A person who watches over websites in the UK says some big websites might have to pay money if they don’t tell people they can say no to cookies. Cookies are like tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you, like what you like to see on the internet. This person says the websites have 30 days to follow the rules. The rules say it should be just as easy to say no to cookies as it is to say yes. Some cookies are needed for websites to work, but others watch what you do and show you ads.
Websites use cookies to make money from ads, but sometimes this bothers people. They put up little boxes that ask if you want cookies, but these boxes can be hard to understand. Sometimes, if you close the box without choosing, the website might decide for you. The person who watches over websites says it should be easy to say no to all the ad cookies. They are also thinking about new rules to make less of these boxes and let websites remember some things without asking.
Original news source: Crunch time for cookie use, watchdog warns (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on small pieces of paper. Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team takes turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking. The team must guess the word within a certain time limit (e.g. 1 minute). The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the article to each other in their own words. They should try to include the main points and key details. After both students have summarized the article, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair picks a word and draws a picture representing that word, while the other student tries to guess the word. They can take turns being the drawer and guesser. After a certain time limit, switch pairs and repeat the activity with new words.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: In small groups, students create catchy headlines for the article. They should try to capture the main idea or key points of the article in a short and attention-grabbing way. After each group has come up with a headline, they can share their headlines with the class and discuss why they chose them.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Give students a few minutes to individually think about their opinion on the topic of cookies and websites. Then, pair up the students and have them discuss their opinions with each other. After the pair discussion, bring the whole class back together and have a few students share their opinions with the class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What are cookies?
2. Why might some big websites have to pay money?
3. How long do websites have to follow the rules?
4. What do some cookies do on websites?
5. Why do websites use cookies?
6. Why do some people not like cookies?
7. What might happen if you close the box without choosing?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A person who watches over websites in the UK (1)______ some big websites might have to pay (2)______ if they don’t tell people they can say no to cookies. Cookies are like tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you, like what you (3)______ to see on the internet. This person says the websites have 30 days to follow the rules. The rules say it should be just as easy to say no to cookies as it is to say yes. Some cookies are (4)______ for websites to work, but others watch what you do and show you ads.
Websites use cookies to make money from ads, but sometimes this (5)______ people. They put up little boxes that ask if you want cookies, but these boxes can be hard to understand. Sometimes, if you (6)______ the box without choosing, the website might (7)______ for you. The person who watches over websites says it should be (8)______ to say no to all the ad cookies. They are also thinking about new rules to make less of these boxes and let websites remember some things without asking.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is a cookie?
2. How would you feel if a website put notes on your computer to remember things about you?
3. Do you like it when websites show you ads?
4. Do you think websites should have to ask your permission before putting cookies on your computer? Why or why not?
5. How do you feel when you see little boxes asking if you want cookies?
6. What do you think the person who watches over websites wants to happen with the cookie boxes?
7. Do you think it should be easy to say no to all the ad cookies? Why or why not?
8. How do you think websites make money from ads?
9. What do you think about the idea of websites remembering some things without asking?
10. How do you feel when websites watch what you do and show you ads?
11. Do you think it’s fair for websites to decide for you if you don’t choose about cookies? Why or why not?
12. What do you think about the new rules to make less of the boxes asking about cookies?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. websites
2. cookies
3. money
4. rules
5. ads
6. boxes
7. person
8. computer
Meanings:
(a) Little containers that ask you questions
(b) Someone who watches over something
(c) Tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you
(d) Places on the internet where you can find information
(e) The machine you use to look at websites
(f) Things you have to follow
(g) Pictures or words that try to sell you something
(h) Something you use to buy things
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What are cookies?
(a) Small animals that live in the forest
(b) Delicious snacks that you eat with milk
(c) Colorful candies that you can decorate with icing
(d) Tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you
2. Why might some big websites have to pay money?
(a) If they have too many pictures on their website
(b) If they don’t have a lot of visitors
(c) If they don’t tell people they can say no to cookies
(d) If they don’t have any ads on their website
3. How long do websites have to follow the rules about cookies?
(a) 30 days
(b) 1 year
(c) 1 week
(d) Forever
4. What do some cookies do?
(a) Help you remember your favorite TV shows
(b) Make your computer run faster
(c) Play music when you visit a website
(d) Watch what you do and show you ads
5. How do websites make money from ads?
(a) By using cookies
(b) By selling toys
(c) By asking for donations
(d) By giving away free things
6. What can be hard to understand on some websites?
(a) The pictures of animals
(b) Little boxes that ask if you want cookies
(c) The colors of the website
(d) The names of the people who made the website
7. What might happen if you close the box without choosing?
(a) The website might give you a prize
(b) The website might decide for you
(c) The website might show you a funny video
(d) The website might stop working
8. What are the new rules thinking about?
(a) Making more boxes and asking for more information
(b) Making the boxes bigger and brighter
(c) Making less boxes and letting websites remember some things without asking
(d) Making the boxes disappear completely
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. They are also thinking about new rules to make less of these boxes and let websites remember some things without asking.
2. The person who watches over websites says the websites have no time limit to follow the rules.
3. Some big websites in the UK might receive money if they tell people they can say no to cookies.
4. Cookies are like tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you.
5. Websites use cookies to make money from ads, but sometimes this bothers people.
6. The rules say it should be just as difficult to say no to cookies as it is to say yes.
7. Some cookies are needed for websites to work, but others do not watch what you do and show you ads.
8. The person who watches over websites says it should be easy to say no to all the ad cookies.
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 cookies?
2. Why do websites put cookies on your computer?
3. What happens if websites don’t tell people they can say no to cookies?
4. Why do some people not like cookies?
5. What might happen if you close the box without choosing about cookies?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you, like what you like to see on the internet.
2. Why might some big websites have to pay money?
Some big websites might have to pay money if they don’t tell people they can say no to cookies.
3. How long do websites have to follow the rules?
Websites have 30 days to follow the rules.
4. What do some cookies do on websites?
Some cookies watch what you do and show you ads.
5. Why do websites use cookies?
Websites use cookies to make money from ads.
6. Why do some people not like cookies?
Some people don’t like cookies because they watch what you do and show you ads.
7. What might happen if you close the box without choosing?
If you close the box without choosing, the website might decide for you.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) says
(2) money
(3) like
(4) needed
(5) bothers
(6) close
(7) decide
(8) easy
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. websites
Answer: (d) Places on the internet where you can find information
2. cookies
Answer: (c) Tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you
3. money
Answer: (h) Something you use to buy things
4. rules
Answer: (f) Things you have to follow
5. ads
Answer: (g) Pictures or words that try to sell you something
6. boxes
Answer: (a) Little containers that ask you questions
7. person
Answer: (b) Someone who watches over something
8. computer
Answer: (e) The machine you use to look at websites
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What are cookies?
Answer: (d) Tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you
2. Why might some big websites have to pay money?
Answer: (c) If they don’t tell people they can say no to cookies
3. How long do websites have to follow the rules about cookies?
Answer: (a) 30 days
4. What do some cookies do?
Answer: (d) Watch what you do and show you ads
5. How do websites make money from ads?
Answer: (a) By using cookies
6. What can be hard to understand on some websites?
Answer: (b) Little boxes that ask if you want cookies
7. What might happen if you close the box without choosing?
Answer: (b) The website might decide for you
8. What are the new rules thinking about?
Answer: (c) Making less boxes and letting websites remember some things without asking
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. They are also thinking about new rules to make less of these boxes and let websites remember some things without asking. (Answer: True)
2. The person who watches over websites says the websites have no time limit to follow the rules. (Answer: False)
3. Some big websites in the UK might receive money if they tell people they can say no to cookies. (Answer: False)
4. Cookies are like tiny notes that websites put on your computer to remember things about you. (Answer: True)
5. Websites use cookies to make money from ads, but sometimes this bothers people. (Answer: True)
6. The rules say it should be just as difficult to say no to cookies as it is to say yes. (Answer: False)
7. Some cookies are needed for websites to work, but others do not watch what you do and show you ads. (Answer: False)
8. The person who watches over websites says it should be easy to say no to all the ad cookies. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
