In July, a big computer problem happened that made it hard for airplanes to work right. Many people, like Anthony, had to use paper instead of their phones to get on planes. This showed that having paper and pen is important when computers don’t work. The problem also affected other businesses, not just airplanes. Some companies had to use paper to keep working.

A company in Norway had a similar problem in 2019 when bad people locked their computers. They used paper instructions to keep making things. This showed that having paper copies is important when computers break. Experts say it’s good to practice using paper just in case. Companies should be ready with paper plans to stay strong during computer problems.

Original news source: How pen and paper comes to the rescue in an IT crisis (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down some key words from the article on small pieces of paper. Have students pick a piece of paper and act out the word without speaking while others guess what it is. This will help reinforce vocabulary from the article in a fun and engaging way.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose some key vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Have students take turns coming up to the board to draw a quick sketch representing the word while the rest of the class tries to guess what it is. This will help reinforce vocabulary learning through visual representation.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs and have one student summarize the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage the use of their own words to express the ideas. Then, have the partners switch roles. This will help students practice paraphrasing and summarizing skills.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students to reflect on the importance of having paper copies as a backup when technology fails. Have them move to different areas of the room based on their opinion (e.g. strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). Then, encourage a few students to share their reasons for their opinions in simple English sentences.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have students think about a time when they had to rely on paper instead of technology. Pair them up and ask them to share their experiences with their partners. Finally, select a few pairs to share their stories with the whole class. This activity encourages students to engage in conversation and build their speaking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened in July that made it hard for airplanes to work right?
2. Why did people like Anthony have to use paper instead of their phones to get on planes?
3. Why is it important to have paper and pen when computers don’t work?
4. What happened to a company in Norway in 2019 when bad people locked their computers?
5. How did the company in Norway keep making things when their computers were locked?
6. What do experts say is good to practice using just in case computers have problems?
7. Why should companies have paper plans ready to stay strong during computer problems?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In July, a big (1)______ problem happened that made it hard for airplanes to work right. Many people, like Anthony, had to use paper instead of their (2)______ to get on planes. This showed that (3)______ paper and pen is important when computers don’t work. The problem also affected other businesses, not just (4)______. Some companies had to use paper to keep working.

A company in Norway had a similar problem in 2019 when bad people (5)______ their computers. They (6)______ paper instructions to keep making things. This showed that having paper copies is (7)______ when computers break. Experts say it’s good to practice using (8)______ just in case. Companies should be ready with paper plans to stay strong during computer problems.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is paper used for when computers don’t work?
2. How would you feel if you had to use paper instead of your phone to do things?
3. Do you like using paper and pen? Why or why not?
4. How do you think companies felt when they had to use paper to keep working?
5. What is a computer problem?
6. Why is it important to have paper when computers break?
7. Do you think it’s a good idea to practice using paper just in case? Why or why not?
8. How do you think people felt when they couldn’t use their phones for airplanes?
9. What are paper instructions used for?
10. How would you feel if bad people locked your computer?
11. Do you think companies should be ready with paper plans? Why or why not?
12. What other things besides airplanes were affected by the computer problem?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. airplanes
2. problem
3. important
4. affected
5. businesses
6. companies
7. instructions
8. experts
9. practice
10. strong

Meanings:
(A) Changed or made different
(B) Big flying machines that take people places
(C) Something that matters a lot
(D) People who know a lot about something
(E) Groups of people working together to make things
(F) Something that is wrong and needs fixing
(G) Being able to handle tough things without breaking
(H) Steps to follow to do something
(I) Doing something over and over to get better
(J) Places where people work and sell things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did people have to use instead of their phones to get on planes during the computer problem?
(a) Rocks
(b) Paper
(c) Scissors
(d) Sticks

2. What did a company in Norway have to use when bad people locked their computers in 2019?
(a) Glass instructions
(b) Metal instructions
(c) Plastic instructions
(d) Paper instructions

3. What is important to have when computers don’t work, according to the article?
(a) Paint and brush
(b) Glue and scissors
(c) Markers and crayons
(d) Paper and pen

4. What should companies practice using just in case computers break, according to experts?
(a) Paper
(b) Rocks
(c) Scissors
(d) Sticks

5. What did some companies have to use to keep working during the computer problem?
(a) Paper
(b) Glass
(c) Metal
(d) Plastic

6. What did Anthony have to use to get on planes during the computer problem?
(a) Rocks
(b) Scissors
(c) Paper
(d) Sticks

7. What is good to have as a backup plan during computer problems, according to the article?
(a) Paint plans
(b) Glue plans
(c) Paper plans
(d) Marker plans

8. What did the computer problem affect besides airplanes?
(a) Schools
(b) Other businesses
(c) Restaurants
(d) Parks

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Using digital instructions hindered the company in Norway from continuing production.
2. Bad people locked the computers in the company in Norway.
3. Paper and pen are important when computers don’t work.
4. Experts say it’s unnecessary to practice using paper in case computers fail.
5. The computer issue only impacted airplanes.
6. A company in Sweden had a computer issue in 2019.
7. In July, airplanes had a problem with computers.
8. Anthony had to use paper instead of his phone to get on a plane.
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 in July that made it hard for airplanes to work right?
2. Why did some people have to use paper instead of their phones to get on planes?
3. What did a company in Norway do when bad people locked their computers in 2019?
4. Why is it important for companies to have paper plans ready in case computers break?
5. What do experts suggest companies should practice using, just in case computers have problems?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened in July that made it hard for airplanes to work right?
A big computer problem happened in July that made it hard for airplanes to work right.

2. Why did people like Anthony have to use paper instead of their phones to get on planes?
People like Anthony had to use paper instead of their phones to get on planes because the computers were not working.

3. Why is it important to have paper and pen when computers don’t work?
It is important to have paper and pen when computers don’t work because you can still write things down and make plans.

4. What happened to a company in Norway in 2019 when bad people locked their computers?
Bad people locked the computers of a company in Norway in 2019.

5. How did the company in Norway keep making things when their computers were locked?
The company in Norway kept making things by using paper instructions when their computers were locked.

6. What do experts say is good to practice using just in case computers have problems?
Experts say it is good to practice using paper just in case computers have problems.

7. Why should companies have paper plans ready to stay strong during computer problems?
Companies should have paper plans ready to stay strong during computer problems because they can still work and make things even if the computers don’t work.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) computer
(2) phones
(3) having
(4) airplanes
(5) locked
(6) used
(7) important
(8) paper
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. airplanes
Answer: (B) Big flying machines that take people places

2. problem
Answer: (F) Something that is wrong and needs fixing

3. important
Answer: (C) Something that matters a lot

4. affected
Answer: (A) Changed or made different

5. businesses
Answer: (J) Places where people work and sell things

6. companies
Answer: (E) Groups of people working together to make things

7. instructions
Answer: (H) Steps to follow to do something

8. experts
Answer: (D) People who know a lot about something

9. practice
Answer: (I) Doing something over and over to get better

10. strong
Answer: (G) Being able to handle tough things without breaking
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did people have to use instead of their phones to get on planes during the computer problem?
Answer: (b) Paper

2. What did a company in Norway have to use when bad people locked their computers in 2019?
Answer: (d) Paper instructions

3. What is important to have when computers don’t work, according to the article?
Answer: (d) Paper and pen

4. What should companies practice using just in case computers break, according to experts?
Answer: (a) Paper

5. What did some companies have to use to keep working during the computer problem?
Answer: (a) Paper

6. What did Anthony have to use to get on planes during the computer problem?
Answer: (c) Paper

7. What is good to have as a backup plan during computer problems, according to the article?
Answer: (c) Paper plans

8. What did the computer problem affect besides airplanes?
Answer: (b) Other businesses
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Using digital instructions hindered the company in Norway from continuing production. (Answer: False)
2. Bad people locked the computers in the company in Norway. (Answer: True)
3. Paper and pen are important when computers don’t work. (Answer: True)
4. Experts say it’s unnecessary to practice using paper in case computers fail. (Answer: False)
5. The computer issue only impacted airplanes. (Answer: False)
6. A company in Sweden had a computer issue in 2019. (Answer: False)
7. In July, airplanes had a problem with computers. (Answer: True)
8. Anthony had to use paper instead of his phone to get on a plane. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧