Amazon is now 30 years old. It started as a bookstore online but now sells almost everything. Amazon has 175 big warehouses around the world and sends out millions of packages every day. Besides shopping, Amazon also has movies, smart home gadgets, and cloud services.

Amazon was started by Jeff Bezos in 1994. It grew very fast and changed a lot, but some people criticize it for how it treats workers and pays taxes. Now, people wonder what Amazon will do next. Some think it might use its shopping data for better ads or combine its different services more.

Amazon faces new challenges from companies like Temu and Shein that sell cheaper products. Some think these companies won’t be as big as Amazon, but others say Amazon will stay on top if people keep using it to shop. To stay ahead, Amazon might need to use new technology like artificial intelligence. It also has to deal with rules and competition as online shopping changes.

Original news source: Amazon at 30: What next for ‘The Everything Company’? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different aspects of Amazon’s business (like shopping, delivery, or cloud services) without using any words. The other groups will guess what they are acting out.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Have students work in pairs to create catchy headlines based on the article about Amazon. Encourage them to think creatively and use interesting adjectives. Afterward, each pair can share their headlines with the class.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Write statements related to Amazon on the board (e.g., “Amazon is good for shoppers” or “Amazon should pay more taxes”). Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying responses.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or a whiteboard, write “Amazon” in the center. As a class, brainstorm different aspects of Amazon mentioned in the article (such as “shopping,” “warehouses,” “criticism”) and create a mind map around the main idea.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Students will work in small groups to discuss and write down their predictions about what Amazon might do in the next 10 years. After discussing, each group will present one prediction to the class, explaining their reasoning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. When was Amazon started and who started it?
2. What did Amazon first sell when it began?
3. How many big warehouses does Amazon have around the world?
4. What are some other things Amazon offers besides shopping?
5. Why do some people criticize Amazon?
6. What new challenges is Amazon facing from other companies?
7. What might Amazon need to use to stay ahead in online shopping?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Amazon is now 30 (1)______ old. It started as a bookstore online but now sells almost everything. Amazon has 175 big warehouses around the world and (2)______ out millions of packages every day. Besides shopping, Amazon also has (3)______, smart home gadgets, and cloud services.

Amazon was started by Jeff Bezos in 1994. It grew very fast and changed a lot, but some people (4)______ it for how it treats (5)______ and pays taxes. Now, people (6)______ what Amazon will do next. Some think it might use its shopping data for better ads or combine its (7)______ services more.

Amazon faces new (8)______ from companies like Temu and Shein that (9)______ cheaper products. Some think these companies won’t be as big as Amazon, but others say (10)______ will stay on top if people keep using it to (11)______. To stay ahead, Amazon might (12)______ to use new technology like artificial intelligence. It also has to deal with rules and competition as online shopping changes.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite thing to buy online?
2. How would you feel if you had to wait a long time for a package you ordered?
3. Do you like shopping at Amazon? Why or why not?
4. What is a good thing about shopping online?
5. How do you think online shopping will change in the future?
6. Do you think it is important for companies to treat their workers well? Why?
7. What is your opinion about companies that sell things very cheap?
8. How would you feel if you could only buy things from one store?
9. Do you think it is better to shop online or in a store? Why?
10. What is a smart home gadget you would like to have?
11. How do you think Amazon can stay popular with customers?
12. Do you think using new technology like artificial intelligence is a good idea for companies? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. warehouse
2. criticize
3. packages
4. gadgets
5. services
6. challenges
7. cheaper
8. combine
9. data
10. artificial intelligence
11. competition
12. rules

Meanings:
(A) Small electronic devices or tools
(B) Costs less money
(C) Information collected about something
(D) To put things together
(E) Helpful actions or work done for others
(F) Computers that can think and learn like humans
(G) Boxes or parcels sent in the mail
(H) Instructions or laws that tell you what you can or cannot do
(I) Difficult tasks or problems to solve
(J) A large building where goods are stored
(K) Trying to be better than others in the same business
(L) To say what you think is wrong with something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who started Amazon?
(a) Jeff Bezos
(b) Bill Gates
(c) Mark Zuckerberg
(d) Elon Musk

2. What did Amazon first sell?
(a) Clothes
(b) Toys
(c) Electronics
(d) Books

3. How many big warehouses does Amazon have around the world?
(a) 100
(b) 250
(c) 175
(d) 50

4. What type of services does Amazon offer besides shopping?
(a) Sports
(b) Gardening
(c) Travel
(d) Movies

5. In what year was Amazon started?
(a) 1994
(b) 2000
(c) 1990
(d) 1998

6. What is one challenge Amazon faces from other companies?
(a) Better ads
(b) More warehouses
(c) Cheaper products
(d) Faster delivery

7. What technology might Amazon use to stay ahead?
(a) Virtual reality
(b) Artificial intelligence
(c) 3D printing
(d) Robotics

8. What do some people criticize Amazon for?
(a) Its logo design
(b) How it treats workers
(c) Its website speed
(d) Its delivery time

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Jeff Bezos is the person who ended Amazon.
2. Some people are worried about how Amazon treats its workers.
3. Besides shopping, Amazon also offers movies and smart home gadgets.
4. Amazon started as an offline bookstore in 1994.
5. Amazon faces competition from companies like Zemo and Shine.
6. Amazon has 175 big warehouses around the world.
7. Every day, Amazon sends out millions of packages.
8. To stay successful, Amazon might avoid using new technology like artificial intelligence.
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 did Amazon start as when it was first created?
2. Who started Amazon in 1994?
3. How many big warehouses does Amazon have around the world?
4. What are some things Amazon sells besides books?
5. What new challenges is Amazon facing from other companies?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. When was Amazon started and who started it?
Amazon was started in 1994 by Jeff Bezos.

2. What did Amazon first sell when it began?
Amazon first sold books online.

3. How many big warehouses does Amazon have around the world?
Amazon has 175 big warehouses around the world.

4. What are some other things Amazon offers besides shopping?
Besides shopping, Amazon offers movies, smart home gadgets, and cloud services.

5. Why do some people criticize Amazon?
Some people criticize Amazon for how it treats workers and how it pays taxes.

6. What new challenges is Amazon facing from other companies?
Amazon is facing challenges from companies like Temu and Shein that sell cheaper products.

7. What might Amazon need to use to stay ahead in online shopping?
Amazon might need to use new technology like artificial intelligence to stay ahead.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) years
(2) sends
(3) movies
(4) criticize
(5) workers
(6) wonder
(7) different
(8) challenges
(9) sell
(10) Amazon
(11) shop
(12) need
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. warehouse
Answer: (J) A large building where goods are stored

2. criticize
Answer: (L) To say what you think is wrong with something

3. packages
Answer: (G) Boxes or parcels sent in the mail

4. gadgets
Answer: (A) Small electronic devices or tools

5. services
Answer: (E) Helpful actions or work done for others

6. challenges
Answer: (I) Difficult tasks or problems to solve

7. cheaper
Answer: (B) Costs less money

8. combine
Answer: (D) To put things together

9. data
Answer: (C) Information collected about something

10. artificial intelligence
Answer: (F) Computers that can think and learn like humans

11. competition
Answer: (K) Trying to be better than others in the same business

12. rules
Answer: (H) Instructions or laws that tell you what you can or cannot do
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who started Amazon?
Answer: (a) Jeff Bezos

2. What did Amazon first sell?
Answer: (d) Books

3. How many big warehouses does Amazon have around the world?
Answer: (c) 175

4. What type of services does Amazon offer besides shopping?
Answer: (d) Movies

5. In what year was Amazon started?
Answer: (a) 1994

6. What is one challenge Amazon faces from other companies?
Answer: (c) Cheaper products

7. What technology might Amazon use to stay ahead?
Answer: (b) Artificial intelligence

8. What do some people criticize Amazon for?
Answer: (b) How it treats workers
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Jeff Bezos is the person who ended Amazon. (Answer: False)
2. Some people are worried about how Amazon treats its workers. (Answer: True)
3. Besides shopping, Amazon also offers movies and smart home gadgets. (Answer: True)
4. Amazon started as an offline bookstore in 1994. (Answer: False)
5. Amazon faces competition from companies like Zemo and Shine. (Answer: False)
6. Amazon has 175 big warehouses around the world. (Answer: True)
7. Every day, Amazon sends out millions of packages. (Answer: True)
8. To stay successful, Amazon might avoid using new technology like artificial intelligence. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧