Uber’s boss, Dara Khosrowshahi, wants people to wait a little longer for an electric Uber ride. He says this small wait is worth it because electric cars are better for the planet. Uber plans to have all its rides and deliveries be electric by 2040. Khosrowshahi also thinks the government should help more people buy electric cars.

Most Uber cars still use petrol, diesel, or are hybrids, but you can choose an electric car when booking. Soon, you can set your app to always pick electric rides. In places like London, many Uber drivers already use electric cars, so the wait isn’t too long. But in other areas, not many drivers have electric cars yet, so more needs to be done.

Khosrowshahi believes using electric cars will help the environment and Uber’s business. Even though electric rides make less money now, Uber is adding more services like delivering groceries. Some problems like high prices and not enough charging stations make it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars. Khosrowshahi thinks the government should help, especially for drivers who drive a lot, like Uber drivers.

Original news source: Be prepared to wait longer for an electric taxi, says Uber boss (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and have them discuss and decide whether they agree or disagree with Dara Khosrowshahi’s plan for Uber to go all-electric by 2040. Each group should come up with reasons to support their opinion. After a few minutes, have each group share their opinion with the class and discuss as a whole group.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., electric cars, Uber, environment) on separate pieces of paper. Have a student come to the front of the class, pick a word randomly, and draw it on the board without using any letters or numbers. The rest of the class must guess the word based on the drawing.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have students take turns sharing three statements about electric cars or Uber, one of which is a lie. For example, “Electric cars are better for the environment, Uber plans to have all electric rides by 2030, Uber drivers can only use petrol cars.” The other students must guess which statement is the lie, encouraging listening and critical thinking skills.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write down important keywords from the article on the board but leave out a few letters. For example, “_ _ _ _ _ _” for “Khosrowshahi.” Have students guess letters one by one. If a correct letter is guessed, write it in the correct blank space. If a wrong letter is guessed, start drawing a hangman. Students must try to figure out the keyword before the hangman is drawn completely.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “What are the benefits of Uber switching to all-electric rides?” Give students a minute to think about their answer individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. This activity encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and speaking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why does Uber’s boss want people to wait a little longer for an electric Uber ride?
2. When does Uber plan to have all its rides and deliveries be electric by?
3. How can you choose an electric car when booking an Uber ride?
4. Why do some places have more electric Uber cars than others?
5. What are some of the benefits of using electric cars according to Khosrowshahi?
6. What is one problem that makes it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars?
7. Who does Khosrowshahi think the government should help, especially when it comes to buying electric cars?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Uber’s boss, Dara Khosrowshahi, wants (1)______ to wait a little longer for an electric Uber (2)______. He says this small wait is worth it because electric cars are (3)______ for the planet. Uber plans to have all its rides and deliveries be electric by 2040. Khosrowshahi also thinks the government should help more people buy (4)______ (5)______.

Most Uber cars still use petrol, diesel, or are hybrids, but you can choose an electric car when booking. Soon, you can set your app to always pick electric (6)______. In places like London, many Uber drivers already use electric cars, so the (7)______ isn’t too long. But in other areas, not many drivers have electric cars yet, so (8)______ needs to be done.

Khosrowshahi believes using electric cars will help the environment and Uber’s business. Even though electric rides make (9)______ money now, Uber is adding more services like (10)______ groceries. Some (11)______ like high prices and not enough charging (12)______ make it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars. Khosrowshahi thinks the government should help, especially for drivers who drive a lot, like Uber drivers.
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 to wait a little longer for an electric Uber ride?
3. Do you like the idea of all Uber rides being electric by 2040? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the government should help more people buy electric cars? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about being able to choose an electric car when booking an Uber ride?
6. How do you think Uber using electric cars can help the environment?
7. Why do you think Uber is adding more services like delivering groceries?
8. Do you think high prices are a big problem for people switching to electric cars? Why or why not?
9. Why do you think not having enough charging stations makes it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars?
10. How do you think the government can help Uber drivers who drive a lot to switch to electric cars?
11. Do you think it’s important for companies like Uber to use electric cars? Why or why not?
12. What are some other ways you think companies can help protect the environment?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. electric
2. planet
3. deliveries
4. hybrids
5. booking
6. environment
7. groceries
8. charging
9. switch
10. government
11. drivers
12. stations

Meanings:
(A) Places where you can get services, like fuel or electricity
(B) A big round object in space, like Earth
(C) The group of people who make rules for a country
(D) Using power from electricity, not gas
(E) Bringing things to people
(F) The natural world around us
(G) Cars that use both gas and electricity
(H) Reserving or arranging something in advance
(I) People who operate vehicles
(J) Giving power to something, like a battery
(K) Food and other items you buy from a store
(L) Changing from one thing to another
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Dara Khosrowshahi want people to wait for when using Uber?
(a) An electric ride
(b) A helicopter ride
(c) A horse-drawn carriage ride
(d) A bicycle ride

2. By what year does Uber plan to have all its rides and deliveries be electric?
(a) 2025
(b) 2030
(c) 2040
(d) 2050

3. In which city do many Uber drivers already use electric cars?
(a) New York
(b) Paris
(c) Tokyo
(d) London

4. What does Khosrowshahi believe using electric cars will help?
(a) The economy and Uber’s business
(b) The environment and the government
(c) The economy and the government
(d) The environment and Uber’s business

5. What new service is Uber adding to make more money?
(a) Selling clothes
(b) Delivering groceries
(c) Cleaning houses
(d) Walking dogs

6. What makes it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars according to the article?
(a) Low prices and too many charging stations
(b) High prices and not enough charging stations
(c) Bad weather and too many electric cars
(d) Low prices and not enough charging stations

7. Who does Khosrowshahi think the government should help, especially for using electric cars?
(a) Drivers who drive a little, like Uber drivers
(b) Cyclists
(c) Drivers who drive a lot, like Uber drivers
(d) Pedestrians

8. What type of cars do most Uber cars still use?
(a) Petrol, diesel, or hybrids
(b) Electric
(c) Bicycles
(d) Scooters

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. He wants fewer people to choose electric Uber rides.
2. Uber plans to have all rides and deliveries be electric by 2040.
3. Dara Khosrowshahi is the boss of Uber.
4. In some places like London, many Uber drivers already use electric cars.
5. Uber is removing additional services like delivering groceries.
6. Using electric cars will harm the environment and Uber’s business.
7. Khosrowshahi thinks the government should help people buy electric cars.
8. Certain problems like low prices and too many charging stations make it easy for everyone to switch to electric cars.
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. Why does Uber’s boss, Dara Khosrowshahi, want people to wait a little longer for an electric Uber ride?
2. When does Uber plan to have all its rides and deliveries be electric?
3. How can you choose an electric car when booking an Uber ride?
4. Why does Khosrowshahi believe using electric cars will help the environment and Uber’s business?
5. What are some problems that make it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars according to the article?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why does Uber’s boss want people to wait a little longer for an electric Uber ride?
Uber’s boss wants people to wait for electric rides because they are better for the planet.

2. When does Uber plan to have all its rides and deliveries be electric by?
Uber plans to have all rides and deliveries be electric by the year 2040.

3. How can you choose an electric car when booking an Uber ride?
You can choose an electric car when booking by selecting the option on the Uber app.

4. Why do some places have more electric Uber cars than others?
Some places have more electric Uber cars because more drivers in those areas already use electric cars.

5. What are some of the benefits of using electric cars according to Khosrowshahi?
Using electric cars helps the environment and is good for Uber’s business.

6. What is one problem that makes it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars?
One problem is that there are not enough charging stations for electric cars.

7. Who does Khosrowshahi think the government should help, especially when it comes to buying electric cars?
Khosrowshahi thinks the government should help drivers, like Uber drivers, who drive a lot, to buy electric cars.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) ride
(3) better
(4) electric
(5) cars
(6) rides
(7) wait
(8) more
(9) less
(10) delivering
(11) problems
(12) stations
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. electric
Answer: (D) Using power from electricity, not gas

2. planet
Answer: (B) A big round object in space, like Earth

3. deliveries
Answer: (E) Bringing things to people

4. hybrids
Answer: (G) Cars that use both gas and electricity

5. booking
Answer: (H) Reserving or arranging something in advance

6. environment
Answer: (F) The natural world around us

7. groceries
Answer: (K) Food and other items you buy from a store

8. charging
Answer: (J) Giving power to something, like a battery

9. switch
Answer: (L) Changing from one thing to another

10. government
Answer: (C) The group of people who make rules for a country

11. drivers
Answer: (I) People who operate vehicles

12. stations
Answer: (A) Places where you can get services, like fuel or electricity
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Dara Khosrowshahi want people to wait for when using Uber?
Answer: (a) An electric ride

2. By what year does Uber plan to have all its rides and deliveries be electric?
Answer: (c) 2040

3. In which city do many Uber drivers already use electric cars?
Answer: (d) London

4. What does Khosrowshahi believe using electric cars will help?
Answer: (d) The environment and Uber’s business

5. What new service is Uber adding to make more money?
Answer: (b) Delivering groceries

6. What makes it hard for everyone to switch to electric cars according to the article?
Answer: (b) High prices and not enough charging stations

7. Who does Khosrowshahi think the government should help, especially for using electric cars?
Answer: (c) Drivers who drive a lot, like Uber drivers

8. What type of cars do most Uber cars still use?
Answer: (a) Petrol, diesel, or hybrids
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. He wants fewer people to choose electric Uber rides. (Answer: False)
2. Uber plans to have all rides and deliveries be electric by 2040. (Answer: True)
3. Dara Khosrowshahi is the boss of Uber. (Answer: True)
4. In some places like London, many Uber drivers already use electric cars. (Answer: True)
5. Uber is removing additional services like delivering groceries. (Answer: False)
6. Using electric cars will harm the environment and Uber’s business. (Answer: False)
7. Khosrowshahi thinks the government should help people buy electric cars. (Answer: True)
8. Certain problems like low prices and too many charging stations make it easy for everyone to switch to electric cars. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧