Amazon, a big company, will use flying robots to send packages in the UK very fast. They will start this in one place by the end of 2024. They already do this in two places in the US for small things. They are working with people who know about flying rules to do this right. A big boss at Amazon said people in the UK want this and it is very safe.

The government said this will help them learn how to use this new technology in a safe way. The flying robots can carry things that are not too heavy. This is a new way to send things to people quickly. Amazon is working hard to make sure they follow all the rules. They believe people will like this new service.

Original news source: Amazon pledges parcels in an hour using drone deliveries (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. Amazon, flying robots, packages, UK, etc.). One student from each group will act out one of the words without speaking, and the rest of the group needs to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly within a given time limit wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the words “Amazon” and “flying robots” on the board. Ask the students to brainstorm and write down as many words or phrases as they can that are related to these two words. After a few minutes, have the students share their responses and create a word association web on the board.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. packages, technology, rules, etc.). One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture representing that word on the board. The other student needs to guess the word based on the drawing. Continue until all the words have been guessed.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 3 minutes. One student from each pair will read the article silently and then try to summarize the main points to their partner within the given time. After 3 minutes, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the activity. Encourage the students to use their own words and not read directly from the article.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Draw a line on the board with “Strongly Disagree” on one end and “Strongly Agree” on the other end. Tell the students to imagine they are Amazon employees and ask them to think about whether they agree or disagree with using flying robots to send packages. Have each student come up to the board and place a sticky note with their name on the line to indicate their opinion. After everyone has placed their sticky notes, ask a few students to share their reasons for their opinions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Amazon going to use to send packages in the UK?
2. When will Amazon start using flying robots in the UK?
3. Where does Amazon already use flying robots?
4. Who is Amazon working with to make sure they do things right?
5. Why does the government think using flying robots is a good idea?
6. What can the flying robots carry?
7. Why is Amazon working hard to follow all the rules?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amazon, a big company, will use flying (1)______ to send packages in the UK very fast. They will start this in one (2)______ by the end of 2024. They already do this in two places in the US for small things. They are working with (3)______ who know about (4)______ rules to do this right. A big boss at Amazon said people in the UK want this and it is very (5)______.

The government said this will help them (6)______ how to use this new technology in a safe way. The flying robots can carry things that are not too heavy. This is a new way to send things to people quickly. (7)______ is working hard to make sure they (8)______ all the rules. They believe people will like this new service.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a flying robot?
2. How would you feel if you received a package from a flying robot?
3. Do you like the idea of using flying robots to send packages? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about Amazon using flying robots in the UK?
5. How do you think the flying robots will help people in the UK?
6. Do you think it is safe to use flying robots to send packages? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the government can make sure the flying robots are used safely?
8. What kind of things do you think the flying robots can carry?
9. How would you feel if you saw a flying robot delivering a package?
10. Do you think using flying robots to send packages is a good idea? Why or why not?
11. What do you think Amazon can do to make sure they are following all the rules?
12. Why do you think people in the UK want Amazon to use flying robots to send packages?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Amazon
2. flying
3. robots
4. packages
5. UK
6. fast
7. small
8. safe

Meanings:
(a) The country where this will happen
(b) Moving through the air like a bird
(c) Moving quickly
(d) Boxes or bags with things inside
(e) Machines that can move and do things by themselves
(f) Not dangerous or risky
(g) A big company that sends things to people
(h) Not big or heavy
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What company will use flying robots to send packages in the UK?
(a) Amazon
(b) Google
(c) Facebook
(d) Apple

2. When will Amazon start using flying robots in the UK?
(a) Next year
(b) In 5 years
(c) They already started
(d) By the end of 2024

3. Where does Amazon already use flying robots in the US?
(a) In two places
(b) In one place
(c) In three places
(d) They don’t use flying robots in the US

4. Who is Amazon working with to make sure they follow the flying rules?
(a) People who know about driving rules
(b) People who know about swimming rules
(c) People who know about flying rules
(d) People who know about cooking rules

5. What did the government say about Amazon using flying robots?
(a) It will make things more difficult for them
(b) It will help them learn how to use the new technology safely
(c) It will not be safe for people
(d) It will not be allowed

6. What can the flying robots carry?
(a) Things that are very heavy
(b) Things that are not too heavy
(c) Things that are very big
(d) Things that are very small

7. Why is this new way of sending things to people quick?
(a) Because the flying robots are slow
(b) Because the flying robots are big
(c) Because the flying robots are small
(d) Because the flying robots are fast

8. What does Amazon believe about this new service?
(a) People will not like it
(b) People will be scared of it
(c) People will like it
(d) People will not use it

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. They will stop doing this by the end of 2024.
2. This is an old way to send things to people slowly.
3. Amazon already uses flying robots in two places in the US for small things.
4. Amazon will not use flying robots to deliver packages in the UK.
5. Amazon is working hard to follow all the rules and believes people will like this new service.
6. The flying robots can carry things that are very heavy.
7. They are working with people who know about flying rules to make sure they do it right.
8. The government thinks this will help them learn how to use the new technology safely.
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 Amazon going to use to send packages in the UK?
2. When will Amazon start using flying robots in the UK?
3. Where else does Amazon already use flying robots for small things?
4. Who is helping Amazon with the flying robots?
5. Why does Amazon think people in the UK will like this new service?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Amazon going to use to send packages in the UK?
Amazon is going to use flying robots.

2. When will Amazon start using flying robots in the UK?
Amazon will start using flying robots in the UK by the end of 2024.

3. Where does Amazon already use flying robots?
Amazon already uses flying robots in two places in the US.

4. Who is Amazon working with to make sure they do things right?
Amazon is working with people who know about flying rules to do things right.

5. Why does the government think using flying robots is a good idea?
The government thinks using flying robots is a good idea because it helps them learn how to use new technology in a safe way.

6. What can the flying robots carry?
The flying robots can carry things that are not too heavy.

7. Why is Amazon working hard to follow all the rules?
Amazon is working hard to follow all the rules to make sure they do things the right way and make people happy.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) robots
(2) place
(3) people
(4) flying
(5) safe
(6) learn
(7) Amazon
(8) follow
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Amazon
Answer: (g) A big company that sends things to people

2. flying
Answer: (b) Moving through the air like a bird

3. robots
Answer: (e) Machines that can move and do things by themselves

4. packages
Answer: (d) Boxes or bags with things inside

5. UK
Answer: (a) The country where this will happen

6. fast
Answer: (c) Moving quickly

7. small
Answer: (h) Not big or heavy

8. safe
Answer: (f) Not dangerous or risky
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What company will use flying robots to send packages in the UK?
Answer: (a) Amazon

2. When will Amazon start using flying robots in the UK?
Answer: (d) By the end of 2024

3. Where does Amazon already use flying robots in the US?
Answer: (a) In two places

4. Who is Amazon working with to make sure they follow the flying rules?
Answer: (c) People who know about flying rules

5. What did the government say about Amazon using flying robots?
Answer: (b) It will help them learn how to use the new technology safely

6. What can the flying robots carry?
Answer: (b) Things that are not too heavy

7. Why is this new way of sending things to people quick?
Answer: (d) Because the flying robots are fast

8. What does Amazon believe about this new service?
Answer: (c) People will like it
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. They will stop doing this by the end of 2024. (Answer: False)
2. This is an old way to send things to people slowly. (Answer: False)
3. Amazon already uses flying robots in two places in the US for small things. (Answer: True)
4. Amazon will not use flying robots to deliver packages in the UK. (Answer: False)
5. Amazon is working hard to follow all the rules and believes people will like this new service. (Answer: True)
6. The flying robots can carry things that are very heavy. (Answer: False)
7. They are working with people who know about flying rules to make sure they do it right. (Answer: True)
8. The government thinks this will help them learn how to use the new technology safely. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧