Open hands,helping hands
Charity is the voluntary(志愿的)giving of help,usually in the form of money,to people in need.Traditionally,Chinese have not been open-handed when it comes to giving money to strangers:money is meant to stay in the family.But three teenagers are setting an example for others to try to change that attitude(態(tài)度).
Two brothers,Wei Congtai and Wei Qitai,and their friend Yang Xing,have taken all the hong bao (紅包) they've saved over the past ten years,a total of 500,000 yuan,and set up a charity to help poor students in rural areas.The three boys think that it is important for those who have much to help those who have less.
This is an unusually generous(慷慨的) gesture when you compare charitable donations in China with that in the U.S.Chinese individuals(個人) give just $8 a year to charity,while American individuals give $1,000 a year.And in the past year,charitable donations in China have fallen by 17 percent.This may have something to do with the scandals(丑聞) involving some of the big charities in China.
The three boys have set up their own charity to be sure that their money is being spent wisely.Now they can control how the money is spent and they are learning about responsibility.More importantly,they are also showing that young people can lead the way in helping those in need have a better life.
(1)What's the traditional attitude towards money that Chinese have?
Money is meant to stay in the family
Money is meant to stay in the family
.
(2)How much money have the three boys saved over the past ten years?
They have saved 500,000 yuan
have saved 500,000 yuan
.
(3)Whom have they set up the charity to help?
The poor students in rural areas
The poor students in rural areas
.
(4)Why do the three boys have set up their own charity?
To be sure that their money is being spent wisely
To be sure that their money is being spent wisely
.
(5)What do you think of the three boys?Why?
I think they are generous
they are generous
.
Because they spend all their money helping others
Because they spend all their money helping others
.