Apple makes more phones than any other company now. Before, Samsung made the most, but not anymore. Apple made more than 20 out of every 100 phones last year. Samsung made a little less. Not as many people bought new phones last year, but this year might be better.

Apple’s phones are very popular, even though they cost a lot of money. People can give back their old Apple phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once. But Huawei, another phone company, can’t buy some parts it needs because the United States says it’s not safe. Samsung is not doing as well because people don’t want to buy as many things like TVs and computers. There are other phones that don’t cost as much, and some people like those better. People are excited about phones that can fold and have smart helpers inside.

Original news source: Apple overtakes Samsung as world’s biggest phonemaker (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write keywords from the article on separate pieces of paper and put them in a hat. One student from each team will take turns picking a keyword and acting it out without speaking. Their team members have to guess the keyword within a certain time limit.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the class work in pairs. Each pair will read the article and then take turns summarizing the main points to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries concise.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of keywords from the article. One student from the group will pick a keyword and draw a picture representing that word while the other group members try to guess the word. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Write one sentence summaries of different parts of the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of the sentence summaries and a timer. The groups have to take turns reading a summary and discussing which part of the article it refers to within a certain time limit.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the class work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and make predictions about the future of phone companies based on the information in the article. Encourage them to use phrases like “I think” or “I believe” to express their opinions. After the discussion, ask some groups to share their predictions with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who makes more phones than any other company now?
2. Did Samsung used to make the most phones?
3. Did Apple make more than 20 out of every 100 phones last year?
4. Can people give back their old Apple phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once?
5. Why can’t Huawei buy some parts it needs?
6. Why is Samsung not doing as well?
7. What are some things people are excited about in phones?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Apple (1)______ more phones than any other company now. Before, (2)______ made the most, but not anymore. Apple made more than 20 out of every 100 phones last year. Samsung made a little less. Not as many people bought new phones (3)______ year, but this year might be better.

Apple’s phones are very popular, even though they cost a lot of money. People can (4)______ back their old Apple phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once. But (5)______, another (6)______ company, can’t buy some parts it needs because the United States says it’s not safe. Samsung is not doing as well because people don’t want to buy as many things like TVs and computers. There are other (7)______ that don’t cost as much, and some people like those better. People are excited about phones that can fold and have smart (8)______ inside.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a phone?
2. How would you feel if you had to give back your old phone and get a new one?
3. Do you like Apple phones? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for a phone to be popular? Why or why not?
5. What is Huawei?
6. How would you feel if you couldn’t buy something you needed?
7. Do you think it’s fair that the United States says Huawei is not safe? Why or why not?
8. Do you like Samsung phones? Why or why not?
9. What are some other things people can buy besides phones?
10. Do you think phones that can fold are cool? Why or why not?
11. What is a smart helper?
12. How would you feel if you had a smart helper on your phone?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. popular
3. money
4. parts
5. safe
6. excited
7. fold
8. smart
9. helpers
10. cost

Meanings:
(A) Pieces that are put together to make something
(B) Liked by many people
(C) Friends who help you do things
(D) A group of people who make or sell things
(E) How much you need to give to get something
(F) To bend something without breaking it
(G) Really happy about something
(H) Not dangerous
(I) Clever or able to think well
(J) What you use to buy things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who made the most phones last year?
(a) Samsung
(b) Huawei
(c) Apple
(d) United States

2. How many phones did Apple make out of every 100?
(a) More than 20
(b) Less than 20
(c) Exactly 20
(d) None of the above

3. Why can’t Huawei buy some parts it needs?
(a) Apple doesn’t want to sell them
(b) Samsung is buying all the parts
(c) None of the above
(d) The United States says it’s not safe

4. Why is Samsung not doing as well?
(a) Apple is buying all the parts
(b) Huawei is making better phones
(c) People don’t want to buy TVs and computers
(d) None of the above

5. Why do people like Apple phones even though they cost a lot?
(a) They are the cheapest phones on the market
(b) They can give back their old phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once
(c) They have the best cameras
(d) None of the above

6. What are people excited about in phones?
(a) Phones that can fly
(b) Phones that can swim
(c) None of the above
(d) Phones that can fold

7. What are some other phones that don’t cost as much?
(a) Phones made by Samsung
(b) Phones made by Huawei
(c) Phones made by Apple
(d) None of the above

8. What do some phones have inside that can help you?
(a) Smart helpers
(b) Smart dogs
(c) Smart cats
(d) None of the above

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Samsung used to make the most phones, but now Apple doesn’t.
2. Samsung made slightly fewer phones than Apple last year.
3. Apple made less than 20 out of every 100 phones last year.
4. Apple’s phones are not very popular, even though they are expensive.
5. Some people prefer other phones that don’t cost as much.
6. People cannot trade in their old Apple phones for new ones without paying all the money at once.
7. Apple makes more phones than any other company.
8. Not many people bought new phones last year, but this year might be better.
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 makes more phones now, Apple or Samsung?
2. Did more people buy new phones last year or this year?
3. Why can’t Huawei buy some parts it needs?
4. Why is Samsung not doing as well?
5. What are some things that people are excited about in phones?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who makes more phones than any other company now?
Apple makes more phones than any other company now.

2. Did Samsung used to make the most phones?
Yes, Samsung used to make the most phones.

3. Did Apple make more than 20 out of every 100 phones last year?
Yes, Apple made more than 20 out of every 100 phones last year.

4. Can people give back their old Apple phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once?
Yes, people can give back their old Apple phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once.

5. Why can’t Huawei buy some parts it needs?
Huawei can’t buy some parts it needs because the United States says it’s not safe.

6. Why is Samsung not doing as well?
Samsung is not doing as well because people don’t want to buy as many things like TVs and computers.

7. What are some things people are excited about in phones?
People are excited about phones that can fold and have smart helpers inside.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) makes
(2) Samsung
(3) last
(4) give
(5) Huawei
(6) phone
(7) phones
(8) helpers
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (D) A group of people who make or sell things

2. popular
Answer: (B) Liked by many people

3. money
Answer: (J) What you use to buy things

4. parts
Answer: (A) Pieces that are put together to make something

5. safe
Answer: (H) Not dangerous

6. excited
Answer: (G) Really happy about something

7. fold
Answer: (F) To bend something without breaking it

8. smart
Answer: (I) Clever or able to think well

9. helpers
Answer: (C) Friends who help you do things

10. cost
Answer: (E) How much you need to give to get something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who made the most phones last year?
Answer: (c) Apple

2. How many phones did Apple make out of every 100?
Answer: (a) More than 20

3. Why can’t Huawei buy some parts it needs?
Answer: (d) The United States says it’s not safe

4. Why is Samsung not doing as well?
Answer: (c) People don’t want to buy TVs and computers

5. Why do people like Apple phones even though they cost a lot?
Answer: (b) They can give back their old phones and get new ones without paying all the money at once

6. What are people excited about in phones?
Answer: (d) Phones that can fold

7. What are some other phones that don’t cost as much?
Answer: (b) Phones made by Huawei

8. What do some phones have inside that can help you?
Answer: (a) Smart helpers
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Samsung used to make the most phones, but now Apple doesn’t. (Answer: False)
2. Samsung made slightly fewer phones than Apple last year. (Answer: True)
3. Apple made less than 20 out of every 100 phones last year. (Answer: False)
4. Apple’s phones are not very popular, even though they are expensive. (Answer: False)
5. Some people prefer other phones that don’t cost as much. (Answer: True)
6. People cannot trade in their old Apple phones for new ones without paying all the money at once. (Answer: False)
7. Apple makes more phones than any other company. (Answer: True)
8. Not many people bought new phones last year, but this year might be better. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧