“You can use me as a last resort（选择）, and if nobody else volunteers, then I will do it.” This was an actual reply from a parent after I put out a request for volunteers for my kids’ lacrosse（长曲棍球）club.
“你可以把我当作最后的手段（选择）,如果没有其他人自愿，那么我会去做。”这是我在为孩子们的长曲棍球俱乐部请求志愿者后，一个家长的实际回复。

I guess that there’s probably some demanding work schedule, or social anxiety around stepping up to help for an unknown sport. She may just need a little persuading. So I try again and tug at the heartstrings. I mention the single parent with four kids running the show and I talk about the dad coaching a team that his kids aren’t even on… At this point the unwilling parent speaks up, “Alright. Yes, I’ll do it.”
我猜可能有一些苛刻的工作日程，或者对于帮助一个未知运动感到社交焦虑。她可能只是需要一点点说服。所以我再次尝试，触动她的心弦。我提到了那个独自抚养四个孩子的单亲家长，以及那个教练一个他孩子甚至不在其中的团队的父亲… 在这一点上，那个不情愿的家长开口了，”好吧。是的，我会去做的。”

I’m secretly relieved because I know there’s real power in sharing volunteer responsibilities among many. The unwilling parent organizes the meal schedule, sends out emails, and collects money for end-of-season gifts. Somewhere along the way, the same parent ends up becoming an invaluable member of the team. The coach is able to focus on the kids while the other parents are relieved to be off the hook for another season. Handing out sliced oranges to bloodthirsty kids can be as exciting as watching your own kid score a goal.
我暗自松了一口气，因为我知道在许多人之间分享志愿者责任有真正的力量。那个不情愿的家长组织了餐饮时间表，发送电子邮件，并收集季末礼物的资金。在这个过程中，同一个家长最终成为了团队中不可或缺的一员。教练能够专注于孩子们，而其他家长也松了一口气，因为他们又可以摆脱一个赛季的责任。给渴望的孩子们分发切片的橙子，可以和看你自己的孩子进球一样令人兴奋。

Still, most of us volunteers breathe a sigh of relief when the season comes to a close. That relief is coupled with a deep understanding of why the same people keep coming back for more: Connecting to the community（社区）as you freely give your time, money, skills, or services provides a real joy. Volunteering just feels so good.
尽管如此，当赛季结束时，我们大多数志愿者都会松一口气。这种解脱伴随着深刻的理解，为什么同样的人会一次又一次地回来：当你自由地给予你的时间、金钱、技能或服务，与社区建立联系，真的会带来快乐。做志愿者的感觉真好。

In that sense, I’m pretty sure volunteering is more of a selfish act than I’d freely like to admit. However, if others benefit in the process, and I get some reward too, does it really matter where my motivation lies?
在这个意义上，我相当确信，做志愿者更多的是自私的行为，而不是我愿意承认的。然而，如果别人在这个过程中受益，我也得到了一些回报，那么我的动机在哪里真的重要吗？

1. What can we infer about the parent from her reply in paragraph l?
   A. She knows little about the club. B. She isn’t good at sports.
   C. She just doesn’t want to volunteer. D. She’s unable to meet her schedule.
   答案：C

2. What does the underlined phrase “tug at the heartstrings” in paragraph 2 mean?
   A. Encourage team work. B. Appeal to feelings.
   C. Promote good deeds. D. Provide advice.
   答案：B

3. What can we learn about the parent from paragraph 3?
   A. She gets interested in lacrosse. B. She is proud of her kids.
   C. She’ll work for another season. D. She becomes a good helper.
   答案：D

4. Why does the author like doing volunteer work?
   A. It gives her a sense of duty. B. It makes her very happy.
   C. It enables her to work hard. D. It brings her material rewards.
   答案：B