 2015.

• Integral to Lisa’s business philosophy is making Sister Pie a part of the community.
• Due to this, she operates a ‘Pie it Forward’ system where customers can purchase a coupon.

• This is then kept on the wall and can be used by strangers, who may not have enough money, to enjoy a slice of the delicious pies.

Text C: one small gesture in a queue

In 2015, Tracy Warshal was in the queue at a busy shop during the holiday season when the man in front of her realised he’d forgotten his wallet.

• Tracy paid for the stranger’s milk and other items and, after thanking her and asking her name, he was on his way.
• She thought no more of it until a month later when she was contacted by colleagues at the cancer charity where she worked.

• They told her that the man, who wished to remain anonymous, wanted to donate $10,000 to the foundation in her name.
• As she was wearing a T-shirt with the charity’s name on it at the shop, he was able to track her down.

• She told reporters, ‘I’m just so excited that one small gesture made a huge difference and impact on a lot of people. I hope it makes some people think twice about doing something small to somebody.’