Google is going to start removing some accounts that people don’t use anymore. They are doing this on Friday. They say it’s to keep things safe because old accounts that no one uses can be dangerous. If you sign in or send an email, your account will stay. Google accounts let you use things like email and watch videos.

If you want to keep your Google account, you can sign in, look at an email, send an email, use Google Drive, or watch a video on YouTube. It’s good to have another email connected to your Google account so you can get messages. Google has told people with old accounts that they might be removed. But if you use your account for school or work, or to take care of a kid’s account, it won’t be removed. If you use your Google account a lot, you don’t have to worry.

Original news source: Inactive Google accounts to be deleted from Friday (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and act out a word or phrase related to the article, without using any words. The rest of the students in their team must guess what they are acting out. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries short and concise.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper with two options: “Yes” and “No”. Read out statements related to the article, such as “Do you think it’s important for Google to remove old accounts?” or “Do you have a Google account?” Students should mark their choice and then discuss their answers in pairs or small groups.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on individual slips of paper and put them in a bag. One student from each team will come to the front of the class, pick a slip of paper from the bag, and draw a picture representing that word. The rest of their team must guess the word within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article and a timer. One student will have one minute to read as much of the article as they can, while the other student listens. After one minute, they switch roles. Then, each student will have one minute to summarize what they heard or read. The pairs can compare their summaries and discuss any differences.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Google going to do with accounts that people don’t use anymore?
2. Why is Google removing these accounts?
3. What can you do to keep your Google account?
4. Why is it good to have another email connected to your Google account?
5. Who will not have their account removed?
6. What should you do if you use your Google account a lot?
7. What are some things you can do with a Google account?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Google is going to start removing some accounts that people don’t use anymore. They are doing this on Friday. They say it’s to keep things (1)______ because old accounts that no one (2)______ can be dangerous. If you sign in or send an email, your (3)______ will stay. Google accounts let you use things like email and watch videos.

If you want to keep your Google account, you can sign in, (4)______ at an email, send an (5)______, use Google Drive, or watch a video on YouTube. It’s good to have another email connected to your Google account so you can get (6)______. Google has told people with old accounts that they might be (7)______. But if you use your account for school or work, or to take care of a kid’s account, it won’t be removed. If you use your Google account a lot, you don’t (8)______ to worry.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a Google account?
2. Do you have a Google account? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if your Google account was removed? Why?
4. Do you use your Google account for school or work? Why or why not?
5. What do you use your Google account for?
6. Do you think it’s important to have another email connected to your Google account? Why or why not?
7. How do you feel when you receive messages in your email?
8. What do you think can happen if old accounts are not removed?
9. How often do you use your Google account? Why?
10. What do you like to do on YouTube?
11. Do you think it’s a good idea for Google to remove old accounts? Why or why not?
12. How do you keep your Google account safe?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Google
2. accounts
3. sign in
4. email
5. watch
6. safe
7. removed
8. use

Meanings:
(a) A website where you can find things
(b) To do things on the website
(c) Taken away from the website
(d) Not in danger
(e) Things that you have on the website
(f) To put your name and password to get into your account
(g) A message that you send to someone on the website
(h) To look at videos on the website
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Google removing some accounts?
(a) To keep things safe
(b) To make more money
(c) To watch videos
(d) To send emails

2. When is Google going to start removing accounts?
(a) On Monday
(b) On Wednesday
(c) On Friday
(d) On Sunday

3. What can you do to keep your Google account?
(a) Watch a video on YouTube
(b) Sign in or send an email
(c) Use Google Drive
(d) All of the above

4. Why is it good to have another email connected to your Google account?
(a) So you can watch videos
(b) So you can get messages
(c) So you can send emails
(d) So you can use Google Drive

5. Who has Google told might have their accounts removed?
(a) People with new accounts
(b) People who watch videos
(c) People who send emails
(d) People with old accounts

6. What won’t be removed if you use your Google account for school or work?
(a) Your account
(b) Your email
(c) Your videos
(d) Your messages

7. What can you use your Google account for?
(a) Sending messages and using Google Drive
(b) Watching videos and using Google Drive
(c) Email and sending messages
(d) Email and watching videos

8. Do you have to worry if you use your Google account a lot?
(a) Yes
(b) Maybe
(c) No
(d) Sometimes

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Google accounts let you use email and watch videos.
2. If you don’t use your Google account for school, work, or taking care of a kid’s account, it will be deleted.
3. You can’t keep your Google account by signing in, looking at an email, sending an email, using Google Drive, or watching a video on YouTube.
4. Google is not going to delete any old accounts that people don’t use anymore.
5. If you don’t sign in or send an email, your account will be deleted.
6. They are doing this on Friday to keep things safe.
7. It’s good to have another email connected to your Google account so you can get messages.
8. Old accounts that no one uses can be dangerous.
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 Google going to do with accounts that people don’t use anymore?
2. Why does Google want to remove these old accounts?
3. What can you do to keep your Google account?
4. Why is it good to have another email connected to your Google account?
5. Will your Google account be removed if you use it for school or work, or to take care of a kid’s account?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Google going to do with accounts that people don’t use anymore?
Google is going to remove accounts that people don’t use anymore.

2. Why is Google removing these accounts?
Google is removing these accounts to keep things safe because old accounts can be dangerous.

3. What can you do to keep your Google account?
To keep your Google account, you can sign in, look at an email, send an email, use Google Drive, or watch a video on YouTube.

4. Why is it good to have another email connected to your Google account?
It is good to have another email connected to your Google account so you can get messages.

5. Who will not have their account removed?
People who use their account for school or work, or to take care of a kid’s account, will not have their account removed.

6. What should you do if you use your Google account a lot?
If you use your Google account a lot, you don’t have to worry.

7. What are some things you can do with a Google account?
With a Google account, you can use email and watch videos on YouTube.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) safe
(2) uses
(3) account
(4) look
(5) email
(6) messages
(7) removed
(8) have
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Google
Answer: (a) A website where you can find things

2. accounts
Answer: (e) Things that you have on the website

3. sign in
Answer: (f) To put your name and password to get into your account

4. email
Answer: (g) A message that you send to someone on the website

5. watch
Answer: (h) To look at videos on the website

6. safe
Answer: (d) Not in danger

7. removed
Answer: (c) Taken away from the website

8. use
Answer: (b) To do things on the website
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Google removing some accounts?
Answer: (a) To keep things safe

2. When is Google going to start removing accounts?
Answer: (c) On Friday

3. What can you do to keep your Google account?
Answer: (b) Sign in or send an email

4. Why is it good to have another email connected to your Google account?
Answer: (b) So you can get messages

5. Who has Google told might have their accounts removed?
Answer: (d) People with old accounts

6. What won’t be removed if you use your Google account for school or work?
Answer: (a) Your account

7. What can you use your Google account for?
Answer: (d) Email and watching videos

8. Do you have to worry if you use your Google account a lot?
Answer: (c) No
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Google accounts let you use email and watch videos. (Answer: True)
2. If you don’t use your Google account for school, work, or taking care of a kid’s account, it will be deleted. (Answer: False)
3. You can’t keep your Google account by signing in, looking at an email, sending an email, using Google Drive, or watching a video on YouTube. (Answer: False)
4. Google is not going to delete any old accounts that people don’t use anymore. (Answer: False)
5. If you don’t sign in or send an email, your account will be deleted. (Answer: False)
6. They are doing this on Friday to keep things safe. (Answer: True)
7. It’s good to have another email connected to your Google account so you can get messages. (Answer: True)
8. Old accounts that no one uses can be dangerous. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧