D

    Every year thousands of young people in England finish school and then take a year off before they start work or go to university. Some young people go to other countries and work as volunteers (志愿者). Volunteers give their time to help people. For example, they work in schools or hospitals, or they do something helpful for the environment.

    Pauline Jones, 18, lives in Cardiff, Wales. Next year she wants to go to university to study Chinese, but now she's living in Belize. Pauline says, “I'm working with other people here to save the coral reefs (珊瑚礁) in the sea near Belize. The reefs here are beautiful, but if the sea water is very polluted (污染), the coral dies. I'm helping to do research on the coral and the fish that live around the reefs. All over the world, coral reefs are dying. We need to do something about the problem before it's too late.”

    “I'm staying with a family here and I help do some housework. I don't get any money, but that's OK. I love my work here, and I'm learning a lot about the people of Belize—and myself!

    When I finish my work, I want to stay here for another three months. I want to travel around

    Belize and Central America.”