A man named Sir Demis Hassabis thinks playing video games is good for kids. He says it helps them think of new ideas and be creative. When he was young, he liked to play games and chess, and he made his own game. He believes kids should learn to change and try new things because the world is always changing. Sir Demis made a big company that Google bought, and he got a special award for his work.

Sir Demis also talks about AI, which is when computers can think like humans. He says AI can do a lot of good things, but some people worry it could cause problems. He went to a big meeting where he and others said we need to be careful with AI. Sir Demis wants to make sure we use AI in a good way. He learned a lot from the past and wants to make sure we don’t make big mistakes with new technology.

Original news source: AI millionaire: ‘Video games can boost creativity’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and act out a word or phrase related to the article, without speaking. The rest of the class must guess what the word or phrase is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different students from each team.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summary concise. After each student has finished, have them switch partners and summarize the article again.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think playing video games is beneficial for children?” Have students raise their hands to indicate their opinion. Then, divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their reasons for their opinion. After a few minutes, have each group share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture of it on the board, while the other student tries to guess what word it is. After a few rounds, switch roles.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns making predictions about the future of video games and AI based on the information in the article. Encourage them to think creatively and support their predictions with reasons. After each student has made a prediction, have them switch partners and make a new prediction.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who thinks playing video games is good for kids?
2. What did Sir Demis like to play when he was young?
3. What did Sir Demis make when he was young?
4. Why does Sir Demis think kids should learn to change and try new things?
5. What did Google do with Sir Demis’s company?
6. What is AI?
7. Why does Sir Demis want to be careful with AI?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man (1)______ Sir Demis (2)______ thinks playing video games is good for kids. He says it helps them think of new ideas and be creative. When he was young, he liked to play games and chess, and he made his own game. He believes kids should (3)______ to change and try new things because the world is always (4)______. Sir Demis made a big company that Google bought, and he got a special award for his work.

Sir Demis also talks about AI, which is when computers can think like (5)______. He says AI can do a lot of good things, but some people worry it could cause problems. He went to a big (6)______ where he and others said we (7)______ to be (8)______ with AI. Sir Demis wants to make sure we use AI in a good way. He learned a lot from the past and wants to make sure we don’t make big mistakes with new technology.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a video game?
2. How would you feel if you could make your own game?
3. Do you like playing games and chess? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for kids to try new things? Why or why not?
5. What is AI?
6. How would you feel if computers could think like humans?
7. Do you think AI is a good thing? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if AI caused problems?
9. Have you ever been to a big meeting? How did you feel?
10. Do you think we should be careful with new technology? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever made a big mistake with new technology? How did you feel?
12. What can we learn from the past about new technology?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. creative
2. chess
3. technology
4. award
5. problems
6. meeting
7. learn
8. change
9. company
10. past

Meanings:
(A) A game with kings, queens, and knights on a board
(B) A group of people who work together to make or sell things
(C) Things that are hard and make you think to solve them
(D) When people come together to talk about important stuff
(E) Making new things in your mind
(F) Stuff like computers and phones
(G) When something becomes different
(H) A prize you get for doing something really well
(I) The time before now
(J) Getting new knowledge about things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Sir Demis Hassabis think about playing video games?
(a) It is good for kids
(b) It is bad for kids
(c) It is boring
(d) It is dangerous

2. What did Sir Demis make when he was young?
(a) A robot
(b) His own game
(c) A book
(d) A cake

3. Why does Sir Demis think kids should learn to change and try new things?
(a) Because it is fun
(b) Because the world is always changing
(c) Because it is easy
(d) Because it is scary

4. What did Google do with Sir Demis’ company?
(a) They closed it
(b) They copied it
(c) They bought it
(d) They sold it

5. What did Sir Demis get for his work?
(a) A new car
(b) A big house
(c) A pet dog
(d) A special award

6. What is AI?
(a) When computers can fly
(b) When computers can swim
(c) When computers can think like humans
(d) When computers can dance

7. What do some people worry about with AI?
(a) It could cause problems
(b) It could make people happy
(c) It could make people rich
(d) It could make people sleepy

8. What does Sir Demis want to make sure we do with AI?
(a) Use it in a bad way
(b) Use it in a scary way
(c) Use it in a funny way
(d) Use it in a good way

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sir Demis wants to make sure we use AI in a bad way and make big mistakes with new technology.
2. He says AI can do a lot of good things, but some people worry it could cause problems.
3. When Sir Demis was young, he disliked to play games and chess, and he never made his own game.
4. Sir Demis does not believe that kids should learn to change and try new things because the world remains constant.
5. Sir Demis made a big company that Google sold, and he got a special award for his lack of work.
6. Sir Demis went to a big meeting where he and others said we need to be careful with AI.
7. Sir Demis also talks about AI, which is when computers can think like humans.
8. Sir Demis Hassabis thinks playing video games is good for kids because it helps them be creative and think of new ideas.
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 does Sir Demis Hassabis think about playing video games?
2. Why does Sir Demis think it’s important for kids to learn new things?
3. What did Sir Demis make when he was young?
4. What is AI?
5. Why does Sir Demis want us to be careful with AI?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who thinks playing video games is good for kids?
Sir Demis Hassabis thinks playing video games is good for kids.

2. What did Sir Demis like to play when he was young?
Sir Demis liked to play games and chess when he was young.

3. What did Sir Demis make when he was young?
Sir Demis made his own game when he was young.

4. Why does Sir Demis think kids should learn to change and try new things?
Sir Demis thinks kids should learn to change and try new things because the world is always changing.

5. What did Google do with Sir Demis’s company?
Google bought Sir Demis’s company.

6. What is AI?
AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, which means when computers can think like humans.

7. Why does Sir Demis want to be careful with AI?
Sir Demis wants to be careful with AI because he wants to make sure we use it in a good way and not make big mistakes with new technology.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) Hassabis
(3) learn
(4) changing
(5) humans
(6) meeting
(7) need
(8) careful
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. creative
Answer: (E) Making new things in your mind

2. chess
Answer: (A) A game with kings, queens, and knights on a board

3. technology
Answer: (F) Stuff like computers and phones

4. award
Answer: (H) A prize you get for doing something really well

5. problems
Answer: (C) Things that are hard and make you think to solve them

6. meeting
Answer: (D) When people come together to talk about important stuff

7. learn
Answer: (J) Getting new knowledge about things

8. change
Answer: (G) When something becomes different

9. company
Answer: (B) A group of people who work together to make or sell things

10. past
Answer: (I) The time before now
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Sir Demis Hassabis think about playing video games?
Answer: (a) It is good for kids

2. What did Sir Demis make when he was young?
Answer: (b) His own game

3. Why does Sir Demis think kids should learn to change and try new things?
Answer: (b) Because the world is always changing

4. What did Google do with Sir Demis’ company?
Answer: (c) They bought it

5. What did Sir Demis get for his work?
Answer: (d) A special award

6. What is AI?
Answer: (c) When computers can think like humans

7. What do some people worry about with AI?
Answer: (a) It could cause problems

8. What does Sir Demis want to make sure we do with AI?
Answer: (d) Use it in a good way
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sir Demis wants to make sure we use AI in a bad way and make big mistakes with new technology. (Answer: False)
2. He says AI can do a lot of good things, but some people worry it could cause problems. (Answer: True)
3. When Sir Demis was young, he disliked to play games and chess, and he never made his own game. (Answer: False)
4. Sir Demis does not believe that kids should learn to change and try new things because the world remains constant. (Answer: False)
5. Sir Demis made a big company that Google sold, and he got a special award for his lack of work. (Answer: False)
6. Sir Demis went to a big meeting where he and others said we need to be careful with AI. (Answer: True)
7. Sir Demis also talks about AI, which is when computers can think like humans. (Answer: True)
8. Sir Demis Hassabis thinks playing video games is good for kids because it helps them be creative and think of new ideas. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧