Amazon is trying out robots that look like people in their big storage buildings in America. These robots, named Digit, can move and pick up things just like a person. Amazon says they want to use robots so their workers can help customers better. But, a group from the UK says Amazon has been treating its workers like robots and this has made people lose their jobs.

The boss of Amazon’s robot team, Tye Brady, says people can’t be replaced and he doesn’t think there will be storage buildings with only robots in the future. He says people are needed because they can think better and fix problems. Digit, the robot, is still being tested to see if it’s safe and can work well with people. Amazon has been using more robots to save money. They already use robots on wheels to move things and flying robots to deliver things in some parts of America. Amazon says their robots have made many new jobs, but some people say robots are making people lose their jobs.

Original news source: Amazon trials humanoid robots to ‘free up’ staff (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a slip of paper with a word related to the article (e.g. robot, Amazon, Digit). One person from each group acts out the word without speaking, while the others try to guess what word it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “robot” on the board. Ask the students to brainstorm and write down as many words as they can think of that are associated with robots. After a few minutes, have the students share their words with the class and discuss the connections between the words.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. robot, Amazon, worker). One person from each group chooses a word and draws a picture representing that word, while the others try to guess what word it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to brainstorm the pros of using robots in storage buildings, and the other group to brainstorm the cons. After a few minutes, have each group share their ideas with the class. Then, facilitate a class discussion where students can express their opinions and debate the advantages and disadvantages of using robots in the workplace.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Read a statement related to the article (e.g. “Robots are more efficient than humans”). Ask the students to think about whether they agree or disagree with the statement. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their opinions. Finally, have a few pairs share their opinions with the class and facilitate a class discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are the robots in Amazon’s storage buildings called?
2. Can the robots move and pick up things like a person?
3. Why does Amazon want to use robots in their buildings?
4. What does the group from the UK say about how Amazon treats its workers?
5. Does the boss of Amazon’s robot team think people can be replaced by robots?
6. Why does the boss think people are needed in the storage buildings?
7. What are some ways Amazon already uses robots?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amazon is (1)______ out robots that look like people in their big storage buildings in America. These robots, named Digit, can move and pick up things just like a (2)______. Amazon says they want to use robots so their workers can help customers better. But, a group from the UK says Amazon has been treating its workers like (3)______ and this has made people (4)______ their jobs.

The boss of Amazon’s robot team, Tye Brady, says people can’t be replaced and he doesn’t think there will be storage buildings with only robots in the future. He says people are needed because they can think better and fix problems. (5)______, the robot, is still being (6)______ to see if it’s safe and can work well with people. Amazon has been using more robots to save money. They already use robots on wheels to move things and flying robots to deliver things in some (7)______ of America. Amazon says their robots have made many new jobs, but some (8)______ say robots are making people lose their jobs.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a robot?
2. How would you feel if robots were working instead of people in a store?
3. Do you like the idea of robots helping customers in a store? Why or why not?
4. Do you think robots can think like people? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think Amazon is using robots in their storage buildings?
6. How do you think robots can help save money for a company?
7. Do you think robots are making people lose their jobs? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if robots were delivering things to your house instead of people?
9. Do you think robots can work well with people? Why or why not?
10. Why do you think Amazon is testing the robot Digit to see if it’s safe?
11. How do you think robots can help workers in a store?
12. Do you think robots will replace people in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. robots
2. people
3. storage
4. workers
5. jobs
6. Amazon
7. Digit
8. buildings

Meanings:
(a) A robot being tested by Amazon
(b) A big company that sells things online
(c) The people who work for a company
(d) Humans, like you and me
(e) The work that people do to earn money
(f) A place to keep things
(g) Big structures where things are kept
(h) Machines that look like humans and move
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the robots in Amazon’s storage buildings called?
(a) Digit
(b) Amazon
(c) Worker
(d) People

2. Why does Amazon want to use robots in their storage buildings?
(a) To replace workers
(b) To help customers better
(c) To save money
(d) To make new jobs

3. Who says Amazon has been treating its workers like robots?
(a) A group from the UK
(b) Tye Brady
(c) Amazon’s boss
(d) Digit the robot

4. What does Tye Brady think about replacing people with robots?
(a) Robots are better than people
(b) Robots will take over in the future
(c) People are not needed
(d) People can’t be replaced

5. What is Digit the robot being tested for?
(a) Moving and picking up things
(b) Helping customers better
(c) Safety and working well with people
(d) Making new jobs

6. How does Amazon use robots to save money?
(a) By using flying robots to deliver things
(b) By using robots on wheels to move things
(c) By using robots that look like people
(d) By using robots that can think better

7. What do some people say about robots and jobs?
(a) Robots are helping people find jobs
(b) Robots are better workers than people
(c) Robots are not useful
(d) Robots are making people lose their jobs

8. How does Amazon say their robots have affected jobs?
(a) They have made people lose their jobs
(b) They have replaced all the workers
(c) They have made many new jobs
(d) They have made robots lose their jobs

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Amazon is testing robots that look like people in their big storage buildings.
2. The boss of Amazon’s robot team, Tye Brady, believes that people can be replaced by robots.
3. A group from the UK says Amazon has been treating its workers better than robots.
4. Amazon wants to use robots to hinder their workers from serving customers better.
5. These robots, called Digit, cannot move and pick up things just like a person.
6. Digit, the robot, is still being tested to make sure it is safe and can work well with people.
7. Some people have lost their jobs because of how Amazon treats its workers.
8. Tye Brady thinks people are needed because they can think better and solve problems.
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 are the robots in Amazon’s storage buildings called?
2. Why does Amazon want to use robots?
3. What does the group from the UK say about how Amazon treats its workers?
4. What does Tye Brady, the boss of Amazon’s robot team, think about replacing people with robots?
5. How has Amazon been using robots to save money?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are the robots in Amazon’s storage buildings called?
The robots are called Digit.

2. Can the robots move and pick up things like a person?
Yes, the robots can move and pick up things just like a person.

3. Why does Amazon want to use robots in their buildings?
Amazon wants to use robots so their workers can help customers better.

4. What does the group from the UK say about how Amazon treats its workers?
The group from the UK says that Amazon has been treating its workers like robots and this has made people lose their jobs.

5. Does the boss of Amazon’s robot team think people can be replaced by robots?
No, the boss of Amazon’s robot team doesn’t think people can be replaced by robots.

6. Why does the boss think people are needed in the storage buildings?
The boss thinks people are needed in the storage buildings because they can think better and fix problems.

7. What are some ways Amazon already uses robots?
Amazon already uses robots on wheels to move things and flying robots to deliver things in some parts of America.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) trying
(2) person
(3) robots
(4) lose
(5) Digit
(6) tested
(7) parts
(8) people
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. robots
Answer: (h) Machines that look like humans and move

2. people
Answer: (d) Humans, like you and me

3. storage
Answer: (f) A place to keep things

4. workers
Answer: (c) The people who work for a company

5. jobs
Answer: (e) The work that people do to earn money

6. Amazon
Answer: (b) A big company that sells things online

7. Digit
Answer: (a) A robot being tested by Amazon

8. buildings
Answer: (g) Big structures where things are kept
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Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the robots in Amazon’s storage buildings called?
Answer: (a) Digit

2. Why does Amazon want to use robots in their storage buildings?
Answer: (b) To help customers better

3. Who says Amazon has been treating its workers like robots?
Answer: (a) A group from the UK

4. What does Tye Brady think about replacing people with robots?
Answer: (d) People can’t be replaced

5. What is Digit the robot being tested for?
Answer: (c) Safety and working well with people

6. How does Amazon use robots to save money?
Answer: (b) By using robots on wheels to move things

7. What do some people say about robots and jobs?
Answer: (d) Robots are making people lose their jobs

8. How does Amazon say their robots have affected jobs?
Answer: (c) They have made many new jobs
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True or False Answers:

1. Amazon is testing robots that look like people in their big storage buildings. (Answer: True)
2. The boss of Amazon’s robot team, Tye Brady, believes that people can be replaced by robots. (Answer: False)
3. A group from the UK says Amazon has been treating its workers better than robots. (Answer: False)
4. Amazon wants to use robots to hinder their workers from serving customers better. (Answer: False)
5. These robots, called Digit, cannot move and pick up things just like a person. (Answer: False)
6. Digit, the robot, is still being tested to make sure it is safe and can work well with people. (Answer: True)
7. Some people have lost their jobs because of how Amazon treats its workers. (Answer: True)
8. Tye Brady thinks people are needed because they can think better and solve problems. (Answer: True)
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