A few years ago, when people had problems, they usually went to their family or friends to get advice. Today it is possible to get advice from radio shows, TV programs and telephone hotlines.
A hotline is a telephone line. It offers a way of getting in touch with(联系)advisers. Most hotlines are completely anonymous. That is to say, callers do not have to say their names or telephone numbers. Most hotlines are free. Callers do not have to pay for the advice or the phone calls. At some hotlines, the advisers are volunteers. Other hotlines pay their advisers for their work. Usually the advisers are fulltime employees(雇员)with years of education and experience, but sometimes the advisers have only taken a short class before starting to work on the hotline. All the advisers listen to people and help them solve their problems.