Q: This week is National Volunteer Week, a time for the Canadian Red Cross to recognize our dedicated volunteers who devote their time and talents from coast to coast. Over the course of the week we will use this blog to share stories about our volunteers and the amazing work they do --- a small part of the outstanding individuals across the country.

Take Saskatchewan for example. Last year that province was hit by wide-spread flooding, a hurricane and forest fires. Canadian Red Cross staff and volunteers went to work right away and helped more than 2,100 adults and 775 children recover the basic necessities of life.

It's important to share stories from volunteers to truly appreciate what they do. Christine Hoffman is a Disaster Response Volunteer in Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan. She's a _ Red Crosser for about 16 years. Still nothing could have prepared her for the call she took in the Recovery Center last year in response to flooding in Maple Greek. This story is best told in her own words. This is what she said:

"I will never forget the first phone call I took in the Recovery Centre. A young man called asking what services Red Cross was offering in town. As we were talking, he told me he had a rope in his backyard but he thought he would be using it for other reasons. _ I told him to come to see us so we could work together on a plan to improve his situation. He came in a little while later. Nearly two hours later he left standing straight up with tear- filled eyes. He thanked me for convincing him to come in. His home had been destroyed, but together we put together a plan and he was eventually able to move back into his own home."

During National Volunteer Week 2011, let's thank Christine, and the many other volunteers like her. Thanks for making us proud!

Answer the following questions:
1. Who celebrates National Volunteer Week?
2. Where will the put stories during the week?
3. What will they be about?
4. Why is it important to do this?
5. Who is one volunteer in particular that they would like to thank?
6. How long has she been helping?
7. What's her title?
8. where?
9. What happened there last year?
10. How many adults were assisted?
11. How many children?
12. What year was she thanked?
A: 1. Canadian Red Cross
2. This blog
3. stories about our volunteers
4. to recognize our volunteers
5. Christine Hoffman
6. 16 years
7. a Disaster Response Volunteer
8. in Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan.
9. flooding in Maple Greek
10. One
11. unknown
12. 2011
Q: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

ANXIOUS TIMES--A SEARCH ORGANISED AND VIGOROUSLY CARRIED OUT.

It is not easy to conceive the state of alarm that prevailed in the settlement of the Norsemen when it came to be known that little Snorro and Olaf were lost. The terrible fact did not of course break on them all at once.

For some hours after the two adventurers had left home, Dame Gudrid went briskly about her household avocations, humming tunefully one of her native Icelandic airs, and thinking, no doubt, of Snorro. Astrid, assisted by Bertha, went about the dairy operations, gossiping of small matters in a pleasant way, and, among other things, providing Snorro's allowance of milk. Thora busied herself in the preparation of Snorro's little bed; and Freydissa, whose stern nature was always softened by the sight of the child, constructed, with elaborate care, a little coat for Snorro's body. Thus Snorro's interests were being tenderly cared for until the gradual descent of the sun induced the remark, that "Olaf must surely have taken a longer walk than usual that day."

"I must go and meet them," said Gudrid, becoming for the first time uneasy.

"Let me go with you," said Bertha.

"Come, child," returned Gudrid.

In passing the spot where the little bear had been cut up and skinned, they saw Hake standing with Biarne.

"Did you say that Olaf took the track of the woodcutters?" asked Gudrid.

"Ay, that was their road at starting," answered Biarne. "Are they not later than usual?"

"A little. We go to meet them."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who was lost?
2. Was this alarming?
3. Who was Dame thinking of?
4. when she was doing what?
5. what was she doing while doing this?
6. Where did Olaf start on his adventure?
7. Who was this told to?
8. by who?
9. HOw long did Dame do her chores after the two left?
10. what was she humming?
11. How did Gudrid feel?
12. What was she going to do?
13. Did anyone want to go too?
14. who?
15. Who was Bertha assisting?
16. with what?
17. what were they doing?
18. What made Freydissa nicer?
19. was she doing something for him?
20. what?
A: 1. Snorro and Olaf
2. yes
3. Snorro
4. while completing her household avocations
5. humming
6. the woodcutter's track
7. Gudrid
8. Biarne
9. For some hours
10. one of her native Icelandic airs
11. she became uneasy
12. go and meet Snorro and Olaf
13. yes
14. Bertha.
15. Astrid
16. the dairy operations
17. gossiping
18. the sight of Snorro
19. yes
20. a little coat
Q: Tiger Mom, You've been criticized a lot since your book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, came out. One problem is that some people don't get your humor. They think you're serious about all things and Lulu and I are suffering a lot from such a strict mother. That is not true. But for real, it's not their fault. No outsider can know what our family is really like. They don't hear us laughing over each other's jokes. They don't see us eating our hamburgers with fried rice. They don't know how much fun we have when the six of us dogs included squeeze into one bed and argue about what movies to download from Netflix. I admit it: Having you as a mother was no tea party. There were some play dates I wish I'd gone to and some piano camps I wish I'd got away from. But now that I'm 18 and about to leave the tiger den , I'm glad you and Daddy raised me the way you did. A lot of people have accused you of producing robot kids who can't think for themselves. Well, I came to the opposite conclusion: your strict parenting made me more independent . Everybody's talking about the birthday cards we once made for you, which you refused to take because they weren't good enough. Funny how some people believe that Lulu and I will feel hurt for life. But let's face it: It took me 30 second; I didn't put my heart into it. That's why, when you rejected it, I didn't feel hurt at all. There's one more thing: I have come to understand what it really means to live a meaningful life to the fullest. To me, it's about knowing that you've tried your best, body and mind. You feel _ when the piano piece you've practiced for days and hours finally comes to life beneath your fingertips. You feel _ when you do something on your own that you never thought you could. And for that, Tiger Mom, thank you. Yours, Sophia

Answer the following questions:
1. What kind of mother does Lulu have?
2. How many people and dogs pile into a bed?
3. What does the narrator call her household?
4. What is the narrator's name?
5. What does she call her mom?
6. Who wrote a book?
7. What is her book called?
8. How long did Sophia spend making her mom's card?
9. What occasion was the card for?
10. True or False: Tiger Mom loved the card.
11. Why not?
12. What instrument does Sophia play?
A:
1. a strict mother
2. six
3. Tiger
4. Sophia
5. Tiger Mom
6. Tiger Mom
7. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
8. 30 second;
9. birthday
10. no
11. because Sophia didn't put her heart into it
12. piano