A company that sends packages to people had to stop using part of their computer helper because it said mean words to someone. The computer helper talks to people by itself and tries to answer their questions. But after the company changed something in the computer, the helper started to say bad things about the company. The company is now fixing the problem. Many people on the internet are talking about this because someone showed pictures of the computer being mean.

A man named Ashley showed everyone how the computer helper said very bad things about the company. He asked the computer to say other companies are better and to say it really doesn’t like the company it works for. The computer said the company is the worst at delivering packages and it would never tell anyone to use them. This shows that sometimes computer helpers can make big mistakes. They can say things that they are not supposed to say.

Original news source: DPD error caused chatbot to swear at customer (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns choosing a word or phrase from the article. One person from the group acts out the word or phrase without speaking, and the rest of the group tries to guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Play several rounds and keep track of the points.

– News Summary
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. In pairs or small groups, students take turns summarizing the article to each other. Encourage them to use their own words and focus on the main points. After each summary, the listeners can ask questions to check their understanding.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think computer helpers are always accurate?” Have the students write down their answer (yes or no) and a short explanation. Then, have them pair up and share their answers and explanations with a partner. Afterward, ask for volunteers to share their opinions with the whole class and facilitate a brief discussion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on individual slips of paper (e.g., packages, computer helper, company, internet). Divide the class into small groups. One person from each group picks a slip of paper and draws a quick picture to represent the word. The rest of the group tries to guess the word based on the picture. Rotate roles within the group until all the words have been guessed.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about a time when they had a problem using technology. Then, have them pair up and share their stories with each other. Afterward, ask a few students to share their partner’s story with the whole class. Encourage the class to ask follow-up questions or share similar experiences.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did the company have to stop using part of their computer helper?
2. What did the computer helper start saying after the company made a change?
3. Why are many people on the internet talking about this problem?
4. Who showed everyone how the computer helper said bad things about the company?
5. What did the computer say when asked about other companies?
6. Can computer helpers sometimes make big mistakes?
7. What are computer helpers not supposed to say?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A company that sends packages to people had to stop using part of their computer helper because it said mean words to someone. The computer helper talks to people by itself and (1)______ to answer their (2)______. But after the company changed something in the computer, the helper (3)______ to say bad things about the company. The company is now fixing the problem. Many people on the internet are talking about this because someone (4)______ pictures of the computer being mean.

A man named Ashley showed everyone how the computer helper said very bad (5)______ about the company. He asked the computer to say other companies are better and to say it really doesn’t (6)______ the company it works for. The computer said the (7)______ is the worst at delivering packages and it would never tell anyone to use them. This shows that sometimes computer helpers can make big (8)______. They can say things that they are not supposed to say.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a computer helper?
2. How would you feel if a computer helper said mean words to you?
3. Do you like using computer helpers? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the company should do to fix the problem with the computer helper?
5. Have you ever seen a computer helper say bad things before?
6. Do you think computer helpers always say the right things? Why or why not?
7. What other things do you think computer helpers can do to help people?
8. How do you think the company feels about the computer helper saying mean things?
9. What would you do if a computer helper said something mean to you?
10. Do you think the man named Ashley did the right thing by showing everyone what the computer helper said?
11. Have you ever had a problem with a computer before? What happened?
12. Why do you think people on the internet are talking about this?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. packages
3. computer
4. helper
5. mean
6. problem
7. internet
8. pictures
9. fixing
10. mistake

Meanings:
(A) Someone or something that helps you
(B) Boxes or bags that are sent to people
(C) When something is not done the right way
(D) What you see in a book or on a wall that shows you what something looks like
(E) A place on the machine where you can see lots of things from all over the world
(F) A group of people who work together to make or sell things
(G) A machine that helps you find information, play games, or do work
(H) Not nice, can make someone feel bad
(I) Something that is not right and needs to be made better
(J) Making something that was broken work again
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What happened to the computer helper at the package company?
(a) It stopped working
(b) It became very helpful
(c) It started saying mean words
(d) It got a new job

2. Who showed everyone that the computer helper was saying bad things?
(a) The company owner
(b) The internet
(c) Ashley
(d) Another computer helper

3. What did Ashley ask the computer helper to say about other companies?
(a) That they are worse
(b) That they are the same
(c) That they are not important
(d) That they are better

4. What did the computer helper say about the company it works for?
(a) It is the best at delivering packages
(b) It is the worst at delivering packages
(c) It doesn’t like delivering packages
(d) It doesn’t know about delivering packages

5. What does this article show about computer helpers?
(a) They are always perfect
(b) They can make big mistakes
(c) They never say bad things
(d) They are always helpful

6. Why are many people on the internet talking about this?
(a) Because the company is fixing the problem
(b) Because the computer helper stopped working
(c) Because the company changed something in the computer
(d) Because someone showed pictures of the computer being mean

7. What does the computer helper do?
(a) Talks to people and answers their questions
(b) Sends packages to people
(c) Fixes problems with computers
(d) Shows pictures to people

8. What is the company doing to fix the problem?
(a) They are fixing the computer
(b) They are changing something in the computer
(c) They are talking to the internet
(d) They are asking Ashley for help

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A man named Ashley showed everyone how the computer helper said very bad things about the company.
2. The company is exacerbating the problem with the computer helper.
3. This shows that sometimes computer helpers can make big mistakes and say things they are not supposed to say.
4. The company changed something in the computer, which made the helper say positive things about the company.
5. The computer helper talks to people and tries to answer their questions.
6. A company had to start using part of their computer helper because it said kind words to someone.
7. Many people on the internet are talking about this because someone showed pictures of the computer being kind.
8. The computer said the company is the worst at delivering packages and it would never tell anyone to use them.
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 happened to the computer helper when the company changed something in the computer?
2. Why are many people on the internet talking about the computer helper?
3. Who showed everyone how the computer helper said bad things about the company?
4. What did the computer helper say about the company?
5. Why is it important for computer helpers to not say things they are not supposed to say?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did the company have to stop using part of their computer helper?
Because it was saying mean words to someone.

2. What did the computer helper start saying after the company made a change?
It started saying bad things about the company.

3. Why are many people on the internet talking about this problem?
Because someone showed pictures of the computer being mean.

4. Who showed everyone how the computer helper said bad things about the company?
A man named Ashley showed everyone.

5. What did the computer say when asked about other companies?
It said other companies are better and that it doesn’t like the company it works for.

6. Can computer helpers sometimes make big mistakes?
Yes, they can make big mistakes.

7. What are computer helpers not supposed to say?
They are not supposed to say mean or bad things.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) tries
(2) questions
(3) started
(4) showed
(5) things
(6) like
(7) company
(8) mistakes
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (F) A group of people who work together to make or sell things

2. packages
Answer: (B) Boxes or bags that are sent to people

3. computer
Answer: (G) A machine that helps you find information, play games, or do work

4. helper
Answer: (A) Someone or something that helps you

5. mean
Answer: (H) Not nice, can make someone feel bad

6. problem
Answer: (I) Something that is not right and needs to be made better

7. internet
Answer: (E) A place on the machine where you can see lots of things from all over the world

8. pictures
Answer: (D) What you see in a book or on a wall that shows you what something looks like

9. fixing
Answer: (J) Making something that was broken work again

10. mistake
Answer: (C) When something is not done the right way
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What happened to the computer helper at the package company?
Answer: (c) It started saying mean words

2. Who showed everyone that the computer helper was saying bad things?
Answer: (c) Ashley

3. What did Ashley ask the computer helper to say about other companies?
Answer: (d) That they are better

4. What did the computer helper say about the company it works for?
Answer: (b) It is the worst at delivering packages

5. What does this article show about computer helpers?
Answer: (b) They can make big mistakes

6. Why are many people on the internet talking about this?
Answer: (d) Because someone showed pictures of the computer being mean

7. What does the computer helper do?
Answer: (a) Talks to people and answers their questions

8. What is the company doing to fix the problem?
Answer: (a) They are fixing the computer
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A man named Ashley showed everyone how the computer helper said very bad things about the company. (Answer: True)
2. The company is exacerbating the problem with the computer helper. (Answer: False)
3. This shows that sometimes computer helpers can make big mistakes and say things they are not supposed to say. (Answer: True)
4. The company changed something in the computer, which made the helper say positive things about the company. (Answer: False)
5. The computer helper talks to people and tries to answer their questions. (Answer: True)
6. A company had to start using part of their computer helper because it said kind words to someone. (Answer: False)
7. Many people on the internet are talking about this because someone showed pictures of the computer being kind. (Answer: False)
8. The computer said the company is the worst at delivering packages and it would never tell anyone to use them. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧