A company in Cambridge is studying bed bugs. They made a smart trap that can tell if there are bed bugs. The trap sends a message to the hotel or travel company. This helps them stop the bugs from spreading. The trap is a good way to solve the bug problem.

The smart trap works like a bug magnet. It uses heat and a special smell to pull the bugs into the trap. The trap then sends a message if it catches any bugs. This lets the hotel or travel company get rid of the bugs fast. The trap is a big step in stopping bed bugs. It helps keep guests happy and bug-free.

Original news source: Inside the lab building bedbug detectors (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. bed bugs, trap, hotel, travel, bugs, guests). One person from each team will act out the word without speaking, while their team tries to guess the word. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “bed bugs” on the board. Have students take turns saying a word that they associate with “bed bugs”. For example, one student might say “hotel”, and then the next student might say “itchy”. Keep going until all students have had a turn or until the association becomes difficult.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words related to the article. One student in each pair will choose a word and draw a picture of it while their partner tries to guess the word. The pair that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Have students work in pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 1 minute. Students take turns summarizing the article to their partner in 1 minute or less. The partner listens and gives feedback on the accuracy and clarity of the summary. Then, switch roles and repeat.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have students think about the following question: “How could the smart trap for bed bugs be useful in your own life?” Give students a few minutes to think about their answer. Then, pair students up and have them share their answers with each other. Finally, have a few pairs share their answers with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the company in Cambridge studying?
2. What does the smart trap do?
3. How does the trap catch the bugs?
4. What happens after the trap catches bugs?
5. Why is the trap a big step in stopping bed bugs?
6. Who does the trap help?
7. What does the trap help keep guests?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A company in Cambridge is (1)______ bed bugs. They made a (2)______ trap that can tell if there are bed bugs. The trap sends a message to the hotel or (3)______ company. This helps them stop the (4)______ from spreading. The trap is a good way to solve the bug problem.

The smart trap works like a bug magnet. It uses heat and a special smell to (5)______ the bugs into the trap. The trap then (6)______ a message if it catches any bugs. This lets the hotel or travel (7)______ get rid of the bugs fast. The trap is a big step in (8)______ bed bugs. It helps keep guests happy and bug-free.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a bed bug?
2. How would you feel if you found a bed bug in your bed?
3. Do you like bugs? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for hotels and travel companies to get rid of bed bugs? Why or why not?
5. What do you think a bug magnet does?
6. How do you think the smart trap catches the bugs?
7. Would you like to have a smart trap in your house to catch bugs? Why or why not?
8. What do you think happens when the trap catches a bug?
9. How do you think the trap helps keep guests happy?
10. Have you ever seen a bug in a hotel or when you were traveling? How did it make you feel?
11. Do you think the smart trap is a good invention? Why or why not?
12. What other bugs do you know?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. trap
3. bugs
4. message
5. hotel
6. smell
7. guests
8. step

Meanings:
(a) A place where people stay when they are on vacation
(b) A special scent that you can smell
(c) A way to solve a problem or make progress
(d) A group of people who work together
(e) Small insects that can bite you
(f) Something that catches bugs
(g) A note or information that you send to someone
(h) People who stay at a hotel
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the purpose of the smart trap?
(a) To study bed bugs in Cambridge
(b) To catch bed bugs and send a message
(c) To make hotels and travel companies happy
(d) To solve the bug problem in Cambridge

2. How does the smart trap catch bed bugs?
(a) By using a net and a flashlight
(b) By using a hammer and a screwdriver
(c) By using a computer and a camera
(d) By using heat and a special smell

3. What happens when the smart trap catches bed bugs?
(a) It releases the bed bugs back into the wild
(b) It turns into a bed bug itself
(c) It sends a message to the hotel or travel company
(d) It starts singing a song

4. Why is the smart trap a big step in stopping bed bugs?
(a) Because it helps hotels and travel companies get rid of the bugs fast
(b) Because it is a small step in stopping bed bugs
(c) Because it is a big step in studying bed bugs in Cambridge
(d) Because it helps bugs spread to different places

5. Who does the smart trap help keep bug-free?
(a) Bed bugs in Cambridge
(b) The people who made the smart trap
(c) Guests at hotels and travel companies
(d) The bugs in the trap

6. What does the smart trap use to attract bed bugs?
(a) Cold air and a loud noise
(b) Heat and a special smell
(c) Water and food
(d) Toys and games

7. What does the smart trap do after it catches bed bugs?
(a) It takes a nap
(b) It starts dancing
(c) It becomes invisible
(d) It sends a message to the hotel or travel company

8. What is the main goal of the smart trap?
(a) To help stop the spread of bed bugs
(b) To make money for the company in Cambridge
(c) To become famous in the bug-catching world
(d) To study the behavior of bed bugs in traps

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The trap is a big step in stopping the bugs and keeping guests happy.
2. The trap does not send a message if it catches any bugs.
3. The trap does not help stop the bugs from spreading.
4. The company made a special trap that can find the bugs.
5. A company in Cambridge is not studying bugs that live in beds.
6. The trap sends a message to the hotel or travel company.
7. The trap does not use heat and a special smell to catch the bugs.
8. The trap helps the hotel or travel company get rid of the bugs quickly.
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 the trap made by the company in Cambridge used for?
2. How does the trap know if there are bed bugs?
3. What does the trap use to attract the bugs?
4. What happens if the trap catches any bugs?
5. Why is the trap important for hotels and travel companies?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the company in Cambridge studying?
The company in Cambridge is studying bed bugs.

2. What does the smart trap do?
The smart trap can tell if there are bed bugs.

3. How does the trap catch the bugs?
The trap uses heat and a special smell to attract the bugs.

4. What happens after the trap catches bugs?
The trap sends a message to the hotel or travel company.

5. Why is the trap a big step in stopping bed bugs?
The trap helps stop the bugs from spreading and helps get rid of them fast.

6. Who does the trap help?
The trap helps the hotel or travel company.

7. What does the trap help keep guests?
The trap helps keep guests happy and bug-free.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) studying
(2) smart
(3) travel
(4) bugs
(5) pull
(6) sends
(7) company
(8) stopping
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (d) A group of people who work together

2. trap
Answer: (f) Something that catches bugs

3. bugs
Answer: (e) Small insects that can bite you

4. message
Answer: (g) A note or information that you send to someone

5. hotel
Answer: (a) A place where people stay when they are on vacation

6. smell
Answer: (b) A special scent that you can smell

7. guests
Answer: (h) People who stay at a hotel

8. step
Answer: (c) A way to solve a problem or make progress
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the purpose of the smart trap?
Answer: (b) To catch bed bugs and send a message

2. How does the smart trap catch bed bugs?
Answer: (d) By using heat and a special smell

3. What happens when the smart trap catches bed bugs?
Answer: (c) It sends a message to the hotel or travel company

4. Why is the smart trap a big step in stopping bed bugs?
Answer: (a) Because it helps hotels and travel companies get rid of the bugs fast

5. Who does the smart trap help keep bug-free?
Answer: (c) Guests at hotels and travel companies

6. What does the smart trap use to attract bed bugs?
Answer: (b) Heat and a special smell

7. What does the smart trap do after it catches bed bugs?
Answer: (d) It sends a message to the hotel or travel company

8. What is the main goal of the smart trap?
Answer: (a) To help stop the spread of bed bugs
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The trap is a big step in stopping the bugs and keeping guests happy. (Answer: True)
2. The trap does not send a message if it catches any bugs. (Answer: False)
3. The trap does not help stop the bugs from spreading. (Answer: False)
4. The company made a special trap that can find the bugs. (Answer: True)
5. A company in Cambridge is not studying bugs that live in beds. (Answer: False)
6. The trap sends a message to the hotel or travel company. (Answer: True)
7. The trap does not use heat and a special smell to catch the bugs. (Answer: False)
8. The trap helps the hotel or travel company get rid of the bugs quickly. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧