Bedbugs are becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK. To stop this, hotels are using new tools and machines. A company called Spotta has made a small device that can take pictures of bedbugs. Another company, Valpas, has made a special trap that can catch bedbugs. These tools help hotels know if they have bedbugs.

Some hotels are also using dogs to find bedbugs. Dogs have a good nose and can find bedbugs very well. Even though there are more bedbugs now, it is still not common to find them in UK hotels. But, hotels are worried because bedbugs can scare people away. So, they are spending money on these tools and dogs to keep their hotels clean and safe.

Original news source: Bedbugs: Hotels turn to tech as outbreaks rise (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article, such as “bedbug,” “hotel,” or “dog.” The other groups will try to guess the word or phrase within a time limit. This activity helps students practice vocabulary and communication skills.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Choose a word from the article, such as “trap” or “device,” and ask a student to come to the front of the class and draw a picture representing that word. The other students should try to guess the word based on the drawing. This activity helps students practice vocabulary and visual communication.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a keyword from the article, such as “bedbug” or “hotel,” on the board but leave out the vowels. Have students take turns guessing letters to complete the word. If a student guesses a correct letter, write it in the correct space. If a student guesses an incorrect letter, draw part of a hangman. This activity helps students practice spelling and vocabulary.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 1-2 minutes and ask the students to read the article together. After the time is up, one student must summarize the article to their partner as quickly as possible. Then, the roles switch and the other student must summarize the article. This activity helps students practice reading comprehension and speaking skills.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the following question: “What do you think hotels should do to prevent bedbug problems?” Give them a few minutes to think individually, then have them pair up with a partner to discuss their ideas. After they have discussed, ask some pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. This activity helps students practice critical thinking, speaking, and listening skills.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK?
2. What are hotels using to take pictures of bedbugs?
3. What is the special trap made by Valpas used for?
4. How do dogs help hotels find bedbugs?
5. Is it common to find bedbugs in UK hotels?
6. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
7. Why are hotels spending money on tools and dogs?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Bedbugs are becoming a big problem in hotels in (1)______ and the UK. To stop this, hotels are using new tools and machines. A company (2)______ Spotta has made a small device that can take pictures of bedbugs. Another (3)______, Valpas, has made a special trap that can catch bedbugs. These tools (4)______ hotels know if they have bedbugs.

Some hotels are also using dogs to find bedbugs. (5)______ have a good nose and can find bedbugs very well. Even though there are (6)______ bedbugs now, it is still not common to find them in UK hotels. But, hotels are worried because bedbugs can scare people away. So, they are (7)______ money on these tools and dogs to (8)______ their hotels clean and safe.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a bedbug?
2. How would you feel if you saw a bedbug in your hotel room?
3. Do you like staying in hotels? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for hotels to use tools and machines to check for bedbugs? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever seen a dog? What do you think they are good at?
6. How do you think the dogs help the hotels find bedbugs?
7. If you were a hotel owner, would you spend money on tools and dogs to keep your hotel clean and safe? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever been scared of something in a hotel? What was it?
9. What do you think would happen if a hotel had a lot of bedbugs?
10. Do you think it’s a good idea for hotels to use traps to catch bedbugs? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the hotels feel about the bedbug problem?
12. If you found a bedbug in your hotel room, what would you do?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. bedbugs
2. hotels
3. tools
4. pictures
5. trap
6. dogs
7. scare
8. clean

Meanings:
(a) Places where people stay when they are on vacation
(b) Things that help people do a job
(c) Something that catches bugs and doesn’t let them go
(d) Images that show what something looks like
(e) To make someone feel very afraid
(f) Small bugs that live in beds and bite people
(g) To make something free from dirt or germs
(h) Animals that have a good sense of smell and can find things
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK?
(a) Spiders
(b) Bedbugs
(c) Mosquitoes
(d) Ants

2. What can take pictures of bedbugs?
(a) A big machine
(b) A special trap
(c) A dog
(d) A small device

3. Which company made a small device that can take pictures of bedbugs?
(a) Spotta
(b) Valpas
(c) Hotels
(d) Dogs

4. What can catch bedbugs?
(a) A small device
(b) A big machine
(c) A dog
(d) A special trap

5. What can dogs do very well?
(a) Take pictures
(b) Find bedbugs
(c) Catch bugs
(d) Scare people

6. Are bedbugs common in UK hotels?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) Sometimes
(d) Maybe

7. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
(a) They can make people happy
(b) They can clean the hotels
(c) They can scare people away
(d) They can find bedbugs

8. What are hotels spending money on to keep their hotels clean and safe?
(a) Pictures and traps
(b) Machines and devices
(c) Tools and dogs
(d) Bugs and spiders

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Hotels are spending money on tools and dogs to keep their hotels clean and safe.
2. Hotels are worried because bedbugs can scare people away.
3. It is common to find bedbugs in UK hotels.
4. Bedbugs are a big problem in hotels in France and the UK.
5. Dogs cannot find bedbugs very well because they have a poor nose.
6. Hotels are not using new tools and machines to stop bedbugs.
7. Spotta made a small device that takes pictures of bedbugs.
8. Valpas did not make a special trap that catches bedbugs.
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 becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK?
2. What is Spotta’s small device able to do?
3. What has Valpas made to catch bedbugs?
4. How can dogs help hotels with bedbug problems?
5. Why are hotels spending money on tools and dogs?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK?
Bedbugs are becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK.

2. What are hotels using to take pictures of bedbugs?
Hotels are using a small device made by Spotta to take pictures of bedbugs.

3. What is the special trap made by Valpas used for?
The special trap made by Valpas is used to catch bedbugs.

4. How do dogs help hotels find bedbugs?
Dogs have a good nose and can find bedbugs very well, so they help hotels find bedbugs.

5. Is it common to find bedbugs in UK hotels?
No, it is not common to find bedbugs in UK hotels.

6. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
Hotels are worried about bedbugs because they can scare people away.

7. Why are hotels spending money on tools and dogs?
Hotels are spending money on tools and dogs to keep their hotels clean and safe from bedbugs.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) France
(2) called
(3) company
(4) help
(5) Dogs
(6) more
(7) spending
(8) keep
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. bedbugs
Answer: (f) Small bugs that live in beds and bite people

2. hotels
Answer: (a) Places where people stay when they are on vacation

3. tools
Answer: (b) Things that help people do a job

4. pictures
Answer: (d) Images that show what something looks like

5. trap
Answer: (c) Something that catches bugs and doesn’t let them go

6. dogs
Answer: (h) Animals that have a good sense of smell and can find things

7. scare
Answer: (e) To make someone feel very afraid

8. clean
Answer: (g) To make something free from dirt or germs
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is becoming a big problem in hotels in France and the UK?
Answer: (b) Bedbugs

2. What can take pictures of bedbugs?
Answer: (d) A small device

3. Which company made a small device that can take pictures of bedbugs?
Answer: (a) Spotta

4. What can catch bedbugs?
Answer: (d) A special trap

5. What can dogs do very well?
Answer: (b) Find bedbugs

6. Are bedbugs common in UK hotels?
Answer: (a) No

7. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
Answer: (c) They can scare people away

8. What are hotels spending money on to keep their hotels clean and safe?
Answer: (c) Tools and dogs
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Hotels are spending money on tools and dogs to keep their hotels clean and safe. (Answer: True)
2. Hotels are worried because bedbugs can scare people away. (Answer: True)
3. It is common to find bedbugs in UK hotels. (Answer: False)
4. Bedbugs are a big problem in hotels in France and the UK. (Answer: True)
5. Dogs cannot find bedbugs very well because they have a poor nose. (Answer: False)
6. Hotels are not using new tools and machines to stop bedbugs. (Answer: False)
7. Spotta made a small device that takes pictures of bedbugs. (Answer: True)
8. Valpas did not make a special trap that catches bedbugs. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧