Apple makes many things like iPhones, iPads, and computers. They also have special things you can watch or listen to, like Apple TV+ and Apple Music. But they did not sell as many things as they did before. They sold a little less stuff than last year. But they still sold a lot of iPhones and many people used their special watch and listen things.

The boss of Apple, Tim Cook, thinks they will sell more things when it is time for Christmas. But they did not sell as many computers or iPads as they did before. They also had some problems selling things in China, a big country with many people. Apple is trying to make sure they have enough new iPhones for everyone who wants one. They are working hard even when it is not easy to sell things in some places.

Original news source: Apple sales dip again despite iPhone boost (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to create an interesting headline for the article. It should be short and catchy. Then have them share their headlines with the class and discuss which one they like best and why.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a different part of the article (e.g., Apple’s product lines, Tim Cook’s expectations for Christmas sales, the issue with sales in China, etc.). Each group must draw a picture that represents their assigned part without using words. Then, each group shows their picture to the rest of the class, who must guess what part of the article it represents.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the key words from the article on the board (e.g., Apple, iPhone, iPad, computers, Apple TV+, Apple Music, sales, Christmas, China, new iPhones). Point to a word, and students must say the first word that comes to their mind related to it. This activity helps students to think quickly in English and build their vocabulary.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a simple opinion poll question related to the article, such as “Do you think Apple will sell more iPhones at Christmas?” or “Is it important for companies to sell products in China?” Have students walk around the class and ask their classmates their opinion, teaching them to use phrases like “What do you think about…?” and “Do you agree that…?” Afterward, discuss the results as a class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of key vocabulary from the article (e.g., boss, sell, special, problems, enough). Divide the class into two teams. One student from a team comes up and picks a word from the list. They have to draw it on the board without speaking or writing letters, while their team guesses the word. Set a time limit for each turn. This helps with vocabulary recall and is a fun way to review key terms from the article.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does Apple make?
2. What are the special things you can watch or listen to from Apple?
3. Did Apple sell more or less stuff than last year?
4. What does Tim Cook think about selling things at Christmas?
5. Did Apple sell more computers and iPads or fewer?
6. Where is Apple having problems selling things?
7. What is Apple trying to have enough of for everyone?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Apple makes (1)______ things like iPhones, iPads, and computers. They also have special things you can (2)______ or listen to, like Apple TV+ and Apple Music. But they did not sell as many things as they did before. They sold a little less stuff than last year. But they still sold a lot of iPhones and many people used their special watch and listen (3)______.

The boss of (4)______, Tim Cook, thinks they will sell (5)______ things when it is time for (6)______. But they did not sell as many computers or iPads as they did before. They also had some problems selling things in China, a big country with many (7)______. Apple is trying to make sure they have enough new iPhones for everyone who wants one. They are working hard even when it is not (8)______ to sell things in some places.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an iPhone?
2. Do you like to watch TV or listen to music? Why?
3. Have you ever used an iPad or computer? How did it make you feel?
4. What do you think about Christmas? Do you think more people buy things at Christmas time? Why or why not?
5. How do you feel when you cannot sell something?
6. Do you have a favorite thing you like to buy? What is it?
7. What is a boss? Do you think it is important to listen to the boss?
8. Do you think it is good to try hard even when things are difficult? Why?
9. Have you ever been to a big store when they did not have enough of something? How did that make you feel?
10. Do you like to have new things? Why or why not?
11. What do you do when you want something, but you have to wait for it?
12. Can you think of a time when you worked hard with other people to do something? How did it feel when you finished?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Apple
2. iPhones
3. computers
4. Christmas
5. China
6. boss
7. problems
8. sell

Meanings:
(a) To give something to someone in exchange for money
(b) A big country with many people
(c) A fruit that is red or green
(d) A special day with presents and a tree
(e) Things you use to watch videos and play games
(f) Things that don’t work right
(g) A person in charge at work
(h) Things you use to send emails and do homework
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Apple make?
(a) Shoes and clothes
(b) iPhones, iPads, and computers
(c) Cars and bicycles
(d) Food and drinks

2. What special things can you watch or listen to from Apple?
(a) Netflix and Spotify
(b) Apple TV+ and Apple Music
(c) YouTube and SoundCloud
(d) Hulu and Pandora

3. Did Apple sell more or less things than last year?
(a) More
(b) The same
(c) Less
(d) No one knows

4. Who is the boss of Apple?
(a) Steve Jobs
(b) Mark Zuckerberg
(c) Jeff Bezos
(d) Tim Cook

5. What does Tim Cook think will happen at Christmas?
(a) They will sell more things
(b) They will close the store
(c) They will have a party
(d) They will give things away for free

6. In which country did Apple have problems selling things?
(a) USA
(b) Canada
(c) China
(d) Australia

7. What is Apple trying to make sure they have enough of for everyone who wants one?
(a) New iPhones
(b) New iPads
(c) New computers
(d) New watches

8. What is Apple doing even when it is not easy to sell things in some places?
(a) Taking a break
(b) Playing games
(c) Sleeping
(d) Working hard

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. They sold a little more stuff than last year.
2. They are not working hard to sell things even in places where it is not easy.
3. They had no problems selling things in China.
4. Apple is trying to make sure they have enough new iPhones for everyone who wants one.
5. They also have special things to watch and listen to, like Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
6. Tim Cook thinks they will sell fewer things at Christmas time.
7. Apple makes iPhones, iPads, and computers.
8. Tim Cook is the boss of Apple.
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 does Apple sell?
2. Did Apple sell more or less things than last year?
3. What does Tim Cook think about selling things at Christmas?
4. Did Apple sell a lot of computers and iPads?
5. Where did Apple have problems selling things?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does Apple make?
Apple makes iPhones, iPads, and computers.

2. What are the special things you can watch or listen to from Apple?
You can watch Apple TV+ and listen to Apple Music.

3. Did Apple sell more or less stuff than last year?
Apple sold less stuff than last year.

4. What does Tim Cook think about selling things at Christmas?
Tim Cook thinks they will sell more things at Christmas.

5. Did Apple sell more computers and iPads or fewer?
Apple sold fewer computers and iPads.

6. Where is Apple having problems selling things?
Apple is having problems selling things in China.

7. What is Apple trying to have enough of for everyone?
Apple is trying to have enough new iPhones for everyone who wants one.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) many
(2) watch
(3) things
(4) Apple
(5) more
(6) Christmas
(7) people
(8) easy
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Apple
Answer: (d) A special day with presents and a tree

2. iPhones
Answer: (c) A fruit that is red or green

3. computers
Answer: (g) A person in charge at work

4. Christmas
Answer: (f) Things that don’t work right

5. China
Answer: (b) A big country with many people

6. boss
Answer: (e) Things you use to watch videos and play games

7. problems
Answer: (h) Things you use to send emails and do homework

8. sell
Answer: (a) To give something to someone in exchange for money
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Apple make?
Answer: (b) iPhones, iPads, and computers

2. What special things can you watch or listen to from Apple?
Answer: (b) Apple TV+ and Apple Music

3. Did Apple sell more or less things than last year?
Answer: (c) Less

4. Who is the boss of Apple?
Answer: (d) Tim Cook

5. What does Tim Cook think will happen at Christmas?
Answer: (a) They will sell more things

6. In which country did Apple have problems selling things?
Answer: (c) China

7. What is Apple trying to make sure they have enough of for everyone who wants one?
Answer: (a) New iPhones

8. What is Apple doing even when it is not easy to sell things in some places?
Answer: (d) Working hard
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. They sold a little more stuff than last year. (Answer: False)
2. They are not working hard to sell things even in places where it is not easy. (Answer: False)
3. They had no problems selling things in China. (Answer: False)
4. Apple is trying to make sure they have enough new iPhones for everyone who wants one. (Answer: True)
5. They also have special things to watch and listen to, like Apple TV+ and Apple Music. (Answer: True)
6. Tim Cook thinks they will sell fewer things at Christmas time. (Answer: False)
7. Apple makes iPhones, iPads, and computers. (Answer: True)
8. Tim Cook is the boss of Apple. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧