A woman named Jacki Thrapp found it cheaper to fly to Europe to see Taylor Swift than to buy tickets in the US. In America, ticket prices can go up to $2,500, even though they originally cost $49. In Europe, countries like Germany and Italy have rules to keep ticket prices fair. Many people think the ticketing system needs to change because it’s not fair to fans.

To fix this problem, some people are using technology like artificial intelligence (AI). A company called Tixologi uses AI to stop people from buying lots of tickets to resell them. They also use special technology to make sure each ticket is unique and can’t be copied. This helps real fans get tickets instead of people who just want to make money.

Another company, Seat Unique, uses AI to change ticket prices based on how many people want them. This helps keep tickets affordable for fans and makes sure artists and venues earn money. People hope these new ideas will make buying concert tickets fairer for everyone. But, like Jacki Thrapp’s experience shows, there’s still a lot of work to do to make the system better.

Original news source: Can technology fix the ‘broken’ concert ticketing system? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out different scenes related to the article without speaking. For example, one student can pretend to buy a concert ticket, while another might act like a person using AI technology. The rest of the class will guess what they are acting out.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates whether they think concert ticket prices are fair or not. They will tally the results on the board and then discuss the overall opinions as a class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article. They should think about the main ideas and come up with a creative title that reflects the story. Then, each pair will share their headline with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Select key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., ticket, AI, fair, concert). One student will draw a picture representing one of the words without using letters or numbers, while their classmates try to guess the word.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students will think about the question, “How do you feel about the high cost of concert tickets?” They will take a minute to gather their thoughts, then pair up with a partner to discuss their feelings before sharing their ideas with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Jacki Thrapp and what did she want to do?
2. How much can concert tickets cost in America?
3. What are some countries in Europe that have rules about ticket prices?
4. What is one way that Tixologi helps fans get tickets?
5. How does Seat Unique use AI to help with ticket prices?
6. Why do people think the ticketing system needs to change?
7. What do people hope will happen with these new ideas about buying tickets?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A woman named Jacki Thrapp found it cheaper to fly to Europe to see (1)______ Swift than to buy (2)______s in the US. In America, ticket prices can go up to $2,500, even though they originally (3)______ $49. In Europe, countries like Germany and Italy have rules to keep ticket prices fair. Many people think the ticketing system needs to change because it’s not fair to fans.

To fix this (4)______, some people are using (5)______ like (6)______ intelligence (AI). A company called Tixologi uses AI to stop people from buying lots of tickets to resell them. They also use special technology to make sure each ticket is (7)______ and can’t be copied. This helps real fans get (8)______ instead of people who just want to make money.

Another company, Seat (9)______, uses AI to change ticket prices based on how many people want them. This helps keep tickets affordable for fans and makes sure artists and (10)______ earn money. (11)______ hope these new ideas will make buying concert tickets (12)______ for everyone. But, like Jacki Thrapp’s experience shows, there’s still a lot of work to do to make the system better.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to?
2. How would you feel if you had to pay a lot of money to see your favorite singer?
3. Do you think concert tickets should be cheaper? Why or why not?
4. What is a famous singer or band you would like to see live?
5. How would you feel if you could not get a ticket to see your favorite artist?
6. Do you like going to concerts? Why or why not?
7. What is something you think could make buying tickets easier?
8. How do you feel about using technology to help buy tickets?
9. Do you think it is fair for people to sell tickets for a lot of money? Why or why not?
10. What is a time when you really wanted something but it was too expensive?
11. How would you feel if you could fly to another country to see a concert?
12. Do you think artists should make more money from their concerts? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. cheaper
2. originally
3. fair
4. technology
5. artificial intelligence
6. resell
7. unique
8. copied
9. affordable
10. venues
11. experience
12. system

Meanings:
(A) At the beginning
(B) Computers that can think like people
(C) Something that happens to you
(D) Sell something again
(E) Costs less money
(F) Treating everyone the same way
(G) A group of things that work together
(H) Made to look the same as something else
(I) One of a kind, not like anything else
(J) Places where events happen
(K) Machines and tools that help us do things
(L) Not too expensive, easy to buy
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who found it cheaper to fly to Europe to see Taylor Swift?
(a) Taylor Swift
(b) A ticket seller
(c) A concert organizer
(d) Jacki Thrapp

2. How much can ticket prices go up to in America?
(a) $500
(b) $2,500
(c) $100
(d) $1,000

3. What is the original cost of tickets in America?
(a) $49
(b) $99
(c) $199
(d) $299

4. Which countries have rules to keep ticket prices fair?
(a) France and Spain
(b) Germany and Italy
(c) England and Canada
(d) Japan and Australia

5. What technology does Tixologi use to help with ticket sales?
(a) Virtual reality (VR)
(b) Social media
(c) Artificial intelligence (AI)
(d) Video games

6. What does Seat Unique do with ticket prices?
(a) Makes them all the same
(b) Lowers them for everyone
(c) Raises them for everyone
(d) Changes them based on demand

7. What do people hope the new ideas will do?
(a) Make concerts more expensive
(b) Stop concerts from happening
(c) Make buying concert tickets fairer
(d) Make tickets harder to get

8. What does Jacki Thrapp’s experience show?
(a) There is still work to do to improve the system
(b) The system is perfect now
(c) Everyone can get tickets easily
(d) Tickets are always cheap in America

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In the US, concert tickets can cost as little as $2,500.
2. It was cheaper for her to fly to Europe than to buy concert tickets in the US.
3. Countries like Germany and Italy have rules to keep ticket prices fair for fans.
4. Many people believe the ticketing system is fair to fans.
5. Jacki Thrapp is a woman who wanted to see Taylor Swift in concert.
6. A company named Tixologi utilizes artificial intelligence to hinder fans from obtaining tickets.
7. The original price of the tickets in the US was only $49.
8. Seat Exclusive is another company that adjusts ticket prices based on demand to ensure they remain affordable.
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. Why did Jacki Thrapp decide to fly to Europe to see Taylor Swift?
2. How much can concert tickets cost in America?
3. What do countries like Germany and Italy do to keep ticket prices fair?
4. What is Tixologi trying to do with artificial intelligence (AI)?
5. How does Seat Unique use AI to help with ticket prices?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is Jacki Thrapp and what did she want to do?
Jacki Thrapp is a woman who wanted to see Taylor Swift in concert.

2. How much can concert tickets cost in America?
Concert tickets in America can cost up to $2,500.

3. What are some countries in Europe that have rules about ticket prices?
Germany and Italy are two countries in Europe that have rules to keep ticket prices fair.

4. What is one way that Tixologi helps fans get tickets?
Tixologi helps fans by using AI to stop people from buying many tickets to sell them for more money.

5. How does Seat Unique use AI to help with ticket prices?
Seat Unique uses AI to change ticket prices based on how many people want them, keeping prices fair.

6. Why do people think the ticketing system needs to change?
People think the ticketing system needs to change because it is not fair to fans.

7. What do people hope will happen with these new ideas about buying tickets?
People hope these new ideas will make buying concert tickets fairer for everyone.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Taylor
(2) ticket
(3) cost
(4) problem
(5) technology
(6) artificial
(7) unique
(8) tickets
(9) Unique
(10) venues
(11) People
(12) fairer
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. cheaper
Answer: (E) Costs less money

2. originally
Answer: (A) At the beginning

3. fair
Answer: (F) Treating everyone the same way

4. technology
Answer: (K) Machines and tools that help us do things

5. artificial intelligence
Answer: (B) Computers that can think like people

6. resell
Answer: (D) Sell something again

7. unique
Answer: (I) One of a kind, not like anything else

8. copied
Answer: (H) Made to look the same as something else

9. affordable
Answer: (L) Not too expensive, easy to buy

10. venues
Answer: (J) Places where events happen

11. experience
Answer: (C) Something that happens to you

12. system
Answer: (G) A group of things that work together
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who found it cheaper to fly to Europe to see Taylor Swift?
Answer: (d) Jacki Thrapp

2. How much can ticket prices go up to in America?
Answer: (b) $2,500

3. What is the original cost of tickets in America?
Answer: (a) $49

4. Which countries have rules to keep ticket prices fair?
Answer: (b) Germany and Italy

5. What technology does Tixologi use to help with ticket sales?
Answer: (c) Artificial intelligence (AI)

6. What does Seat Unique do with ticket prices?
Answer: (d) Changes them based on demand

7. What do people hope the new ideas will do?
Answer: (c) Make buying concert tickets fairer

8. What does Jacki Thrapp’s experience show?
Answer: (a) There is still work to do to improve the system
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In the US, concert tickets can cost as little as $2,500. (Answer: False)
2. It was cheaper for her to fly to Europe than to buy concert tickets in the US. (Answer: True)
3. Countries like Germany and Italy have rules to keep ticket prices fair for fans. (Answer: True)
4. Many people believe the ticketing system is fair to fans. (Answer: False)
5. Jacki Thrapp is a woman who wanted to see Taylor Swift in concert. (Answer: True)
6. A company named Tixologi utilizes artificial intelligence to hinder fans from obtaining tickets. (Answer: False)
7. The original price of the tickets in the US was only $49. (Answer: True)
8. Seat Exclusive is another company that adjusts ticket prices based on demand to ensure they remain affordable. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧