Doctors use special cameras to look inside your body and see your bones. These cameras are called X-ray machines. Some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals. This is good because it means people do not have to travel a long way to see the doctor. A lot of people are using these small X-ray machines now, and even more will use them in the future.

In a place with many islands called Orkney, a very small X-ray camera helped everyone who needed it. This camera is so light that one person can carry it to different places. In some countries, these cameras help find a sickness called TB very fast. But these cameras can be expensive, and some people worry about the invisible light they use. People are trying to make these cameras cost less money so everyone can use them.

Original news source: How portable X-ray machines are helping remote patients (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. X-ray machine, doctor, camera, bones). One person from each group will act out a word without speaking, and the rest of the group will try to guess the word. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “X-ray machine” on the board. Ask students to brainstorm and write down as many words as they can think of that are related to X-ray machines. After a few minutes, have students share their words with the class and discuss their meanings.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words related to the article. One person from each pair will select a word and draw a picture to represent that word, while the other person tries to guess the word. After a few rounds, switch roles.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the advantages and disadvantages of using small X-ray machines. After a few minutes, have them discuss their ideas with a partner. Then, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the class.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have students take turns sharing three statements about X-ray machines. Two of the statements should be true and one should be false. The rest of the class must listen and guess which statement is the lie.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What do doctors use to look inside your body and see your bones?
2. What are these cameras called?
3. Why is it good that some X-ray machines are small?
4. Where was a very small X-ray camera used to help everyone who needed it?
5. What is a sickness that these cameras can help find very fast?
6. Why do some people worry about the invisible light these cameras use?
7. What are people trying to do to make these cameras cost less money?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Doctors use special cameras to look inside your (1)______ and see your bones. These cameras are called X-ray (2)______. Some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals. This is good because it means people do not have to (3)______ a (4)______ way to see the doctor. A lot of people are using these small X-ray machines now, and even more will use them in the future.

In a place with (5)______ islands called Orkney, a very small X-ray camera helped everyone who needed it. This camera is so (6)______ that one person can carry it to different places. In some countries, these cameras help find a sickness called TB very fast. But these (7)______ can be expensive, and some people worry about the invisible light they use. People are trying to (8)______ these cameras cost less money so everyone can use them.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an X-ray machine?
2. How would you feel if you had to travel a long way to see the doctor?
3. Do you like the idea of using small X-ray machines to see the doctor?
4. Do you think it’s good that more people will be able to use small X-ray machines in the future?
5. Why do you think it’s important to have X-ray machines in places with many islands?
6. What is TB?
7. How would you feel if you had a sickness and a small X-ray camera helped find it very fast?
8. Do you think it’s a good idea to make these cameras cost less money?
9. Why or why not?
10. How do you think X-ray machines help doctors?
11. Would you like to see inside your body with an X-ray machine? Why or why not?
12. Do you think it’s important for everyone to have access to X-ray machines? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. doctors
2. cameras
3. bones
4. hospitals
5. travel
6. islands
7. light
8. sickness
9. expensive
10. invisible

Meanings:
(A) Things that take pictures
(B) Big houses where sick people go to get help from doctors
(C) Pieces of land with water all around them
(D) What you need to see things, it’s bright like the sun
(E) When you can’t see something with your eyes
(F) Going from one place to another place
(G) The hard parts inside your body that help you stand and move
(H) When something costs a lot of money
(I) People who help you when you are sick or hurt
(J) When your body feels bad and you don’t feel like playing
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are special cameras called that doctors use to look inside your body and see your bones?
(a) X-ray machines
(b) Microscopes
(c) Cameras
(d) Computers

2. Why is it good that some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals?
(a) They are easier to carry
(b) They are cheaper
(c) They take better pictures
(d) People don’t have to travel a long way to see the doctor

3. Where did a very small X-ray camera help everyone who needed it?
(a) London
(b) Paris
(c) Orkney
(d) Berlin

4. What is one sickness that these cameras help find very fast?
(a) Flu
(b) TB
(c) Cold
(d) Headache

5. Why do some people worry about the invisible light that these cameras use?
(a) They think it might be dangerous
(b) They can’t see it
(c) They don’t like the color
(d) They think it’s too bright

6. What are people trying to do to these cameras to make them cost less money?
(a) Make them bigger
(b) Make them faster
(c) Make them cheaper
(d) Make them heavier

7. Who can carry the very small X-ray camera to different places?
(a) Two people
(b) One person
(c) Three people
(d) Four people

8. What will more people do in the future with these small X-ray machines?
(a) Buy them
(b) Sell them
(c) Break them
(d) Use them

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. This is good because it means people don’t have to travel a long way to see the doctor.
2. Some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals.
3. In a place called Orkney, a very small X-ray camera helped everyone who needed it.
4. 1. Doctors use special cameras called MRI machines to see inside your body and look at your bones.
5. 4. A lot of people are not using these small X-ray machines now, and even fewer will use them in the future.
6. False versions:
7. 2. In some countries, these cameras help find a sickness called flu very fast.
8. 3. People are trying to make these cameras cost more money so only a few people can use them.
9. This camera is so light that one person can carry it to different places.
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 are X-ray machines used for?
2. Why is it good that some X-ray machines are small?
3. Where did a very small X-ray camera help everyone?
4. What is one sickness that these cameras can help find?
5. Why are people trying to make these cameras cost less money?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do doctors use to look inside your body and see your bones?
Doctors use special cameras called X-ray machines.

2. What are these cameras called?
These cameras are called X-ray machines.

3. Why is it good that some X-ray machines are small?
It is good because people who live far away from hospitals don’t have to travel a long way to see the doctor.

4. Where was a very small X-ray camera used to help everyone who needed it?
A very small X-ray camera was used in a place called Orkney, which has many islands.

5. What is a sickness that these cameras can help find very fast?
These cameras can help find a sickness called TB very fast.

6. Why do some people worry about the invisible light these cameras use?
Some people worry because they think the invisible light might be harmful.

7. What are people trying to do to make these cameras cost less money?
People are trying to make these cameras cost less money so that everyone can use them.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) body
(2) machines
(3) travel
(4) long
(5) many
(6) light
(7) cameras
(8) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. doctors
Answer: (I) People who help you when you are sick or hurt

2. cameras
Answer: (A) Things that take pictures

3. bones
Answer: (G) The hard parts inside your body that help you stand and move

4. hospitals
Answer: (B) Big houses where sick people go to get help from doctors

5. travel
Answer: (F) Going from one place to another place

6. islands
Answer: (C) Pieces of land with water all around them

7. light
Answer: (D) What you need to see things, it’s bright like the sun

8. sickness
Answer: (J) When your body feels bad and you don’t feel like playing

9. expensive
Answer: (H) When something costs a lot of money

10. invisible
Answer: (E) When you can’t see something with your eyes
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are special cameras called that doctors use to look inside your body and see your bones?
Answer: (a) X-ray machines

2. Why is it good that some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals?
Answer: (d) People don’t have to travel a long way to see the doctor

3. Where did a very small X-ray camera help everyone who needed it?
Answer: (c) Orkney

4. What is one sickness that these cameras help find very fast?
Answer: (b) TB

5. Why do some people worry about the invisible light that these cameras use?
Answer: (a) They think it might be dangerous

6. What are people trying to do to these cameras to make them cost less money?
Answer: (c) Make them cheaper

7. Who can carry the very small X-ray camera to different places?
Answer: (b) One person

8. What will more people do in the future with these small X-ray machines?
Answer: (d) Use them
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. This is good because it means people don’t have to travel a long way to see the doctor. (Answer: True)
2. Some X-ray machines are small and can be taken to people who live far away from hospitals. (Answer: True)
3. In a place called Orkney, a very small X-ray camera helped everyone who needed it. (Answer: True)
4. 1. Doctors use special cameras called MRI machines to see inside your body and look at your bones. (Answer: False)
5. 4. A lot of people are not using these small X-ray machines now, and even fewer will use them in the future. (Answer: False)
6. False versions: (Answer: False)
7. 2. In some countries, these cameras help find a sickness called flu very fast. (Answer: False)
8. 3. People are trying to make these cameras cost more money so only a few people can use them. (Answer: False)
9. This camera is so light that one person can carry it to different places. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧