A big store on the internet called Amazon made a new robot friend that can talk. This robot, named Q, helps people at work do things faster, like reading long papers or answering questions from customers. Amazon wants more companies to use its computers in the sky by using Q. The robot can also make pictures from numbers and help people write computer code.

Other big companies are making their own talking robots too. Amazon spent a lot of money on a company that makes smart robots. They also have a service where many people help teach robots how to learn. Amazon says it will keep companies safe if someone says the robots used their words or stories without asking. They want to make sure everyone is happy and fair while they make better robots for work.

Original news source: Amazon latest tech giant to announce AI chatbot (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 cards related to the article. One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word on the card without speaking. The team members must guess the word within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article and then write a summary of the main points. After they finish, pair the students up and have them share their summaries with their partner. Encourage them to ask each other questions about the article to practice their speaking and listening skills.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary cards related to the article. One person from each pair will choose a card and draw a picture representing the word without speaking. Their partner must guess the word within a certain time limit. After a few rounds, switch roles.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes and challenge the groups to summarize the article as quickly as possible. After the time is up, each group will share their summary with the class. Encourage the students to use their own words and focus on the main points.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually. After they finish, ask them to think about a question related to the article. Then, pair the students up and have them share their questions with their partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their questions with the whole class and facilitate a discussion based on these questions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the robot that Amazon made friends with?
2. What does Q help people do at work?
3. What can the robot Q do with numbers?
4. Are other big companies also making talking robots?
5. What did Amazon spend a lot of money on?
6. What does Amazon have a service for?
7. Why does Amazon want to make sure everyone is happy and fair?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A big store on the (1)______ (2)______ Amazon made a new robot friend that can talk. This robot, named Q, helps people at work do things faster, like reading long papers or answering questions from customers. Amazon wants more companies to use its (3)______ in the sky by using Q. The robot can also make pictures from numbers and (4)______ people write computer code.

Other big companies are (5)______ their own talking robots too. Amazon spent a lot of money on a (6)______ that makes smart robots. They also have a service where many people help teach robots how to learn. Amazon says it will keep companies safe if someone says the robots used their words or stories without (7)______. They want to make sure everyone is happy and fair while they make (8)______ robots for work.
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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 you had a robot to help you at work?
3. Do you like talking robots? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the best thing about having a robot at work?
5. How do you think a robot can help people write computer code?
6. Do you think it’s important for companies to use robots to do things faster? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the most important job for a robot?
8. How would you feel if a robot used your words or stories without asking?
9. Do you think it’s fair for companies to spend a lot of money on making robots? Why or why not?
10. What do you think is the most interesting thing about smart robots?
11. How do you think a robot can make pictures from numbers?
12. Do you think robots will become more popular in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. robot
2. talk
3. work
4. read
5. pictures
6. numbers
7. computer code
8. companies

Meanings:
(a) To use words to communicate with someone
(b) Something you do to earn money
(c) To look at words and understand what they say
(d) Symbols that represent amounts
(e) A machine that can do things like a person
(f) Groups of people that make and sell things
(g) Instructions that tell a computer what to do
(h) Images that show what something looks like
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the robot that Amazon made friends with?
(a) R
(b) S
(c) T
(d) Q

2. What does the robot Q help people do at work?
(a) Cook food and clean the house
(b) Read long papers and answer questions from customers
(c) Play games and watch movies
(d) Sing songs and dance

3. What do other big companies also make?
(a) Talking robots
(b) Cars
(c) Books
(d) Clothes

4. What did Amazon spend a lot of money on?
(a) A new car
(b) A big house
(c) A company that makes smart robots
(d) A new computer

5. What do people help teach robots how to do?
(a) Sleep
(b) Learn
(c) Eat
(d) Run

6. What does Amazon want to make sure everyone is while they make better robots for work?
(a) Sad and unfair
(b) Angry and mean
(c) Happy and fair
(d) Tired and lazy

7. What does Amazon say they will keep companies safe from?
(a) Someone saying the robots used their words or stories without asking
(b) Someone stealing their money
(c) Someone breaking their computers
(d) Someone eating their lunch

8. What does the robot Q make from numbers?
(a) Music
(b) Food
(c) Toys
(d) Pictures

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Amazon made a new robot friend that can talk.
2. Q can read long papers and answer questions from customers.
3. The robot named Q hinders people at work from doing things faster.
4. Amazon wants fewer companies to use its computers in the sky by using Q.
5. Q can help people write computer code.
6. Q cannot make pictures from numbers.
7. Other small companies are also making their own talking robots.
8. Amazon wants to make sure everyone is happy and fair while they make better robots for work.
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 the name of the robot that Amazon made?
2. What does the robot Q help people do at work?
3. What can the robot Q make from numbers?
4. Are other big companies making their own talking robots?
5. What does Amazon want to make sure of when they make better robots for work?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the robot that Amazon made friends with?
The name of the robot is Q.

2. What does Q help people do at work?
Q helps people at work do things faster, like reading papers or answering questions from customers.

3. What can the robot Q do with numbers?
The robot Q can make pictures from numbers.

4. Are other big companies also making talking robots?
Yes, other big companies are also making talking robots.

5. What did Amazon spend a lot of money on?
Amazon spent a lot of money on a company that makes smart robots.

6. What does Amazon have a service for?
Amazon has a service where many people help teach robots how to learn.

7. Why does Amazon want to make sure everyone is happy and fair?
Amazon wants to make sure everyone is happy and fair while they make better robots for work.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) internet
(2) called
(3) computers
(4) help
(5) making
(6) company
(7) asking
(8) better
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. robot
Answer: (e) A machine that can do things like a person

2. talk
Answer: (a) To use words to communicate with someone

3. work
Answer: (b) Something you do to earn money

4. read
Answer: (c) To look at words and understand what they say

5. pictures
Answer: (h) Images that show what something looks like

6. numbers
Answer: (d) Symbols that represent amounts

7. computer code
Answer: (g) Instructions that tell a computer what to do

8. companies
Answer: (f) Groups of people that make and sell things
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the robot that Amazon made friends with?
Answer: (d) Q

2. What does the robot Q help people do at work?
Answer: (b) Read long papers and answer questions from customers

3. What do other big companies also make?
Answer: (a) Talking robots

4. What did Amazon spend a lot of money on?
Answer: (c) A company that makes smart robots

5. What do people help teach robots how to do?
Answer: (b) Learn

6. What does Amazon want to make sure everyone is while they make better robots for work?
Answer: (c) Happy and fair

7. What does Amazon say they will keep companies safe from?
Answer: (a) Someone saying the robots used their words or stories without asking

8. What does the robot Q make from numbers?
Answer: (d) Pictures
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Amazon made a new robot friend that can talk. (Answer: True)
2. Q can read long papers and answer questions from customers. (Answer: True)
3. The robot named Q hinders people at work from doing things faster. (Answer: False)
4. Amazon wants fewer companies to use its computers in the sky by using Q. (Answer: False)
5. Q can help people write computer code. (Answer: True)
6. Q cannot make pictures from numbers. (Answer: False)
7. Other small companies are also making their own talking robots. (Answer: False)
8. Amazon wants to make sure everyone is happy and fair while they make better robots for work. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧