Jake and his family
Hi! My name is Jake, and I’m thirteen years old. I want to tell you about my big family and how we spent
time together last year.
I live with my mom, dad, my older brother Tom, my little sister Lily, and our dog Max. My grandparents
live just a few streets away, and my aunt, uncle, and cousins often visited us on weekends. We are a big,
happy family, and we always found time to be together, even when we were busy with school or work.
Last Thanksgiving, we woke up early to help my parents. My dad cooked the turkey, and my mom baked
pumpkin pies and homemade bread. Tom set the table, and Lily helped to decorate the living room with
autumn leaves and paper turkeys she made herself. My grandfather told old stories from his childhood, and
my grandmother showed us family photos. After the big lunch, we played board games, watched football,
and laughed a lot. I really enjoyed seeing everyone together — it felt warm and safe.
At Christmas, our house looked like a fairy tale. We visited my grandparents on Christmas Eve, and my
cousins came too. Together, we decorated the tree, sang carols, and exchanged gifts. My grandmother
brought gingerbread cookies, and my uncle played the guitar while we all sang along. My dad took funny
photos, and my mom wrote a few lines about the evening in her diary. It was one of the best nights ever.
In summer, we often went to the lake with our relatives. We swam, rode bikes, and sometimes camped
near the forest. My dad taught us how to fish, and my cousins built a small sandcastle that later fell into the
water when Max jumped on it. We all laughed until we cried.
Even during the school year, our family celebrated birthdays together. We shared meals, helped each other
with homework, and spent weekends baking, watching movies, or playing games. Sometimes we argued,
but we always made peace quickly.
I really love my family because we created so many happy memories together. I know that even when we
grow up, we will always remember these moments — the stories, the laughter, and the feeling of being
home.
Part 1 – Reading Comprehension
Read the text about Jake and his family carefully, then answer the questions in full sentences.
1. Who lives in Jake’s house?
2. Where do Jake’s grandparents, aunt, and uncle live?
3. What did the family do on Thanksgiving morning?
4. Who decorated the living room, and what did they use?
5. What did Jake’s grandparents do during Thanksgiving?
6. Describe what happened on Christmas Eve in Jake’s family.
7. What activities did Jake and his cousins do in summer?
8. How did Jake describe his family at the end of the text?
9. Give two examples of ways Jake’s family helped each other.
10. Why does Jake say he will always remember these moments
Part 2 – Use of English (Past Simple – Irregular Verbs)
Complete the sentences using the correct past simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Last Thanksgiving, my dad ________ (cook) a big turkey.
2. My sister ________ (decorate) the living room with autumn leaves.
3. We ________ (visit) our grandparents on Christmas Eve.
4. My uncle ________ (play) the guitar while we sang carols.
5. My cousins ________ (come) to our house for Christmas.
6. Last summer, we ________ (go) to the lake with our relatives.
7. My dad ________ (teach) us how to fish.
8. Max, our dog, ________ (jump) on the sandcastle and it ________ (fall) into the water.
9. We all ________ (laugh) until we ________ (cry).
10. During the school year, we often ________ (help) each other with homework.
11. I really ________ (enjoy) spending time with my family.
12. We always ________ (make) peace after arguing.
13. I ________ (write) a short story about Christmas in my journal.
14. My dad ________ (take) many funny photos.
15. We ________ (create) many happy memories together.
Part 3 – Creative Writing / Speaking
Task A – Writing:
Write 6–8 sentences about your own family or friends’ families. Include:
Past simple tense
At least 3 irregular verbs
A description of a holiday, celebration, or weekend activity
Example:
Last Christmas, my family went to my grandparents’ house. We baked cookies, decorated the tree, and
sang carols together. I took many photos, and my little brother made funny drawings. We played board
games and laughed all evening. I really enjoyed the day because we spent a lot of time together.
Task B – Speaking (pair work):
Ask your partner about their family:
o What did your family do last weekend?
o Who helped you with homework last week?
o Did you visit any relatives last holiday?
Take notes and then present your partner’s family to the class in 3–4 sentences using past simple.
