Library Volunteer Day: Cross-Checking a Poster Against a Calendar
You are 15 and want to join the 'Library Volunteer Day' at your local library on Saturday, November 9. A poster says: 'Choose one shift only. Morning: 9:30–12:00, shelving books. Afternoon: 13:00–15:30, reading to children. Volunteers must be 15 or older. First-time volunteers must attend a 20-minute orientation at 9:00. If you cannot come at 9:00, put your name on the make-up orientation list by October 30. Bring a parent's signature to the first shift. Lunch is not provided; the library cafe sells curry for 500 yen. Applications are due to Ms. Ito by November 1.' Today is October 28. You have a math practice test at school on November 9 from 8:30 to 11:30. You have never volunteered at this library. Your friend Yuki says, 'Let's do both shifts and eat curry together.' You want to join the afternoon shift.
1. What must you do to join the afternoon shift? List the steps in order and explain why each is necessary.
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First, sign the make-up orientation list by October 30, because you have never volunteered there and the required 9:00 orientation conflicts with your 8:30–11:30 math test. Second, choose the afternoon shift only, because the poster says one shift only; you cannot do both. Third, get a parent's signature for the first shift. Fourth, give the application to Ms. Ito by November 1. The afternoon shift starts at 13:00, so the test does not block it. You do not need to pay 500 yen unless you choose to buy curry, since lunch is not provided but is not required.
2. Yuki says, 'Let's do both shifts and eat curry together.' What should you tell her?
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Tell her the poster allows one shift only, so doing both would break the rule. Also, the morning shift starts at 9:30 and runs to 12:00, which conflicts with your math test until 11:30; you would miss most of it. The curry is optional and costs 500 yen, so it is not a reason to join both. A practical reply: 'I can only do the afternoon shift because of my test and the one-shift rule. Let's eat curry after that if you are free.'
3. The poster does not tell you everything. Write one question you should ask Ms. Ito, and explain why the poster does not answer it.
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Ask: 'When and where is the make-up orientation?' The poster says to put your name on the list by October 30, but it does not give the make-up session's time or place, and you need that to attend. Another acceptable question is whether the parent signature must be submitted with the application by November 1 or can be brought on November 9; the poster says 'bring it to the first shift' but also says applications are due November 1, so the timing is unclear. The key is to identify a real gap, not ask something already stated.