Reading Comprehension - a year abroad

In some English-speaking countries, such as Britain or Australia, it has become very popular for
young people to take a gap year, which means spending 12 months abroad, working or travelling.
A gap year is usually taken at the end of secondary school, before starting university, or before
starting a job. Gappers leave their home countries and travel to Europe, North America or many
other countries in the world.
But why do many students take a gap year? A gap year is considered a very good experience: if
you live in a new country for a while, you can learn a foreign language better, you experience a
new culture and you get important job experience. While many gappers try to visit as many
countries as possible, others prefer to do paid work. Popular activities are teaching English or
working in bars and reataurants.Many young people.however,get involved in voluntary work and
spend the year in poor contries,where there are many people in need. A lot of students also
participate in environmental projects, and try to help animals and nature.
In Britain both Princes Harry and William are famous gappers. Prince William went to Chile to help
build schools, while Prince Harry worked with orphans in Lesotho.
Naturally, this life experience is not always easy: you don’t have all comforts you are used to, and
a different culture sometimes shock you, but in most cases students come back home feeling that
their lives are richer, as you can read in these reports .
“HI, my name is Carol. I worked in Kenya. I went there to help to build a new school in an isolated
village. When I arrived, the school was in terrible state, but when I left, after 12 months, there
was a new school, with doors, windows, toilets and desks. My friends and I worked very hard, but
I spent my free time with the children: I listened to their traditional songs, played with them and
taught them a bit of English. I know I’ll go back there soon”
“ My name’s Peter .I want to become a vet, that’s why I decided to spend a year in south Africa,
at Kruger National Park. The rangers taught me a lot of things: how to treat animals and how to
feed them. It was difficult: we spent hours in the bush and the food wasn’t very good. But I had
great encounters: giraffes, lions, zebra and impalas. I’ll always remember the first time I stroke a
giraffe for all my life. I met very nice people and I hope to see them again”

Who usually takes a gap year?

When is a good moment to have this experience?

What are the positive aspects of a gap year?

Where can you spend a gap year?

Do gappers always get money for their work?

Which famous gappers are mentioned in the text?

Where did they spend their gap year?

What did Carol do in Kenya?

Why did Peter choose to work in a National park?

If you could take a gap year, where would you go and what would you do ?