Duty and care: reading about a helper at work
A first-person text uses I and tells us the writer’s own work, feelings and opinions. To read it well, ask four questions. Who is I and what is the job? What does the person do every day? Why does the person do the work? How does the person feel about it? A why-question asks for a reason, so look for because, so that, to or a sentence that explains. A what-question asks for a fact, so find the exact sentence. Words like duty, responsible and protect show that a job has an obligation to other people. When you answer, use your own words but keep the meaning of the text. In a short answer, begin with the key words from the question: Why does the nurse stay calm? She stays calm because … Your book has a first-person text on page 32. Read it after this lesson and ask the same four questions.
| Question | Where to look | Answer starts with |
|---|---|---|
| Who is I? | First sentences | The writer is … |
| What does the person do? | Verbs in the present simple | Every day she … |
| Why? | because, so that, to | She does it because … |
| How does the person feel? | Feeling words | She feels … |
I am the nurse at a school with six hundred students. Every morning I check the first-aid cupboard, and I write the names of students who need special care, for example a boy with a food allergy. Most days I only give a plaster for a small cut or an ice pack for a bumped knee. But sometimes a student feels dizzy during sport, and then I must act quickly and stay calm. A calm voice helps a worried child to trust me. I am responsible for their health while their parents are away, and this duty is the reason I love my job. When a student says “Thank you, I feel better”, I know that my work matters.
Job interview. Interview an adult about their job: What do you do every day? Why do you do it? What is the most important duty? Write the questions and answers in six lines. Underline one word that shows duty or care.