Scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) to find new ways to test things without using animals. AI can look at old animal test results and help scientists understand them better. This means fewer new animal tests are needed. AI can also help check if new chemicals are safe, which helps in making new medicines.

AI is sometimes better than animal testing, but it has its own problems. For example, AI might not work well for all people if it only learns from one group. Animal tests can also be wrong, like with a medicine called Vioxx that was safe for animals but not for people. New AI projects are being made to predict how animals would react, so we don’t need to test on them.

Getting approval to use AI for testing is hard, but some groups are pushing for it. Groups like Cruelty Free International want to stop animal testing and use other methods. Some companies, like Merck, hope to find better ways without animal tests. AI could help end animal testing and find safer ways to do research.

Original news source: Could AI put an end to animal testing? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They can work individually or in pairs. Afterward, have a class discussion to compare their summaries and discuss any questions or misunderstandings.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select a few key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. artificial intelligence, animal testing, chemicals, medicines) and write them on the board. Divide the class into teams and give each team a whiteboard or paper. One student from each team will come to the front and draw a picture to represent one of the vocabulary words. The rest of the team must guess the word within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a piece of paper. Have them draw a line down the middle to create two columns: “Pros” and “Cons”. In each column, students should brainstorm and write down the advantages and disadvantages of using AI for testing instead of animal testing. Afterward, groups can share their lists and have a class discussion about the different perspectives.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Prepare a set of discussion questions related to the article (e.g. Do you think AI is a good alternative to animal testing? Why or why not?). Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates the questions. They should record their classmates’ opinions on a piece of paper. Afterward, students can share their findings and discuss the different viewpoints.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs and discuss how they think AI will continue to impact the field of scientific testing in the future. They should make predictions and provide reasons to support their ideas. Afterward, pairs can share their predictions with the class and have a group discussion about the potential benefits and challenges of using AI in testing.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How are scientists using artificial intelligence to test things without using animals?
2. Why is AI helpful in checking if new chemicals are safe?
3. What is one problem with using AI for testing?
4. Can animal tests sometimes be wrong? Give an example.
5. What are some new AI projects being made to predict?
6. Why is it hard to get approval to use AI for testing?
7. What are some groups and companies that want to find better ways without animal tests?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) to find new ways to test things without using (1)______s. AI can look at old animal test results and (2)______ scientists understand them better. This means (3)______ new animal tests are needed. AI can also help check if new chemicals are safe, which helps in making new medicines.

AI is sometimes better than animal testing, but it has its own (4)______. For example, AI might not (5)______ well for all people if it only learns from one group. Animal (6)______ can also be wrong, like with a medicine called (7)______ that was safe for animals but not for people. New AI projects are being made to predict how animals would react, so we don’t (8)______ to (9)______ on them.

Getting approval to use AI for testing is hard, but some groups are pushing for it. (10)______ like Cruelty Free International want to stop animal testing and use (11)______ methods. Some companies, like Merck, hope to find (12)______ ways without animal tests. AI could help end animal testing and find safer ways to do research.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is artificial intelligence (AI) and how can it help scientists?
2. How would you feel if you found out that scientists are using AI instead of animals for testing?
3. Do you like the idea of using AI to test new chemicals? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are some problems with using AI for testing?
5. How would you feel if a medicine was safe for animals but not for people?
6. Why do you think some groups want to stop animal testing?
7. Do you think it’s important to find better ways to test without using animals? Why or why not?
8. How do you think AI could help end animal testing?
9. What are some other methods that could be used instead of animal testing?
10. How would you feel if you were a scientist and had to get approval to use AI for testing?
11. Do you think it’s important for scientists to find safer ways to do research? Why or why not?
12. How do you think AI could change the future of scientific research?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. artificial
2. chemicals
3. approval
4. predict
5. projects
6. scientists
7. understand
8. methods
9. research
10. pushing
11. safe
12. testing

Meanings:
(A) Ways of doing something
(B) Checking to see if something works or is true
(C) Trying hard to make something happen
(D) Made by humans, not natural
(E) Plans or tasks to be done
(F) People who study and learn about things in science
(G) Careful study to find out new things
(H) To guess what will happen in the future
(I) Saying something is okay to do
(J) Not dangerous
(K) To know what something means
(L) Substances used in science or made in factories
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How are scientists using artificial intelligence (AI) in testing?
(a) AI can analyze old animal test results and help scientists understand them better.
(b) AI can replace all animal tests completely.
(c) AI can only be used for testing new chemicals.
(d) AI is not useful in testing at all.

2. What is one advantage of using AI in testing?
(a) AI can predict how animals would react.
(b) Fewer new animal tests are needed.
(c) AI can replace all animal tests completely.
(d) AI is always more accurate than animal testing.

3. What is one problem with using AI in testing?
(a) AI cannot analyze old animal test results.
(b) AI is always more accurate than animal testing.
(c) AI can only be used for testing new chemicals.
(d) AI might not work well for all people if it only learns from one group.

4. Why can animal tests sometimes be wrong?
(a) AI cannot analyze old animal test results.
(b) Animal tests are always accurate.
(c) A medicine might be safe for animals but not for people.
(d) Animal tests are not used anymore.

5. What is one goal of using AI in testing?
(a) To replace all animal tests completely.
(b) To make animal tests more accurate.
(c) To find better ways without animal tests.
(d) To make animal tests longer.

6. What is one group that wants to stop animal testing?
(a) Cruelty Free International.
(b) Merck.
(c) Animals for Testing.
(d) Animal Testing Supporters.

7. What is one company that hopes to find better ways without animal tests?
(a) Cruelty Free International.
(b) Merck.
(c) Animals for Testing.
(d) Animal Testing Supporters.

8. How could AI help in the future?
(a) AI could replace all animal tests completely.
(b) AI could make animal tests longer.
(c) AI could make animal tests more accurate.
(d) AI could help end animal testing and find safer ways to do research.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Animal tests can be wrong, like with a medicine called Vioxx that was safe for animals but not for people.
2. AI cannot analyze old animal test results or assist scientists in understanding them better.
3. AI is always worse than animal testing, as it has its own problems.
4. Scientists are not utilizing artificial intelligence to find new ways to test things without using animals.
5. Some organizations, like Cruelty Free International, want to continue animal testing and not explore other alternatives.
6. New AI projects are being developed to predict how animals would react, so we don’t have to test on them.
7. AI can help check if new chemicals are safe, which is important for making new medicines.
8. Companies like Merck are hoping to find better ways to do research without using animal tests, and AI could help achieve that.
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. How are scientists using artificial intelligence (AI) to test things without using animals?
2. Why is AI helpful in checking if new chemicals are safe?
3. What are some problems with using AI for testing?
4. What is one example of a medicine that was safe for animals but not for people?
5. What are some groups and companies that want to find better ways to test without using animals?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) to test things without using animals by analyzing old animal test results and helping scientists understand them better. This means that fewer new animal tests are needed.
2. AI is helpful in checking if new chemicals are safe because it can analyze the data and predict the effects of the chemicals without actually testing them on animals.
3. One problem with using AI for testing is that it might not work well for all people if it only learns from one group. This means that the results might not be accurate for everyone.
4. Yes, animal tests can sometimes be wrong. For example, a medicine called Vioxx was safe for animals but not for people, which shows that animal tests don’t always predict how humans will react.
5. Some new AI projects being made are to predict how animals would react to certain substances, so that we don’t have to test on them.
6. It is hard to get approval to use AI for testing because it is a new technology and there are still many things that need to be tested and proven before it can be widely accepted as a reliable method.
7. Some groups and companies that want to find better ways without animal tests are Cruelty Free International and Merck. They are pushing for the use of AI and other methods to replace animal testing and find safer ways to do research.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) animal
(2) help
(3) fewer
(4) problems
(5) work
(6) tests
(7) Vioxx
(8) need
(9) test
(10) Groups
(11) other
(12) better
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. artificial
Answer: (D) Made by humans, not natural

2. chemicals
Answer: (L) Substances used in science or made in factories

3. approval
Answer: (I) Saying something is okay to do

4. predict
Answer: (H) To guess what will happen in the future

5. projects
Answer: (E) Plans or tasks to be done

6. scientists
Answer: (F) People who study and learn about things in science

7. understand
Answer: (K) To know what something means

8. methods
Answer: (A) Ways of doing something

9. research
Answer: (G) Careful study to find out new things

10. pushing
Answer: (C) Trying hard to make something happen

11. safe
Answer: (J) Not dangerous

12. testing
Answer: (B) Checking to see if something works or is true
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How are scientists using artificial intelligence (AI) in testing?
Answer: (a) AI can analyze old animal test results and help scientists understand them better.

2. What is one advantage of using AI in testing?
Answer: (b) Fewer new animal tests are needed.

3. What is one problem with using AI in testing?
Answer: (d) AI might not work well for all people if it only learns from one group.

4. Why can animal tests sometimes be wrong?
Answer: (c) A medicine might be safe for animals but not for people.

5. What is one goal of using AI in testing?
Answer: (c) To find better ways without animal tests.

6. What is one group that wants to stop animal testing?
Answer: (a) Cruelty Free International.

7. What is one company that hopes to find better ways without animal tests?
Answer: (b) Merck.

8. How could AI help in the future?
Answer: (d) AI could help end animal testing and find safer ways to do research.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Animal tests can be wrong, like with a medicine called Vioxx that was safe for animals but not for people. (Answer: True)
2. AI cannot analyze old animal test results or assist scientists in understanding them better. (Answer: False)
3. AI is always worse than animal testing, as it has its own problems. (Answer: False)
4. Scientists are not utilizing artificial intelligence to find new ways to test things without using animals. (Answer: False)
5. Some organizations, like Cruelty Free International, want to continue animal testing and not explore other alternatives. (Answer: False)
6. New AI projects are being developed to predict how animals would react, so we don’t have to test on them. (Answer: True)
7. AI can help check if new chemicals are safe, which is important for making new medicines. (Answer: True)
8. Companies like Merck are hoping to find better ways to do research without using animal tests, and AI could help achieve that. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧