Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is bringing fast internet to Africa. Many places in Africa don’t have good internet, but Starlink wants to change that. They use satellites to give internet almost everywhere. This could help Africa grow and have more opportunities.

Starlink could really help Africa because some areas have bad internet. With Starlink, even faraway places can get fast internet. This means people can learn more and start new businesses. As Africa uses more technology, Starlink can help connect everyone better.

But there are some problems Starlink needs to solve. The internet might be too expensive for some people. Also, there might not be enough equipment to use it everywhere. Starlink needs to work with local people to make sure everyone can use it. If they do, Starlink can help Africa have a better digital future.

Original news source: Is Elon Musk’s Starlink a game changer for Africa? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Choose key words from the article (e.g., Starlink, Africa, internet, satellite, technology) and write them on separate pieces of paper. Have students pick a word and act it out without speaking while the others guess which word it is.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select some vocabulary words from the article (e.g., opportunities, equipment, digital future) and have students draw them on the board or on paper while the others try to guess the word being drawn.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student summarizes the article about Elon Musk’s Starlink bringing fast internet to Africa to their partner in their own words. The partner then summarizes it back to the first student, comparing the key points.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students about their opinions on whether fast internet in Africa is important. Have them write down their thoughts and reasons. Then, create a visual display where students can place their votes (e.g., agree, disagree, neutral) and discuss their opinions in small groups.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to come up with a catchy headline for an article about Starlink bringing fast internet to Africa. Encourage them to use key words and phrases from the original article. Share the headlines with the class and discuss the impact of a good headline.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, doing in Africa?
2. Why is fast internet important for Africa?
3. How does Starlink provide internet in Africa?
4. What are some benefits of having fast internet in Africa?
5. What are some problems Starlink needs to solve in Africa?
6. Why is it important for Starlink to work with local people in Africa?
7. How can Starlink help Africa have a better digital future?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is bringing fast (1)______ to Africa. (2)______ places in Africa don’t have good internet, but Starlink (3)______ to change that. They use satellites to give internet almost everywhere. This could help Africa grow and (4)______ more (5)______.

Starlink could really help Africa because some (6)______ have bad internet. With Starlink, even faraway places can get fast internet. This means people can learn more and start new businesses. As Africa uses more technology, (7)______ can help (8)______ everyone better.

But there are some problems Starlink needs to solve. The internet might be too (9)______ for some people. Also, there might not be (10)______ equipment to use it everywhere. Starlink (11)______ to work with (12)______ people to make sure everyone can use it. If they do, Starlink can help Africa have a better digital future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is fast internet? Why is it important?
2. How would you feel if you didn’t have good internet where you live?
3. Do you think it’s good that Starlink is helping Africa with internet? Why or why not?
4. What are some ways fast internet can help people learn more?
5. Do you like the idea of starting a new business online? Why or why not?
6. What do you think might happen if more places in Africa have fast internet?
7. What is a digital future? Why is it important for Africa to have a better one?
8. How do you think Starlink can make sure everyone can use their internet?
9. Do you think it’s fair if the internet is too expensive for some people? Why or why not?
10. What are some things you can do online that you couldn’t do without the internet?
11. How could having fast internet help connect people better?
12. Why do you think it’s important for companies like Starlink to help places with bad internet?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. satellites
3. opportunities
4. technology
5. connect
6. equipment
7. digital
8. future
9. expensive
10. solve
11. local
12. internet

Meanings:
(A) To join or link things together
(B) Chances to do something new or better
(C) Tools or machines needed for a task
(D) Costs a lot of money
(E) The time that comes after now
(F) Using computers and other electronic devices
(G) A system that lets computers talk to each other around the world
(H) Objects in space that send signals to Earth
(I) Machines and tools that help us do things
(J) From a nearby area or community
(K) To find an answer to a problem
(L) A group of people working together to make or sell things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Elon Musk’s company that is bringing fast internet to Africa?
(a) Starlink
(b) Moonlink
(c) Sunlink
(d) Earthlink

2. How does Starlink provide internet to Africa?
(a) Through underground cables
(b) Through satellites
(c) Through hot air balloons
(d) Through telephone lines

3. Why is fast internet important for Africa according to the article?
(a) To help Africa grow and have more opportunities
(b) To watch more movies
(c) To play video games
(d) To chat with friends

4. What can people do with fast internet in Africa?
(a) Watch more TV
(b) Sleep more
(c) Eat more food
(d) Learn more and start new businesses

5. What are some problems Starlink needs to solve in Africa?
(a) Internet might be too slow for some people
(b) Internet might be too colorful for some people
(c) Internet might be too loud for some people
(d) Internet might be too expensive for some people

6. What does Starlink need to work with local people to ensure?
(a) Everyone can dance
(b) Everyone can fly
(c) Everyone can use the internet
(d) Everyone can sing

7. How can Starlink help Africa have a better digital future?
(a) By making everyone wear hats
(b) By teaching everyone to swim
(c) By connecting everyone better
(d) By painting everything blue

8. What is the main goal of Starlink in Africa?
(a) To sell ice cream
(b) To provide fast internet to areas with bad internet
(c) To teach yoga
(d) To build sandcastles

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Many places in Africa currently have poor internet connection.
2. Starlink is cooperating with local communities in Africa to ensure everyone can benefit from their services.
3. Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is working to bring fast internet to Africa.
4. Starlink uses satellites to provide internet access to almost everywhere in Africa.
5. Another challenge is making sure there is adequate equipment for everyone to access the internet.
6. Having fast internet in Africa could lead to more growth and opportunities for the people there.
7. One challenge Starlink faces is ensuring the internet is affordable for everyone in Africa.
8. Starlink’s aim is to assist even the most isolated areas in Africa to gain access to fast internet.
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. What is Starlink doing in Africa?
2. How can fast internet help Africa?
3. What are some problems Starlink needs to solve in Africa?
4. Why is it important for Starlink to work with local people in Africa?
5. How can Starlink help Africa have a better digital future?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, doing in Africa?
Starlink is bringing fast internet to Africa.

2. Why is fast internet important for Africa?
Fast internet can help people learn more, start new businesses, and connect better with others.

3. How does Starlink provide internet in Africa?
Starlink uses satellites to give internet almost everywhere in Africa.

4. What are some benefits of having fast internet in Africa?
Having fast internet in Africa can help people grow, learn more, start businesses, and connect better with others.

5. What are some problems Starlink needs to solve in Africa?
Starlink needs to make sure the internet is not too expensive for everyone and that there is enough equipment for everyone to use it.

6. Why is it important for Starlink to work with local people in Africa?
Working with local people in Africa can help make sure everyone can use the internet and benefit from it.

7. How can Starlink help Africa have a better digital future?
Starlink can help Africa have a better digital future by providing fast internet to more people, helping them learn, grow, and connect better with others.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) internet
(2) Many
(3) wants
(4) have
(5) opportunities
(6) areas
(7) Starlink
(8) connect
(9) expensive
(10) enough
(11) needs
(12) local
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (L) A group of people working together to make or sell things

2. satellites
Answer: (H) Objects in space that send signals to Earth

3. opportunities
Answer: (B) Chances to do something new or better

4. technology
Answer: (I) Machines and tools that help us do things

5. connect
Answer: (A) To join or link things together

6. equipment
Answer: (C) Tools or machines needed for a task

7. digital
Answer: (F) Using computers and other electronic devices

8. future
Answer: (E) The time that comes after now

9. expensive
Answer: (D) Costs a lot of money

10. solve
Answer: (K) To find an answer to a problem

11. local
Answer: (J) From a nearby area or community

12. internet
Answer: (G) A system that lets computers talk to each other around the world
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Elon Musk’s company that is bringing fast internet to Africa?
Answer: (a) Starlink

2. How does Starlink provide internet to Africa?
Answer: (b) Through satellites

3. Why is fast internet important for Africa according to the article?
Answer: (a) To help Africa grow and have more opportunities

4. What can people do with fast internet in Africa?
Answer: (d) Learn more and start new businesses

5. What are some problems Starlink needs to solve in Africa?
Answer: (d) Internet might be too expensive for some people

6. What does Starlink need to work with local people to ensure?
Answer: (c) Everyone can use the internet

7. How can Starlink help Africa have a better digital future?
Answer: (c) By connecting everyone better

8. What is the main goal of Starlink in Africa?
Answer: (b) To provide fast internet to areas with bad internet
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Many places in Africa currently have poor internet connection. (Answer: True)
2. Starlink is cooperating with local communities in Africa to ensure everyone can benefit from their services. (Answer: False)
3. Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is working to bring fast internet to Africa. (Answer: True)
4. Starlink uses satellites to provide internet access to almost everywhere in Africa. (Answer: True)
5. Another challenge is making sure there is adequate equipment for everyone to access the internet. (Answer: False)
6. Having fast internet in Africa could lead to more growth and opportunities for the people there. (Answer: True)
7. One challenge Starlink faces is ensuring the internet is affordable for everyone in Africa. (Answer: False)
8. Starlink’s aim is to assist even the most isolated areas in Africa to gain access to fast internet. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧