Family relationships

Family relationshipsBrain teaserAlan is Caroline's nephew and Larry's cousin.Barbara is Larry's mother and Maggie's sister-in-law.Caroline is Edward's daughter and Maggie's sister-in-law.

David is Gordon's brother-in-law and Alan's uncle.Edward is Ingrid's grandfather and Maggie's father-in-law,Fanny is Caroline's mother and Alan's grandmother.Gordon is Helen's son-in-law and Nigel's brother-in-law.

Helen is Barbara's mother-in-law and Larry's grandmother.

Ingrid is Gordon's niece and David's daughter-in-law.John is David's father and Gordon's father-in-law.

Karen is Gordon's daughter-in-law and Maggie's daughter-in-law.

Larry is John's grandson and David's son.Maggie is Larry's aunt and Fanny's daughter-in-law.

Nigel is Ingrid's father and Fanny's son-in-law.MARITAL STATUS (tick as appropriate)

singleengagedmarriedseparateddivorcedwidowed (if a widow or widower, please state which)

ReadingNote how various relationships are described in the letter from Hollywood below.

185 Beverley Hills,

Hollywood,

Nr. Los Angeles,

California

13th July 1985

Dear Fiona,

Thanks for all your news. Things are very much as normal here. Harry and I have split up - we both felt we had had enough of each other. He's dating a girl who was going steady with Paul when you were here -1 think they're quite serious - and I'm seeing a film producer called Harvey who's waiting for his divorce to come through.

We're more than 'just good friends' but I don't know how long it will last. My late husband's former mistress is manning his first wife's third husband on Saturday.

In fact, it's going to be a double wedding because her second son by her first marriage is getting married to the girl he's been sharing a flat with for the past six months. You remember? That's her half-brother's ex-fiancee, the one who was going out with Jason back in January.

Anyway, how are you? Still the ideal couple over there in Eastbourne, are you? Do I hear wedding bells?Lots of love for now,

Mandy

|l| Choose the most suitable word or phrase to complete the sentences below. The answers are on page 14.

1Mrs Jones had ....

a a trio b a treble c triplets

2 Mrs Vine had had ... the week before. a quarts b quads c a quartet

3 Twins often seem to ... a generation. a hop b skip c jump

4 There was a case of... twins in our town recently. a Japanese b Chinese c Siamese

5 There's a ... of twins in our family - on my father's .... a storyb geographyc history

d treee sidef line

6I was ... child, though.

a an only b a missing c a single

7 All the members of our football team are related ... marriage, a by b to c on

8 When Mother remarried, her second husband, my ..., gave me a new bicycle. a forefather b stepfather c grandfather

9 He said to me, 'Look, I know you're not my own ..., but let's be friends.' a flesh and blood b blood and guts c skin and bones

10 My ... originated from a tribe of Red Indians. a ancestors b ancients c antiques11 Not many of my own ... relatives are still alive. a blood b skin c heart12 My ... -grandfather fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

a grand grand grand b great grand grand c great-great-great

13 My brother-in-law inherited 500,000 in his uncle's ....

a will b testament c wishes.

14 I was left 50 and a cat by ... relative; I believe it was a ... cousin - or was a... -aunt.

a a distant b an unclear c a long-distance

d double e second f dual

g grand h great i large f

15 Peter is an orphan; he was ... at the age of two.

a adjusted b adapted c adopted

16 Paul comes from a broken home; he has lived wdth a number rf_.

a loan b foster c second-hand

17 Mary was from a single-parent family; now she's looked after by her

a keeper b warden c guardian.

18 I'm off to have Sunday lunch with my ... now. a outlaws b by-laws c in-laws

|2| Discuss or write the answers to these questions.

1 In what ways do you take after members of your family, in appearance and character?

2 How close are you to the various members of your family?

3 What sort of presents do you normally receive from your relatives?

4 Do most people you know get on with their in-laws?

5 What is the system of adopting and fostering in your country?

6 I wouldn't like to be / have been an only chUd. Do you agree?Marital statusPractice|l| Choose the best words to complete the short conversations below.

1 A Excuse me,..., can I see your driving licence?

a Mr b sir c mate B I'm sorry,... , I don't seem to have it on me. a sir b policeman c constable

2 A ... ! Can I have a menu, please?

a Sir b Mister c Waiter B Here you are, ....

a madam b Ms c Mrs

3 A Did you understand the question,... Smith?

a Sir b Madam c Miss B Yes, I did, my ... .

a master b lord c majesty