A man named Philip Paxson died because he drove off a broken bridge. His family is mad at Google because Google’s map did not show the bridge was broken. They say Google should have known the bridge was broken for nine years. They are also mad at three other companies because they did not fix the bridge. Google is looking into what the family is saying.

Philip was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when he drove off the bridge. He was using Google Maps to find his way home. People living near the bridge had told Google many times to fix their map. The family says there were no signs to stop people from going on the bridge because someone had taken them away. They want to make sure this does not happen to anyone else. Google said they are sorry and they want their maps to be right. They are looking at what the family is saying in the lawsuit.

Original news source: Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. bridge, Google, map, lawsuit, etc.). One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word silently, while their team tries to guess the word. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries concise. After each student has had a turn, they can compare their summaries with their partner and discuss any differences.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a vocabulary word from the article (e.g. bridge, Google, map, lawsuit, etc.). Without speaking, they must draw a picture to represent the word on the board. The rest of the class must guess what word they are drawing. The student who guesses correctly gets the next turn to draw.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a keyword from the article on the board, leaving out a few letters and replacing them with dashes. The students take turns guessing letters to try and complete the keyword. If a letter is correct, write it in the correct position. If a letter is incorrect, draw one part of a hangman on the board. The students must guess the keyword before the hangman is completed.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think individually about the following question: “Do you think Google should be responsible for the broken bridge incident?” After a few minutes, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts. Then, have each pair share their opinions with the rest of the class. Encourage the students to explain their reasoning and listen to others’ perspectives.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
2. Why is Philip’s family mad at Google?
3. How long did the family say the bridge was broken?
4. What was Philip using to find his way home?
5. What did people living near the bridge tell Google to do?
6. Why is the family mad at three other companies?
7. What does Google want to do with their maps?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man (1)______ Philip (2)______ died because he drove off a broken bridge. His family is mad at Google because Google’s map did not show the bridge was broken. They say Google should have known the bridge was broken for nine years. They are also mad at three other companies because they did not fix the bridge. Google is (3)______ into what the family is saying.

Philip was (4)______ home from his daughter’s birthday party when he drove off the bridge. He was using (5)______ Maps to find his way home. People living near the bridge had told Google many times to fix their map. The family says there were no (6)______ to stop people from going on the bridge because someone had taken them away. They want to (7)______ sure this does not happen to anyone else. Google said they are sorry and they want their maps to be right. They are looking at what the (8)______ is saying in the lawsuit.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Google?
2. How do you think Philip’s family feels about Google?
3. Do you think Google should have known the bridge was broken?
4. Why do you think the family is mad at three other companies?
5. How would you feel if you were driving and suddenly the road disappeared?
6. Do you like using Google Maps to find your way?
7. What do you think Google should do to fix their map?
8. Why do you think someone took away the signs on the bridge?
9. How do you think the family wants to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else?
10. Do you think Google’s apology is enough?
11. Why do you think Google is looking into what the family is saying?
12. What would you do if you were in Philip’s family?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Philip
2. Paxson
3. bridge
4. Google
5. map
6. broken
7. family
8. lawsuit

Meanings:
(a) A picture that shows you where to go
(b) Not working properly
(c) A man’s name
(d) A man’s last name
(e) Something you drive over to get to the other side
(f) A group of people who are related to each other
(g) A legal case where people argue in court
(h) A company that helps you find places
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
(a) He drove off a broken bridge
(b) He got lost using Google Maps
(c) He had a birthday party
(d) He fixed a broken bridge

2. Why is Philip’s family mad at Google?
(a) Google did not invite them to a party
(b) Google did not fix the bridge
(c) Google’s map did not show the broken bridge
(d) Google took away the signs on the bridge

3. How long did the family say the bridge was broken?
(a) One day
(b) Nine years
(c) One month
(d) One hour

4. What did people living near the bridge tell Google?
(a) To have a birthday party
(b) To take away the signs on the bridge
(c) To fix their map
(d) To drive off the bridge

5. Why does the family want to make sure this does not happen to anyone else?
(a) They want everyone to use Google Maps
(b) They want to have more birthday parties
(c) They want to fix the bridge themselves
(d) They don’t want anyone else to drive off the broken bridge

6. What did Google say about the situation?
(a) They are sorry and want their maps to be right
(b) They are happy the bridge is broken
(c) They are going to fix the bridge
(d) They don’t care about the family’s lawsuit

7. What is Google doing about what the family is saying?
(a) They are having a birthday party
(b) They are looking into it
(c) They are fixing the bridge
(d) They are ignoring the family

8. Who is mad at Google and three other companies?
(a) Google’s employees
(b) People who live near the bridge
(c) People who like broken bridges
(d) Philip’s family

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. A man named Philip Paxson died because he drove off a broken bridge.
2. Philip was using Google Maps to find his way home.
3. Philip’s family is grateful to Google because their map showed the bridge was broken.
4. People living near the bridge had told Google many times to fix their map.
5. Philip was walking home from his daughter’s birthday party when he walked off the bridge.
6. The family says there were several signs to stop people from going on the bridge.
7. Google said they are not sorry and they don’t care if their maps are wrong.
8. Google is looking into what the family is saying.
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 happened to Philip Paxson?
2. Why is Philip’s family mad at Google?
3. How long did the family say the bridge was broken?
4. What was Philip using to find his way home?
5. What did the family say about the signs on the bridge?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
Philip Paxson died because he drove off a broken bridge.

2. Why is Philip’s family mad at Google?
Philip’s family is mad at Google because Google’s map did not show the bridge was broken.

3. How long did the family say the bridge was broken?
The family says the bridge was broken for nine years.

4. What was Philip using to find his way home?
Philip was using Google Maps to find his way home.

5. What did people living near the bridge tell Google to do?
People living near the bridge told Google many times to fix their map.

6. Why is the family mad at three other companies?
The family is mad at three other companies because they did not fix the bridge.

7. What does Google want to do with their maps?
Google wants their maps to be right.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) Paxson
(3) looking
(4) driving
(5) Google
(6) signs
(7) make
(8) family
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Philip
Answer: (c) A man’s name

2. Paxson
Answer: (d) A man’s last name

3. bridge
Answer: (e) Something you drive over to get to the other side

4. Google
Answer: (h) A company that helps you find places

5. map
Answer: (a) A picture that shows you where to go

6. broken
Answer: (b) Not working properly

7. family
Answer: (f) A group of people who are related to each other

8. lawsuit
Answer: (g) A legal case where people argue in court
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
Answer: (a) He drove off a broken bridge

2. Why is Philip’s family mad at Google?
Answer: (c) Google’s map did not show the broken bridge

3. How long did the family say the bridge was broken?
Answer: (b) Nine years

4. What did people living near the bridge tell Google?
Answer: (c) To fix their map

5. Why does the family want to make sure this does not happen to anyone else?
Answer: (d) They don’t want anyone else to drive off the broken bridge

6. What did Google say about the situation?
Answer: (a) They are sorry and want their maps to be right

7. What is Google doing about what the family is saying?
Answer: (b) They are looking into it

8. Who is mad at Google and three other companies?
Answer: (d) Philip’s family
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. A man named Philip Paxson died because he drove off a broken bridge. (Answer: True)
2. Philip was using Google Maps to find his way home. (Answer: True)
3. Philip’s family is grateful to Google because their map showed the bridge was broken. (Answer: False)
4. People living near the bridge had told Google many times to fix their map. (Answer: True)
5. Philip was walking home from his daughter’s birthday party when he walked off the bridge. (Answer: False)
6. The family says there were several signs to stop people from going on the bridge. (Answer: False)
7. Google said they are not sorry and they don’t care if their maps are wrong. (Answer: False)
8. Google is looking into what the family is saying. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧