Wearable technology like smartwatches and rings can help people check their heart and sleep. Some people want to give these to patients so they can watch their health at home. But some doctors worry that the data might not always be right. They think people might get worried about small changes that are normal. It’s important to understand what the data really means.

Doctors say these devices can help, but we shouldn’t trust them too much. Sometimes the data can be wrong if the device isn’t worn right. Different devices might show different results because they work in different ways. Doctors like to check the data with their own tools to be sure. They want to make sure the information is helpful for taking care of people.

Original news source: Why are doctors wary of wearables? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out different wearable technology items (like smartwatches and rings) without speaking, while the other students guess the item. This helps with vocabulary and encourages speaking.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a few questions about wearable technology, such as “Do you think wearable technology is helpful?” or “Would you use a smartwatch?” Students will walk around the class and ask their peers for their opinions, then report back to the group.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Students will draw words related to the article (like “heart,” “sleep,” “data,” “doctor,” etc.) on the board while their classmates guess what they are. This reinforces vocabulary through visual learning.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question like “What do you think about using technology to check health?” Students think about their answers for a minute, then share their thoughts with a partner, and finally, a few pairs share with the whole class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students work in small groups to create a catchy headline for the article. They can use keywords from the text and share their headlines with the class, practicing both writing and speaking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some examples of wearable technology?
2. Why do some people want to give these devices to patients?
3. What do some doctors worry about with the data from these devices?
4. Why is it important to understand what the data means?
5. Can the devices sometimes show wrong information?
6. How do different devices show different results?
7. What do doctors like to do with the data from these devices?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Wearable technology like smart(1)______es and rings can help people check their heart and (2)______. Some people want to give these to patients so they can watch their health at home. But some doctors worry that the (3)______ might not always be right. They think people might get worried about (4)______ changes that are normal. It’s important to understand what the data really means.

Doctors say these devices can help, but we shouldn’t (5)______ them too much. Sometimes the data can be (6)______ if the device isn’t worn right. Different devices might show different results because they work in different ways. Doctors like to check the data with their own tools to be sure. They want to make sure the (7)______ is (8)______ for taking care of people.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a smartwatch?
2. Do you like to wear rings? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you could see your heart rate on your watch?
4. Do you think it is good to check your sleep? Why?
5. What is a doctor?
6. Have you ever been to a doctor? How did you feel?
7. Do you think it is okay to worry about small health changes? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if your watch told you something was wrong?
9. Do you think technology helps us stay healthy? Why?
10. What is your favorite way to stay healthy?
11. How would you feel if your friend gave you a smartwatch?
12. Do you think doctors should use technology? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. technology
2. smartwatches
3. patients
4. data
5. worried
6. changes
7. devices
8. results
9. tools
10. information

Meanings:
(A) Things we use to fix or make things
(B) When something becomes different
(C) Watches that can do more than just tell time
(D) Things that help us do things better or faster
(E) Numbers and facts that tell us something
(F) Things we use to do a job or task
(G) What happens after you do something
(H) Facts that tell us about something
(I) People who are sick and need help from doctors
(J) Feeling scared or nervous about something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What can smartwatches help people check?
(a) Food and drink
(b) Weather and time
(c) Colors and shapes
(d) Heart and sleep

2. Who might use wearable technology?
(a) Animals
(b) Patients
(c) Trees
(d) Cars

3. What do some doctors worry about?
(a) Too much sleep
(b) Wrong data
(c) Happy patients
(d) Big watches

4. Why is it important to understand the data?
(a) To make it pretty
(b) To show friends
(c) To sell it
(d) To know what it means

5. What do doctors think about wearable devices?
(a) They are always right
(b) They are not useful
(c) They can help but not too much
(d) They are toys

6. What can happen if the device is not worn right?
(a) Wrong data
(b) More fun
(c) Better sleep
(d) Happy heart

7. What do doctors like to do with the data?
(a) Ignore it
(b) Throw it away
(c) Check it with their own tools
(d) Share it online

8. What do doctors want to make sure of?
(a) The information is helpful
(b) The device is shiny
(c) The patient is loud
(d) The watch is big

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Doctors like to use their own tools to check the data.
2. Some doctors are worried about the information from these devices.
3. Different devices can show different results.
4. Doctors believe small changes in data can make people feel relieved.
5. It is unimportant to know what the data really means.
6. These devices can hinder people from checking their heart and sleep.
7. Wearable technology includes things like smartwatches and rings.
8. Sometimes the devices can give accurate information.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer. Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What can smartwatches and rings help people check?
2. Why do some doctors worry about the data from these devices?
3. What might happen if people see small changes in their health data?
4. Why do doctors want to use their own tools?
5. What do doctors want to make sure about the information from the devices?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some examples of wearable technology?
Smartwatches and rings are examples of wearable technology.

2. Why do some people want to give these devices to patients?
They want to help patients check their health at home.

3. What do some doctors worry about with the data from these devices?
Doctors worry that the data might not always be right.

4. Why is it important to understand what the data means?
It is important so people do not get worried about normal changes.

5. Can the devices sometimes show wrong information?
Yes, the devices can sometimes show wrong information.

6. How do different devices show different results?
Different devices work in different ways, so they can show different results.

7. What do doctors like to do with the data from these devices?
Doctors like to check the data with their own tools to be sure.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) watch
(2) sleep
(3) data
(4) small
(5) trust
(6) wrong
(7) information
(8) helpful
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. technology
Answer: (D) Things that help us do things better or faster

2. smartwatches
Answer: (C) Watches that can do more than just tell time

3. patients
Answer: (I) People who are sick and need help from doctors

4. data
Answer: (E) Numbers and facts that tell us something

5. worried
Answer: (J) Feeling scared or nervous about something

6. changes
Answer: (B) When something becomes different

7. devices
Answer: (F) Things we use to do a job or task

8. results
Answer: (G) What happens after you do something

9. tools
Answer: (A) Things we use to fix or make things

10. information
Answer: (H) Facts that tell us about something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What can smartwatches help people check?
Answer: (d) Heart and sleep

2. Who might use wearable technology?
Answer: (b) Patients

3. What do some doctors worry about?
Answer: (b) Wrong data

4. Why is it important to understand the data?
Answer: (d) To know what it means

5. What do doctors think about wearable devices?
Answer: (c) They can help but not too much

6. What can happen if the device is not worn right?
Answer: (a) Wrong data

7. What do doctors like to do with the data?
Answer: (c) Check it with their own tools

8. What do doctors want to make sure of?
Answer: (a) The information is helpful
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Doctors like to use their own tools to check the data. (Answer: True)
2. Some doctors are worried about the information from these devices. (Answer: True)
3. Different devices can show different results. (Answer: True)
4. Doctors believe small changes in data can make people feel relieved. (Answer: False)
5. It is unimportant to know what the data really means. (Answer: False)
6. These devices can hinder people from checking their heart and sleep. (Answer: False)
7. Wearable technology includes things like smartwatches and rings. (Answer: True)
8. Sometimes the devices can give accurate information. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧