INSTITUTO ASUNCIÓN DE QUERÉTARO
SECUNDARIA 2012-2013
TEACHER: _____________________________ DATE:__________________
NAME:_________________________________ GRADE:________________
READING guide - Level 2 Unit 4
Family
trees
What do you know about your family's
past? Would you like to find out more about your relatives and ancestors? If
you would, then you should think about making a family tree. A family tree is a
chart that shows the names of everyone in a family over a long period of time,
and the relationships between them.
Often the best place to start when tracing your ancestors is to talk to as many family members as you can. Ask your parents and relatives about their memories, and list all the family members they mention. You may find relatives you never knew you had! Search through old boxes and drawers to gather as many photos, letters and other objects as you can to support your search. (You can learn a lot about someone from an object they have left behind.)
Many people then continue their search online, and this can be a great way to expand your tree. It's true that more and more records are available online, and searching on the Internet is certainly convenient. However, you should always check the reliability of the information you find, and don't forget that most of your relatives were alive long before the Internet! For this reason, one of the best sources of information can be your local government office. Go there and ask to see any records giving details of births, deaths and marriages in your area. You can then create a simple sketch linking members of your family, their children, and so on, down through several generations. From there you can go on to find out more details, starting with known facts and then work backwards (i.e. towards the present day).
Try to identify the key figures in each period, as these people might help you find more information. A trip to your local library could be worthwhile, to look through their records and see if any family members played an important role in the community. Don't be discouraged if you find that you come to a dead end from time to time. There are specialist magazines available, which are full of ideas on how to proceed. Sometimes, a professional organization might be able to assist you, as well. You could also join a local family history society to exchange ideas.
Remember, how much detail you want to add to your family tree is up to you. It can be a chart giving basic information, or a complex history packed with fascinating facts. A family tree is a great way to bring the past to life. Why not start one for your family? You might be amazed at the things you discover about your ancestors!
Often the best place to start when tracing your ancestors is to talk to as many family members as you can. Ask your parents and relatives about their memories, and list all the family members they mention. You may find relatives you never knew you had! Search through old boxes and drawers to gather as many photos, letters and other objects as you can to support your search. (You can learn a lot about someone from an object they have left behind.)
Many people then continue their search online, and this can be a great way to expand your tree. It's true that more and more records are available online, and searching on the Internet is certainly convenient. However, you should always check the reliability of the information you find, and don't forget that most of your relatives were alive long before the Internet! For this reason, one of the best sources of information can be your local government office. Go there and ask to see any records giving details of births, deaths and marriages in your area. You can then create a simple sketch linking members of your family, their children, and so on, down through several generations. From there you can go on to find out more details, starting with known facts and then work backwards (i.e. towards the present day).
Try to identify the key figures in each period, as these people might help you find more information. A trip to your local library could be worthwhile, to look through their records and see if any family members played an important role in the community. Don't be discouraged if you find that you come to a dead end from time to time. There are specialist magazines available, which are full of ideas on how to proceed. Sometimes, a professional organization might be able to assist you, as well. You could also join a local family history society to exchange ideas.
Remember, how much detail you want to add to your family tree is up to you. It can be a chart giving basic information, or a complex history packed with fascinating facts. A family tree is a great way to bring the past to life. Why not start one for your family? You might be amazed at the things you discover about your ancestors!
I. Decide if the following
statement is true or false. Find evidence in the text to support your answer.
1.
Talking to your parents and relatives is a good way
to begin your family tree. True
False
_________________________________________________________
2.
You need to spend a lot of money to make a family
tree. True
False
_________________________________________________________
3.
You should try to complete your family tree in as
much detail as possible. True
False
_________________________________________________________
4.
You need special qualifications to make a family
tree. True
False
_________________________________________________________
5.
You need to be careful about information you find on
the Internet. True
False
_________________________________________________________
II. Underline the correct
answer from the choices.
6. Joining a
local family history society is a good way to check information / get help / find a professional organization.
7. To begin
your family tree you should go
online / make a list of your relatives
/ visit a local government office.
8. A family tree should be fairly basic / contain lots of detail / include any information you like.
9.
Things that once belonged to
your ancestors can reveal a
lot about them / might be worth a lot
of money / might not be a reliable.
10. When
looking for information, searching online is one possible way / the best way / the
most convenient way.
III. Use a key phrase from the
text to complete the sentence.
11. If you need ideas on how to continue your search,
you can buy a __________________.
12. Begin with something you know is true, and then work_________________.
13. When starting your family tree, first use basic
information to make a __________________.
14. For basic details of when someone was born or died,
you should go to your local __________________.
IV. Look for the word in the
text that means:
15. In Paragraph 4
a situation in which further progress seems impossible?
a situation in which further progress seems impossible?
_________________________________________________________
16. In Paragraph 3
groups of people in society who are born and live around the same time?
groups of people in society who are born and live around the same time?
_________________________________________________________
17. In Paragraph 1
people who are related to you who lived a long time ago?
people who are related to you who lived a long time ago?
_________________________________________________________
V. Underline the word which is
a synonym for
18. sketch (paragraph
3).
figure / list / spreadsheet / table / graph / drawing
figure / list / spreadsheet / table / graph / drawing
19. discouraged (paragraph
4).
disordered / dishonest / disgusted / disheartened / disoriented / disqualified
disordered / dishonest / disgusted / disheartened / disoriented / disqualified
20. records (paragraph
3).
documentation / figures / certificates / facts / evidence / statistics
documentation / figures / certificates / facts / evidence / statistics