Airlines want to make sure planes don’t spend too much time waiting at the airport. They have to choose the best spot for each plane to park, which is called gate allocation. There are many choices, like 570 billion, for just a few gates and planes! Picking the right spot helps planes move faster and use less fuel. This is good for the environment and helps people get to their next flight on time.

Finding the right gate is tricky because there are many things to think about. People want to be close to lounges and have enough time to catch their next flight. Sometimes, flights are late, making it harder to choose the best gate. But new technology, like machine learning, is helping airlines make better choices. In the future, even cooler tech like quantum computing might make this even easier and faster for everyone.

Original news source: Airlines look to cut time spent on the tarmac (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down key words related to the article on small pieces of paper. Have students take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking while the others guess. This will help reinforce vocabulary from the article in a fun and engaging way.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Ask one student from each pair to summarize the article in their own words to their partner. Encourage them to include key points such as the importance of gate allocation, the role of technology in decision-making, and the impact on fuel efficiency. This activity will help improve listening skills and comprehension.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into teams and have one student from each team come up to the board. They must draw the word without using any letters or numbers while their team tries to guess it. This activity will reinforce vocabulary from the article in a visual and interactive way.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Prepare a few questions related to the article, such as “Do you think technology is important in gate allocation?” or “Should airlines prioritize fuel efficiency over passenger convenience?” Have students move around the classroom and ask their classmates these questions, marking down their answers. Afterward, discuss the results as a class to practice expressing opinions and justifying them.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Write a discussion question on the board related to the article, such as “How do you think technology will continue to impact air travel in the future?” Ask students to think about their answer silently for a minute, then pair up with a classmate to share their thoughts. Finally, open the discussion to the whole class, encouraging students to share their partner’s ideas as well. This activity promotes speaking and critical thinking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do airlines need to choose the best spot for planes to park at the airport?
2. How does picking the right spot help planes move faster and use less fuel?
3. What are some things people think about when choosing a gate at the airport?
4. How does new technology like machine learning help airlines make better choices for gates?
5. What might make choosing the right gate even easier and faster in the future?
6. Why is it important for planes to not wait too long at the airport?
7. How does finding the right gate help people get to their next flight on time?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Airlines want to make (1)______ planes don’t spend too much time waiting at the airport. They have to choose the best spot for each plane to park, which is (2)______ gate allocation. There are many choices, like 570 billion, for just a few gates and planes! Picking the right spot helps planes move faster and use less fuel. This is good for the environment and helps people get to their next flight on (3)______.

(4)______ the right gate is tricky because there are many (5)______ to think about. People want to be close to lounges and have (6)______ time to catch their next flight. Sometimes, flights are late, making it harder to choose the best gate. But new technology, like machine learning, is helping airlines (7)______ (8)______ choices. In the future, even cooler tech like quantum computing might make this even easier and faster for everyone.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is gate allocation?
2. Do you like flying on airplanes?
3. How would you feel if your plane was late?
4. Why is it important for planes to move faster?
5. What do you think about using new technology to help choose gates?
6. Do you think it’s good to use less fuel?
7. How do you feel when you have to catch a connecting flight?
8. Why is it important for people to get to their next flight on time?
9. What is machine learning?
10. How do you think quantum computing can help with gate allocation?
11. Do you like waiting at the airport?
12. Why do you think airlines want to make sure planes don’t wait too long?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. airlines
2. airport
3. allocation
4. environment
5. technology
6. machine
7. quantum
8. computing
9. tricky
10. lounges

Meanings:
(A) Things that help us do stuff, like computers
(B) A word for something very tiny and special
(C) The world around us, like trees and air
(D) A comfy place to sit and wait
(E) Using computers to solve problems
(F) Giving something a special place or spot
(G) Companies that fly people in planes
(H) Something that is hard to do
(I) A thing that helps do work, like a robot
(J) A place where planes take off and land
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What do airlines want to make sure of at the airport?
(a) Planes fly backwards
(b) Planes don’t wait too long
(c) Planes park on the road
(d) Planes fly at night

2. What is it called when airlines choose the best spot for each plane to park?
(a) Gate allocation
(b) Plane jumping
(c) Runway dance
(d) Airport hide and seek

3. Why is picking the right gate important for planes?
(a) Helps them take longer flights
(b) Helps them play games
(c) Helps them move faster and use less fuel
(d) Helps them eat more snacks

4. What helps people get to their next flight on time?
(a) Playing on the runway
(b) Sleeping on the plane
(c) Eating ice cream
(d) Picking the right gate

5. What technology is helping airlines make better gate choices?
(a) Machine learning
(b) Time traveling
(c) Magic wands
(d) Talking animals

6. What might make gate allocation even easier and faster in the future?
(a) Baking cookies
(b) Quantum computing
(c) Riding bicycles
(d) Painting pictures

7. Why is finding the right gate tricky for airlines?
(a) It’s always easy
(b) There are no gates
(c) There are many things to think about
(d) Everyone helps

8. What do people want to be close to when choosing a gate?
(a) Swimming pools
(b) Roller coasters
(c) Libraries
(d) Lounges

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. It also hinders planes from using less fuel, which is bad for the environment.
2. Sometimes flights are late, which makes it hard to pick the best spot.
3. Choosing the right spot helps planes move faster.
4. People don’t want to be close to lounges when they get off the plane.
5. Planes need to find the best parking spot at the airport.
6. In the future, even outdated tech like quantum computing might make this harder for everyone.
7. New technology like machine learning helps airlines make better choices.
8. There are limited choices for where planes can park.
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 do airlines want to make sure of when planes are at the airport?
2. Why is choosing the right spot for planes to park important?
3. What helps planes move faster and use less fuel?
4. Why is finding the right gate tricky for airlines?
5. How is new technology like machine learning helping airlines make better choices?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why do airlines need to choose the best spot for planes to park at the airport?
– Airlines need to find a good parking spot so planes can move quickly and use less fuel.

2. How does picking the right spot help planes move faster and use less fuel?
– Choosing the right spot helps planes save time and fuel by being closer to where they need to go.

3. What are some things people think about when choosing a gate at the airport?
– People think about being close to lounges and having enough time to catch their next flight.

4. How does new technology like machine learning help airlines make better choices for gates?
– Machine learning helps airlines make better decisions by using smart computers to figure out the best gate for each plane.

5. What might make choosing the right gate even easier and faster in the future?
– In the future, new technology like quantum computing could help airlines pick the best gate even quicker and easier.

6. Why is it important for planes to not wait too long at the airport?
– It’s important for planes not to wait too long so they can save time and fuel, and people can get to their next flight on time.

7. How does finding the right gate help people get to their next flight on time?
– Finding the right gate helps people catch their next flight on time by making sure the plane is in the best spot to leave quickly.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sure
(2) called
(3) time
(4) Finding
(5) things
(6) enough
(7) make
(8) better
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. airlines
Answer: (G) Companies that fly people in planes

2. airport
Answer: (J) A place where planes take off and land

3. allocation
Answer: (F) Giving something a special place or spot

4. environment
Answer: (C) The world around us, like trees and air

5. technology
Answer: (A) Things that help us do stuff, like computers

6. machine
Answer: (I) A thing that helps do work, like a robot

7. quantum
Answer: (B) A word for something very tiny and special

8. computing
Answer: (E) Using computers to solve problems

9. tricky
Answer: (H) Something that is hard to do

10. lounges
Answer: (D) A comfy place to sit and wait
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What do airlines want to make sure of at the airport?
Answer: (b) Planes don’t wait too long

2. What is it called when airlines choose the best spot for each plane to park?
Answer: (a) Gate allocation

3. Why is picking the right gate important for planes?
Answer: (c) Helps them move faster and use less fuel

4. What helps people get to their next flight on time?
Answer: (d) Picking the right gate

5. What technology is helping airlines make better gate choices?
Answer: (a) Machine learning

6. What might make gate allocation even easier and faster in the future?
Answer: (b) Quantum computing

7. Why is finding the right gate tricky for airlines?
Answer: (c) There are many things to think about

8. What do people want to be close to when choosing a gate?
Answer: (d) Lounges
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. It also hinders planes from using less fuel, which is bad for the environment. (Answer: False)
2. Sometimes flights are late, which makes it hard to pick the best spot. (Answer: True)
3. Choosing the right spot helps planes move faster. (Answer: True)
4. People don’t want to be close to lounges when they get off the plane. (Answer: False)
5. Planes need to find the best parking spot at the airport. (Answer: True)
6. In the future, even outdated tech like quantum computing might make this harder for everyone. (Answer: False)
7. New technology like machine learning helps airlines make better choices. (Answer: True)
8. There are limited choices for where planes can park. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧