Reading
Read the article for a school magazine.
There’s no place like home
by Jack Fleming
You don’t really think about your home until you have to move somewhere else, or at least I never thought about my home in England until then. But everything changed when Dad came home from work a couple of months ago to tell us more about his new job. ‘So what?’ I thought to myself. And then he said: ‘The new job is in Berlin – in Germany’.
And now, two months later, here we are, living in an apartment close to Berlin city centre. I’m going to an international school because I don’t speak German and this is an important year for me because I have to pass some big exams at the end. Our lessons are all in English but because Dad’s here for the next five years, I must learn German!
Like the language, everything around me is still very new. But I like being in the city because it’s more interesting than being in a small place. It’s easy to get around because the public transport is brilliant and it’s cheaper than back home. There are so many amazing things to see and do. Life is exciting, but I miss my friends back home. We skype and email and I keep in touch with everyone on Facebook but it’s not like being together. I hope that I can go back home in the holidays and maybe some of my friends can come and visit too.
What else do I miss? Well, I miss my old room and I know Mum misses the garden because she liked to grow lots of vegetables but I don’t think Dad misses anything and my sister is never in so I don’t know what she misses!
Are the sentences True (T) or False (F)? If there isn’t enough information in the text, write Doesn’t Say (DS).
0. Jack knew before his dad told him that his new job meant moving to another country. F
1. Jack’s apartment in Berlin is bigger than his family flat in England.
2. Jack needs to study very hard while he’s in Berlin.
3. It’s easier to travel in Berlin than in Jack’s hometown.
4. Jack’s relationships with friends in England are the same as before he left.
5. Jack’s sister is older than him.
Answer the questions. Choose the correct answer: a, b or c.
0. Jack says that two months ago
a. he moved to a different home in England.
b. he found out his dad had a new job.
c. he told his dad he didn’t want to move to Germany.
1. Where does Jack live in Berlin?
a. in an apartment in the centre of the city
b. in a flat near the middle of the city
c. in a house outside the city
2. At the international school, Jack
a. is learning German.
b. is doing some exams now.
c. is going to classes in English.
3. What does Jack say about Berlin and his home town?
a. His home town is more expensive to get around.
b. His home town is more interesting to be in.
c. His home town is easier to travel in.
4. What does Jack say about his friends back home?
a. He’s going to get a visit from them soon.
b. He sometimes forgets to contact them.
c. He doesn’t like being away from them.
5. Who misses their home in England the most?
a. Jack’s dad
b. Jack’s mum
c. Jack’s sister
Writing
Task 3 .Write three paragraphs about country life. Use BUT, AND, BECAUSE, WHEN in your sentences.
1. What you can/cannot do in the countryside.
2. Write about advantages of living in the countryside.
3. Write about disadvantages of living in the countryside.
4. Write about disadvantages of living in the city.
5. Write about advantages of living in the city.
0 Jack knew before his dad told him that his new job meant moving to another country. F
1 Jack’s apartment in Berlin is bigger than his family flat in England. D.s
2 Jack needs to study very hard while he’s in Berlin. T
3 It’s easier to travel in Berlin than in Jack’s hometown. T
4 Jack’s relationships with friends in England are the same as before he left. F
5 Jack’s sister is older than him. D.s