The world’s largest family reunion

to wire to send money using an electrical communication system

an approach a way of dealing with a situation or problem
collaboration the situation of two or more people working together to create or achieve the same thing
boast to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or what you own
value the importance of something for someone
to be engaged to be involved in something
inherit to receive particular characteristics from the parents through the genes
ancestor a person related to you who lived a long time ago
descendant a person who is related to you and who lives after you, such as your child or grandchild
offspring humorous or formal: a person's children
feud an angry and violent argument that has continued for a long time between people, families, groups
bigot a person who has strong ideas about race or religion, and thinks anyone who does not have the
same beliefs is wrong
intermarriage marriage between people who are from different social groups or who are from the same
family
caretaker someone who takes care of a person who is young, old, or sick
figure out discover, understand, solve something
1. Read the paragraph. Complete the definitions (1—3). You will hear these words in the TED
Talk.
Writer A. J. JACOBS finds genealogy fascinating. After receiving an email from a man who claimed to
be his twelfth cousin, Jacobs began planning a huge family reunion to meet his extended family. His idea
worth spreading is that studying the world's 'family tree' helps scientific progress, brings history alive and
encourages us to treat other people better by making us realize we are interconnected.
1 Something that is fascinating is extremely well-known / interesting.
2 If you treat people better, you are kinder to them / understand them more.
3 If people are interconnected, they are biologically related / the same.

2. Tick (V) the points A. J. Jacobs makes.

a Genealogy is undergoing a revolution partly because of genetics and the Internet.
b People can add their own information online to create and combine huge family trees.
c Putting our personal family information online can be a dangerous thing to do.
d Most people have famous people and historical figures in their family trees.

3. A. J. Jacobs gives four reasons why a world family tree is a good idea. Match each idea to a
supporting detail.
Main ideas Supporting details
1 It has scientific value. a We all come from the same ancestor.
2 It brings history alive. b We treat family better than we treat strangers.
3 It shows we are all connected. c Jacobs found out he was related to a famous person.
4 It creates a kinder world. d It provides a better understanding of human migration.
4. Complete the notes with the words: food, music, family reunion, speakers, fascinating cousins
Event The biggest ____________________ in history

Activities Exhibits, _________, __________, a day of _________.

5. Who's invited? __________________________________