A Chinese company named BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023. BYD sold 526,000 cars that only use batteries, beating Tesla for the first time. But for the whole year, Tesla sold more cars, with 1.8 million electric cars sold. Tesla did better than people thought they would, selling 20% more cars than the year before.

BYD is doing well and making it harder for Tesla because more companies are making electric cars. In 2023, BYD sold more than 3 million cars that are good for the environment, including cars with batteries and cars that are half battery, half regular engine. BYD makes its own batteries, which saves them money. But Tesla’s rivals usually buy batteries from other companies.

BYD has become very good at making batteries and electric cars. The company started in 1995 making batteries that you can charge again and again. Then they bought a car company that was not doing well. Because BYD makes its own batteries, they can sell cars for less money. In December, they sold 70% more cars than before.

Original news source: China’s BYD overtakes Tesla’s electric car sales in last quarter of 2023 (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They should focus on the key information, such as the companies involved, the number of cars sold, and the competition between BYD and Tesla.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss and share their opinions on the following questions:
1. Do you think it’s important for companies to make electric cars?
2. Would you prefer to buy an electric car or a car with a regular engine? Why?
3. Do you think Tesla will continue to be the leading electric car company, or will other companies like BYD surpass them in the future?

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns choosing a vocabulary word from the article and drawing a picture to represent it. The other students in the group must guess the word based on the drawing. The student who drew the picture can give hints or describe the word using synonyms.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns choosing a keyword from the article and playing a game of hangman. They should provide hints or clues to help their partner guess the word. The group can discuss the meaning and context of the word after it has been guessed.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: In this activity, students will individually think about and answer the following question: “What factors do you think contribute to the success of BYD and Tesla in the electric car market?” After a few minutes, students will pair up and share their answers with a partner. Finally, pairs will join another pair to create a group of four and share their answers again. The whole group can then have a discussion about the different factors mentioned.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who sold more electric cars in the last three months of 2023, BYD or Tesla?
2. Did BYD sell more cars than Tesla for the whole year?
3. Did Tesla sell more cars in 2023 compared to the previous year?
4. Why is BYD making it harder for Tesla?
5. How many cars did BYD sell in 2023 that are good for the environment?
6. Why is BYD able to sell cars for less money?
7. How many more cars did BYD sell in December compared to before?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A Chinese company named BYD (1)______ (2)______ electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023. BYD sold 526,000 cars that only use (3)______, beating Tesla for the first time. But for the whole year, Tesla sold more cars, with 1.8 million electric cars sold. Tesla did better than (4)______ thought they would, selling 20% more cars than the year before.

BYD is (5)______ well and (6)______ it harder for Tesla because more companies are making electric cars. In 2023, BYD sold more than 3 million cars that are good for the environment, (7)______ cars with batteries and cars that are half battery, half (8)______ engine. BYD makes its own batteries, which saves them money. But Tesla’s rivals usually buy batteries from (9)______ companies.

BYD has become very good at making batteries and electric (10)______. The company started in 1995 making batteries that you can (11)______ again and again. Then they bought a car company that was not doing well. Because BYD makes its own batteries, they can sell cars for less (12)______. In December, they sold 70% more cars than before.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is an electric car?
2. How would you feel if you had an electric car?
3. Do you like the idea of using batteries to power a car? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for cars to be good for the environment? Why or why not?
5. What do you think makes BYD’s electric cars different from Tesla’s?
6. How do you think BYD making its own batteries helps them sell cars for less money?
7. Do you think it’s better for companies to make their own batteries or buy them from other companies? Why or why not?
8. What do you think has made BYD successful in making batteries and electric cars?
9. How would you feel if you were able to charge your car’s battery again and again?
10. Do you think more companies should start making electric cars? Why or why not?
11. Why do you think Tesla sold more cars than people expected?
12. How do you think BYD selling more electric cars than Tesla will affect the future of electric cars?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. electric
2. batteries
3. beating
4. rivals
5. environment
6. hybrid
7. efficient
8. rechargeable
9. acquired
10. affordable
11. percentage
12. annually

Meanings:
(A) The air, water, and land where people, animals, and plants live
(B) Other companies or people you compete with
(C) Winning against someone else
(D) A part of a whole number in 100
(E) Things that store energy to make devices work
(F) Every year
(G) Got something from someone else
(H) A car that uses both electricity and gasoline to run
(I) Able to be filled up with power again to be used more than once
(J) Using electricity to work instead of gasoline
(K) Not too expensive, so most people can buy it
(L) Doing something well without wasting time or energy
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who sold more electric cars in the last three months of 2023?
(a) BYD
(b) Tesla
(c) Both BYD and Tesla sold the same amount
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

2. How many electric cars did BYD sell in 2023?
(a) 1.8 million
(b) 526,000
(c) More than 3 million
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

3. How many electric cars did Tesla sell in 2023?
(a) More than 3 million
(b) 526,000
(c) 1.8 million
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

4. Why is BYD making it harder for Tesla?
(a) More companies are making electric cars
(b) BYD sells cars for less money
(c) BYD makes its own batteries
(d) All of the above

5. How long has BYD been making batteries?
(a) Since 2023
(b) Since 2022
(c) It is not mentioned in the article
(d) Since 1995

6. How did BYD increase their car sales in December?
(a) They bought a car company
(b) They started making their own batteries
(c) It is not mentioned in the article
(d) They sold 70% more cars than before

7. Where does Tesla usually buy their batteries from?
(a) BYD
(b) Other companies
(c) They make their own batteries
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

8. Who sold more electric cars overall in 2023?
(a) BYD
(b) Tesla
(c) Both Tesla and BYD sold the same amount
(d) It is not mentioned in the article

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A Chinese company called BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023.
2. BYD sold 526,000 cars that do not use batteries, failing to surpass Tesla for the first time.
3. In 2023, BYD sold over 3 million environmentally friendly cars, including both battery-powered and hybrid models.
4. Tesla fell short of expectations by selling 20% fewer cars than the previous year
5. BYD’s lack of expertise in battery and electric car production has led them to sell cars at higher prices, resulting in a 70% decrease in sales in December.
6. BYD spends more money by producing its own batteries, while Tesla’s competitors typically purchase batteries from other companies.
7. BYD’s success is making it more challenging for Tesla because more companies are entering the electric car market.
8. However, Tesla sold more electric cars than BYD for the entire year, with 1.8 million cars sold.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who sold more electric cars in the last three months of 2023, BYD or Tesla?
2. Did BYD sell more electric cars than Tesla for the whole year?
3. Why is BYD making it harder for Tesla?
4. How many cars did BYD sell in 2023 that are good for the environment?
5. Why can BYD sell cars for less money than Tesla?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who sold more electric cars in the last three months of 2023, BYD or Tesla?
BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023.

2. Did BYD sell more cars than Tesla for the whole year?
No, Tesla sold more cars than BYD for the whole year.

3. Did Tesla sell more cars in 2023 compared to the previous year?
Yes, Tesla sold 20% more cars in 2023 compared to the previous year.

4. Why is BYD making it harder for Tesla?
BYD is making it harder for Tesla because more companies are making electric cars, and BYD is one of their competitors.

5. How many cars did BYD sell in 2023 that are good for the environment?
BYD sold more than 3 million cars in 2023 that are good for the environment.

6. Why is BYD able to sell cars for less money?
BYD is able to sell cars for less money because they make their own batteries, which saves them money.

7. How many more cars did BYD sell in December compared to before?
BYD sold 70% more cars in December compared to before.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sold
(2) more
(3) batteries
(4) people
(5) doing
(6) making
(7) including
(8) regular
(9) other
(10) cars
(11) charge
(12) money
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. electric
Answer: (J) Using electricity to work instead of gasoline

2. batteries
Answer: (E) Things that store energy to make devices work

3. beating
Answer: (C) Winning against someone else

4. rivals
Answer: (B) Other companies or people you compete with

5. environment
Answer: (A) The air, water, and land where people, animals, and plants live

6. hybrid
Answer: (H) A car that uses both electricity and gasoline to run

7. efficient
Answer: (L) Doing something well without wasting time or energy

8. rechargeable
Answer: (I) Able to be filled up with power again to be used more than once

9. acquired
Answer: (G) Got something from someone else

10. affordable
Answer: (K) Not too expensive, so most people can buy it

11. percentage
Answer: (D) A part of a whole number in 100

12. annually
Answer: (F) Every year
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who sold more electric cars in the last three months of 2023?
Answer: (a) BYD

2. How many electric cars did BYD sell in 2023?
Answer: (c) More than 3 million

3. How many electric cars did Tesla sell in 2023?
Answer: (c) 1.8 million

4. Why is BYD making it harder for Tesla?
Answer: (a) More companies are making electric cars

5. How long has BYD been making batteries?
Answer: (d) Since 1995

6. How did BYD increase their car sales in December?
Answer: (d) They sold 70% more cars than before

7. Where does Tesla usually buy their batteries from?
Answer: (b) Other companies

8. Who sold more electric cars overall in 2023?
Answer: (b) Tesla
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A Chinese company called BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023. (Answer: True)
2. BYD sold 526,000 cars that do not use batteries, failing to surpass Tesla for the first time. (Answer: False)
3. In 2023, BYD sold over 3 million environmentally friendly cars, including both battery-powered and hybrid models. (Answer: True)
4. Tesla fell short of expectations by selling 20% fewer cars than the previous year (Answer: False)
5. BYD’s lack of expertise in battery and electric car production has led them to sell cars at higher prices, resulting in a 70% decrease in sales in December. (Answer: False)
6. BYD spends more money by producing its own batteries, while Tesla’s competitors typically purchase batteries from other companies. (Answer: False)
7. BYD’s success is making it more challenging for Tesla because more companies are entering the electric car market. (Answer: True)
8. However, Tesla sold more electric cars than BYD for the entire year, with 1.8 million cars sold. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧