【明報專訊】A family typically consists of parents and their children. How many people are there in your family? Do you have a big family like Pat's ?

Two children born at the same time to the same mother are called twins. It is rare for a woman to be carrying more than two babies. A septuplet is one of seven children born at the same time to the same mother! On 19 November 1997, the world's first septuplets (from the McCaughey family) were born in Iowa, the United States (美國愛荷華州) (top).

After the news had spread, the septuplets received a lot of presents including diapers that would last them two years. They are four boys and three girls, and they turned 18 in 2015 (bottom)!

A nuclear family is one consisting of a pair of adults and their children. Blood relatives rather than one's parents, like one's grandparents, uncles and aunts are part of one's family. Such a family is called an extended family, which often spans three or more generations.

■Mission 1

Princess Charlotte of the UK was born in 2015 to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (劍橋公爵), and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (劍橋公爵夫人). Prince William calls Queen Elizabeth II (英女王伊利沙伯二世) grandmother. How should Princess Charlotte calls the Queen?

■Mission 2

A family tree is a chart showing family relationships. Your family tree shows not only your parents but also relatives that lived long ago. Those people are your ancestors. Write the names of the members of your family on the family tree. If you have brothers or sisters, draw more apples next to you!

■Mission 3

The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPA, 家庭計劃指導會) is a non-profit-making organisation that was 1. ___________ (found) in 1936. It was called the Eugenics League until 1950, when it was given the name it now has. It offers Hong Kong people information and services on sexual and reproductive health. To encourage family planning, the FPA often designs slogans to 2. _________ (advise) people on how many children they should have. For example, in the 1970s, advertisements were made that publicised the "two kids are enough" slogan. The idea was 3. ________ (deep) imprinted in people's minds. In July 2015, a new advertisement was 4. ____________ (release) which included messages like "you can even form a basketball team" to boost the birth rate.

(answers on next text)

■Key words

septuplets 七胞胎

nuclear family 核心家庭

blood relatives 血親

extended family 大家庭 (如數代同堂的家庭)

■Glossary

typically (adv) 典型地

diaper (n) 尿片

span (v) 跨越

ancestor (n) 祖先

reproductive (adj) 繁殖的

slogan (n) 口號

imprint (v) 銘刻

birth rate (n phr) 出生率