Beggars are often seen sitting under blankets with heads bowed as people pass them by in Cambridge’s market center. Some ask passers-by for change and some just sit and wait to be given money. A few use aggressive behaviour to earn money.
To solve the problem of aggressive begging, an “alternative giving ” plan has been suggested. Ten blue money boxes will be placed in busy places such as the market and the railway station. It aims to encourage people not to give money directly to beggars but instead to give generously to local homeless causes.
Supporters of this plan think it will be an effective way to solve the beggars’ alcohol and drug problems. But the police oppose the plan arguing that beggars who do not receive cash may turn to criminality to feed their addictions. The homeless charity “Crisis” said the success of any plan will depend on its style. They think that imaginative and positive plans can help create local understanding and sympathy instead of hardness. Most of the beggars dislike the plan because they think they will not get enough money from the boxes for their showers, food and clothes.
Begging is a big social problem both in developing and developed countries. Governments must play a big role in solving this problem. Training beggars to work and helping them to find appropriate jobs is one option. This is especially true for developing countries where many low-skill jobs exist.
The general community should also be educated to see beggars not as dirty and dangerous, but as people who need understanding and help.
| Begging problem | |
| Introduction to the begging problem | ●Some beggars ask 3_______for money ●Some beggars just sit and wait to be given money |
| An “alternative plan” to the problem | In some busy places, such as the market and railway station, ten blue boxes will be placed to 4_______people to give money to local homeless causes. |
| Different 1________towards the suggested plan | ●Supporters of this plan think it very 5______to solve the problem related to beggars. ●The police oppose the plan arguing the beggars may turn to criminality because of 6_______of cash. ●The homeless charity said that it remains to be seen whether this plan would be 7.________. ●Most of the beggars dislike the plan because the money that they will get from the box will not be 8.________. |
| 2._________to the problem | ●Governments must be actively 9_______in solving this problem be training beggars to work and helping them to find proper jobs. ●Beggars shouldn’t be 10.________ as dirty and dangerous people but as people needing help and understanding. |