Tripoli University, Languages Centre

The Sakuras

Tomozou Kotake

Hiroshi Sumire

Maruko Jaku

Maruko’s friends and classmates

Tami Hanaw Migiwa Maru Nagasawa

Created by: Fatma Dalla..14th/Mar/2012

 Tripoli University, Languages Centre

-Before you read:

- Write words that are closest in meaning to the following:

- Mum: ………………………………………………………..- Dad: …………………………………................

- Granddad: …………………………………..............- Granny: ……………………………………………

-Which of these words are used to refer to male relatives and which
are used to refer to female relatives?

Aunt sister grandfather uncle son in law

Brother sister in law grandmother daughter

Male Female

The Sakuras

Created by: Fatma Dalla..14th/Mar/2012

 Tripoli University, Languages Centre

The Sakuras
The Sakuras

Maruko is a nine-year-old third-grade student raised in a relatively poor family. Hiroshi is

Maruko's loving and kind father, Sumire is Maruko's mother; she is strict but she is very

pleasant. Tomozou and Kotake are Maruko’s grandparents; her grandfather is kind and

loves watching TV with her, while her grandmother is a very wise lady.

Maruko is lazy, and usually late for school, and like many kids, she tries to avoid doing her

homework, in strong contrast with her calm and tidy older sister Jaku (sixth-grader) who

must share her room with, Maruko also doesn’t like Jaku’s cooking and fights with her all

day long.

Maruko has many friends and classmates and Tami is her best friend. Hanaw is a really rich

boy who lives in a mansion. His mom is always away travelling and so he doesn't see her

that often. Maru serves as the class president. He has very thick glasses because he is a

very serious student and studies very hard every day; black lines appear on his face nearly

all of the time. Migiwa is hard on Maruko. She is not good in her studies and fails every

year. Nagasawa’s house was burned down during an accident and made his family poor so

he always felt that nobody cares about him, and that everybody laughs about him.

Created by: Fatma Dalla..14th/Mar/2012

 Tripoli University, Languages Centre

-While you read:

-Write T (true) or F (false) and correct the false statements:

a) Maruko’s family is relatively rich ( )

b) Hiroshi is Maruko’s loving and kind father ( )

c) Tomozou and Kotake are Maruko’s classmates ( )

d) Maruko’s sister is lazy and disorganized ( )

e) Maruko likes Jaku’s food ( )

f) Migiwa is Maru’s sister ( )

h) Hanaw’s mother is always at home ( )

i) Maru’s glasses are very thick ( )

j) Nagasawa’s house was burned down ( )

-After you read:

- Write sentences about the Sakuras, like in the examples. The words
from the box may help you.

Mother in law daughters parents father in law

Fathergrandparents husband mother sister wife

a) Jaku / Maruko: ____ Jaku is Maruko’s sister __________________________________.

b) Jaku and Maruko / Hiroshi: __ Jaku and Maruko are Hiroshi’s daughters___________.

c) Sumire / Hiroshi: ________________________________________________________ _.

d) Tomozou and Kotake / Maruko and Jaku:_________________________________ __ .

e) Kotake / Sumire: _________________________________________________________ __.

f) Tomozou / Kotake: _______________________________________________________ __.

g) Kotake / Hiroshi: _____________________________________ _ ___.

Created by: Fatma Dalla..14th/Mar/2012

 Tripoli University, Languages Centre

h) Hiroshi and Sumire / Maruko and Jaku_____________________________________.

-Follow up activity:

My family Tree Hello, Maruko. This is my family:

………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………….

-Draw your family tree in the box. Present your family members to Maruko.

Created by: Fatma Dalla..14th/Mar/2012