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Long-distance charity cycling challenge across Britain

Level
b1
Topic
culture

Read this at a different level:b2c1

My colleague Seren works at a small café in Bristol. She has always loved watching Children in Need on television. Last week, she told me about something that really surprised her.

Seren said that presenter Owain Wyn Evans is going to cycle almost 400 miles for the charity. The route starts in Glasgow and ends in Cardiff. Seren looked at a map and said she could not believe the distance. Neither could I when she showed me. It is described as the greatest distance anyone has attempted for this event. Both the challenge and the cause have made people across Britain pay attention.

Seren has followed Children in Need for many years. She said that either watching or taking part in charity events always makes her feel connected to something bigger. She has already told her friends about Owain's challenge. If people hear about it, they will want to donate, she thinks.

Seren is not a cyclist herself. But she said the challenge inspired her. She wants to set up a small fundraising event at her café. She has not decided what to do yet. I think it is a great idea. When people see others push themselves for a good cause, it often encourages them to help too.

Highlighted sentences show the grammar focus structure.

Key Vocabulary

  • colleague

    /ˈkɒliːɡ/

    A person who works with you in the same job or workplace.

    My colleague helped me finish the report before the deadline.

  • charity

    /ˈtʃærɪti/

    An organisation that collects money or help for people who need it, without making a profit.

    She donated her old clothes to a local charity that helps homeless people.

  • distance

    /ˈdɪstəns/

    The amount of space between two places or points.

    The distance between the two towns is about thirty kilometres.

  • donate

    /dəʊˈneɪt/

    To give money, food, or other things to help a person or organisation that needs it.

    He decided to donate some money to the hospital after his mother was treated there.

  • inspire

    /ɪnˈspaɪə/

    To make someone feel excited and motivated to do something.

    Watching the young athlete win the race inspired her little brother to start training.

  • set up

    /ˌset ˈʌp/

    To organise or start something, such as an event, a business, or a system.

    They decided to set up a book club that meets every Friday evening.

Grammar Spotlight

Both, Either, Neither

both (and) / either (or) / neither (nor)

When do we use it?

  • Use 'both' when you want to include two people or things together — e.g. two colleagues who share the same opinion.
  • Use 'either' when you are talking about a choice between two options, or when one of two things is possible.
  • Use 'neither' to make a negative statement about two people or things at the same time — it replaces 'not either'.

How is it formed?

both + [noun/pronoun] — refers to two things together+either + [noun/pronoun] — one or the other (or both)+neither + [noun/pronoun] — not one and not the other

Use a singular verb after 'either' and 'neither' in formal English

★Two things? Both = all, Either = one, Neither = none

See it in action

  1. Both Seren and Owain work hard to support Children in Need.

  2. Either Bristol or Glasgow could be a starting point for the charity cycle route.

  3. Neither Seren nor her colleagues had heard about the 400-mile cycling challenge before.

  4. You can watch the event on either the TV or online.

Remember this

✗Neither of the presenters are ready.
✓Neither of the presenters is ready.

'Neither' takes a singular verb in formal English, even though it refers to two people.

✗I don't like neither option.
✓I like neither option. / I don't like either option.

Don't use 'neither' with 'not' — this creates a double negative. Use 'either' with a negative verb instead.

✗Both of them works at the café.
✓Both of them work at the café.

'Both' always takes a plural verb because it refers to two people or things together.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1.

    Have you ever donated money or time to a charity? What did you do, and why did you choose that cause?

  2. 2.

    Are charity events popular in your country? What kinds of fundraising activities do people usually organise, and do you enjoy taking part in them?

  3. 3.

    If someone you know inspired you to try a new challenge, what kind of challenge would you want to set up for yourself?

Comprehension Questions

  1. 1.

    Where does Owain Wyn Evans's cycling route begin and end?

  2. 2.

    Why was Seren surprised when she looked at a map?

  3. 3.

    How does taking part in charity events make Seren feel?

  4. 4.

    What does Seren want to do at her café after hearing about Owain's challenge?

  5. 5.

    Does the writer think Seren's fundraising idea is a good one?

View answers for the comprehension questions
  1. 1.The route starts in Glasgow and ends in Cardiff.
  2. 2.She could not believe how far the distance was. The article describes it as the greatest distance anyone has attempted for this event.
  3. 3.Seren says that either watching or taking part in charity events makes her feel connected to something bigger.
  4. 4.She wants to set up a small fundraising event at her café, although she has not decided exactly what to do yet.
  5. 5.Yes, the writer says it is a great idea and explains that when people see others push themselves for a good cause, it often encourages them to help too.

Test your knowledge

Question 1Fill-in-the-blank

My ____ and I share an office, so we talk to each other many times every day.

Question 2Fill-in-the-blank

The organisation collects old clothes and sells them to raise money, because it is a ____ and does not make a profit.

Question 3Fill-in-the-blank

The ____ between the two cities is about 300 kilometres, so the journey takes several hours by train.

Question 4Fill-in-the-blank

Her teacher's kind words helped to ____ her to keep practising and improve her skills.

View answers for test your knowledge
  1. 1.colleague
  2. 2.charity
  3. 3.distance
  4. 4.inspire

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