Noonoouri, a pretend person made on a computer, is trying to become a music star. She was made by a man in Germany and now has a deal with a big music company called Warner Music. They used smart computer tools to help make her voice. The man who helps run Warner Music thinks pretend people like Noonoouri can do more new and different things than real people.

Some people are worried that pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real music stars. They might copy how real stars sing or look. But, other people think there will always be room for both pretend and real stars in music. Noonoouri is very popular on a picture-sharing app and can change how she looks. People are interested in pretend stars like her, but they are also talking about what smart computers mean for music.

Original news source: Can AI popstars make it in the real world? (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper with a word related to the article (e.g. computer, music, pretend, star) written on it. One student from each group will act out the word without using any words or sounds, and the rest of the group must guess what the word is. The group that guesses correctly first gets a point. Continue with different words for each round.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article aloud to the class. Then, ask the students to work in pairs or small groups to write a summary of the article in their own words. Encourage them to include the main points and any interesting details they remember. After a few minutes, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss their opinion on whether pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real music stars. Have them write down their reasons for their opinion. Then, have each group present their opinion to the class. After all the groups have presented, conduct a class vote to see which opinion is the most popular.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. pretend, music, star, computer). Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group takes turns choosing a word and drawing a picture to represent it, without using any words or letters. The other groups must guess what word is being drawn. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Continue with different words for each round.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the class to think about the following question: “What do you think about pretend people like Noonoouri becoming music stars?” Give them a few minutes to think silently. Then, have them pair up with a partner and share their thoughts. After a few minutes, ask some pairs to share their opinions with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who made Noonoouri?
2. What does Noonoouri want to be?
3. What is the name of the big music company that Noonoouri has a deal with?
4. How did they make Noonoouri’s voice?
5. What do some people worry about with pretend people like Noonoouri?
6. What are some things that Noonoouri can do on a picture-sharing app?
7. Why are people talking about smart computers and music?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Noonoouri, a pretend person made on a computer, is trying to (1)______ a music star. She was made by a man in Germany and now has a deal with a big music company called Warner Music. They used (2)______ computer tools to help make her voice. The man who helps run Warner Music (3)______ pretend (4)______ like Noonoouri can do more new and different things than real people.

Some people are worried that pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real (5)______ (6)______. They might copy how real stars sing or look. But, other people think there will always be room for both pretend and real stars in music. Noonoouri is very (7)______ on a picture-sharing app and can (8)______ how she looks. People are interested in pretend stars like her, but they are also talking about what smart computers mean for music.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Noonoouri?
2. How do you think Noonoouri was made?
3. Do you think Noonoouri can become a music star? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if pretend people like Noonoouri became more popular than real music stars?
5. Do you like Noonoouri’s music? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about smart computers helping to make music?
7. Do you think pretend people like Noonoouri can do more new and different things than real people? Why or why not?
8. How do you think Noonoouri can change how she looks?
9. Are you interested in pretend stars like Noonoouri? Why or why not?
10. Do you think there will always be room for both pretend and real stars in music? Why or why not?
11. What do you think about people copying how real stars sing or look?
12. Why do you think people are talking about what smart computers mean for music?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pretend
2. computer
3. music
4. star
5. voice
6. worry
7. copy
8. popular

Meanings:
(a) Liked by many people, many people know about it
(b) To do something the same way as someone else
(c) The sound you make when you talk or sing
(d) Not real, make-believe
(e) A machine that can do many things
(f) To feel scared or nervous about something
(g) Sounds that make you feel happy or sad
(h) Someone who is very famous and talented
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who made Noonoouri?
(a) A famous singer
(b) A man in Germany
(c) A computer program
(d) A real person

2. What is the name of the music company that Noonoouri has a deal with?
(a) Warner Music
(b) Sony Music
(c) Universal Music
(d) EMI Music

3. How did they make Noonoouri’s voice?
(a) With a microphone
(b) With a guitar
(c) With a piano
(d) With smart computer tools

4. What are some people worried about regarding pretend people like Noonoouri?
(a) They might become famous too quickly
(b) They might take the place of real music stars
(c) They might not be able to sing well
(d) They might not look good on stage

5. What do other people think about pretend and real stars in music?
(a) Pretend stars are better than real stars
(b) Real stars are better than pretend stars
(c) There will always be room for both
(d) There is no need for pretend stars

6. Where is Noonoouri popular?
(a) On a music streaming app
(b) On a social media website
(c) On a picture-sharing app
(d) On a video game

7. What can Noonoouri do to change how she looks?
(a) She can change her voice on the picture-sharing app
(b) She can change her clothes on the picture-sharing app
(c) She can change her name on the picture-sharing app
(d) She can change her appearance on the picture-sharing app

8. What are people talking about regarding smart computers and music?
(a) What it means for the future of music
(b) What it means for the past of music
(c) What it means for the present of music
(d) What it means for the fashion industry

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. No one is worried that pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real music stars.
2. She wants to become a music star.
3. Smart computer tools were used to help make her voice.
4. She has a deal with a big music company called Warner Music.
5. Noonoouri was not made by a man in Germany.
6. Noonoouri is not popular on a picture-sharing app and cannot change how she looks.
7. Noonoouri is not a pretend person made on a computer.
8. The man who helps run Warner Music thinks pretend people like Noonoouri can do more new and different things than real people.
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. Who is Noonoouri?
2. How was Noonoouri made?
3. What is the name of the big music company that Noonoouri has a deal with?
4. What are some worries that people have about pretend people like Noonoouri?
5. Why are people interested in pretend stars like Noonoouri?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who made Noonoouri?
Noonoouri was made by a man in Germany.

2. What does Noonoouri want to be?
Noonoouri wants to be a music star.

3. What is the name of the big music company that Noonoouri has a deal with?
Noonoouri has a deal with Warner Music.

4. How did they make Noonoouri’s voice?
They used smart computer tools to help make Noonoouri’s voice.

5. What do some people worry about with pretend people like Noonoouri?
Some people worry that pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real music stars.

6. What are some things that Noonoouri can do on a picture-sharing app?
Noonoouri can change how she looks on a picture-sharing app.

7. Why are people talking about smart computers and music?
People are talking about smart computers and music because they are interested in what it means for the future of music.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) become
(2) smart
(3) thinks
(4) people
(5) music
(6) stars
(7) popular
(8) change
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pretend
Answer: (d) Not real, make-believe

2. computer
Answer: (e) A machine that can do many things

3. music
Answer: (g) Sounds that make you feel happy or sad

4. star
Answer: (h) Someone who is very famous and talented

5. voice
Answer: (c) The sound you make when you talk or sing

6. worry
Answer: (f) To feel scared or nervous about something

7. copy
Answer: (b) To do something the same way as someone else

8. popular
Answer: (a) Liked by many people, many people know about it
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who made Noonoouri?
Answer: (b) A man in Germany

2. What is the name of the music company that Noonoouri has a deal with?
Answer: (a) Warner Music

3. How did they make Noonoouri’s voice?
Answer: (d) With smart computer tools

4. What are some people worried about regarding pretend people like Noonoouri?
Answer: (b) They might take the place of real music stars

5. What do other people think about pretend and real stars in music?
Answer: (c) There will always be room for both

6. Where is Noonoouri popular?
Answer: (c) On a picture-sharing app

7. What can Noonoouri do to change how she looks?
Answer: (d) She can change her appearance on the picture-sharing app

8. What are people talking about regarding smart computers and music?
Answer: (a) What it means for the future of music
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. No one is worried that pretend people like Noonoouri might take the place of real music stars. (Answer: False)
2. She wants to become a music star. (Answer: True)
3. Smart computer tools were used to help make her voice. (Answer: True)
4. She has a deal with a big music company called Warner Music. (Answer: True)
5. Noonoouri was not made by a man in Germany. (Answer: False)
6. Noonoouri is not popular on a picture-sharing app and cannot change how she looks. (Answer: False)
7. Noonoouri is not a pretend person made on a computer. (Answer: False)
8. The man who helps run Warner Music thinks pretend people like Noonoouri can do more new and different things than real people. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧