Being a Good Citizen
By Phyllis Naegeli
What is a citizen? If you were born in the
When you are a citizen you have rights. Rights
are special privileges the government gives you. In our country, you have free
speech. You are also given the right to choose a religion. In
Because the government gives us rights, we
have the duty to be good citizens. But, what does it mean to be a good citizen?
How can you be a part of giving back for the freedom you have? Being a good
citizen means you show your love to your country. You can do this by
being courteous to the symbols in
Being a good citizen also means obeying the
laws in your community and school. Laws are made to help you and keep you safe.
Obeying the law also shows your respect for others. You can also treat people
with kindness. Being friendly to those who are different from you is also a
part of being a good citizen. Perhaps there is someone new at school. One way
to be a good citizen is to be welcoming to that person.
Good citizens take part in their community. They
give to the poor. They help clean parks. They keep up to date on current
events. Then they help whenever they can. It is also important to conserve our
natural resources. Using energy wisely, treating animals fairly, and picking up
trash all help to give back to our country.
Someday you will be given the right to vote.
This is an honour. By using this right, you can take part in the government.
Even now, you can find out about politics. Your parents and teachers are good
sources of information. You can ask them how they feel about the government.
You can also ask them questions about candidates in an election. Gathering
information will help you make decisions when you can vote.
When you begin to work, you will have to pay
taxes. Taxes help to run our country. Roads, schools, police forces, fire-fighters,
and government workers are all paid from taxes. Being a member of our country
is a wonderful privilege. When you work to be a good citizen, everyone
benefits.
COMPREHENSION
1. The writer of this essay is...
a. Moroccan,
b. Canadian,
c. British,
d. American,
e. Indian,
f. Jamaican.
2. Put tick on the terms defined in the text.
a. Citizen.
b. Bill of Rights.
c. Government.
d. Taxes.
e. Naturalization.
f. National Anthem.
g. Elections.
h. Community.
1. Decide if these statements are true or false; then, justify your
answer.
a. A citizen is a person who is a member of a particular country and who
has rights because of being born there or because of being given rights, or a
person who lives in a particular town or city.
Truer Falser
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
b. Being a good citizen means you show your dislike to your country.
Truer Falser
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
c. Obeying the law also shows your
disrespect for others.
Truer Falser
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
d. Good citizens do not care about
their community.
Truer Falser
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
2. Answer the following questions briefly, in your own words as far as
possible.
a. What does it mean to be a good
citizen?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
b. What are rights?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
c. How can good citizens take part in
their community?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
d. What does the right to vote enable
you to do?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................
3. Tick the most appropriate explanation of the word written in bold
letters.
a)
Rights
are special privileges the
government gives you... ( paragraph 2, Line 1)
r Decisions.
r Results.
r
Advantages.
b) You
can do this by being courteous to the symbols in America . ( paragraph 3, Line 4)
r Causing extreme physical or mental pain
r Showing no respect to
others.
r Polite and respectful; well-mannered.
c) Singing our National
Anthem and respecting our flag are ways to show how much the
r A traditional or religious song that people
sing at Christmas.
r A song or poem that tells a story, or (in
popular music) a slow love song.
r A country's official song which is played
and/or sung on public occasions.
d)
This is an honour. (
paragraph 6, Line 1)
r Something that cause people to feel that they have no
value.
r A quality that combines respect, being proud,
and honesty.
r A feeling of embarrassment and loss of people's
respect, or when you experience this.
e)
By using this right, you can take part
in the government. (
paragraph 6, Line 2)
r To be involved in an activity with other
people.
r To support someone.
r To separate or cause to separate.
4. What do the underlined words in the text refer to?
- Here
(Paragraph 1) : …………………….……….…………
- We
(Paragraph 3) : …………………….….………………
c. This (Paragraph
3) :
…………………….….………………
d. That
person (Paragraph 4) :
…………………….….………………
e. They (Paragraph 4) :
…………………….….………………
f. This right (Paragraph 6) : …………………….….………………