Tesla made a new truck called the cybertruck. When they first showed it to people, the windows broke, which was embarrassing. Now, they are giving the truck to people who want to buy it. But it costs more than they said it would, and it’s hard to make.

The cybertruck is coming out when it’s hard for people to buy new things because they have to pay more when they borrow money. Other companies have made electric trucks too. Some people don’t like what Elon Musk says on the internet, and they think it makes Tesla look bad. Tesla says lots of people want to buy the cybertruck, but we don’t know how many will really buy it.

People are excited about the cybertruck because it looks very different. They even go to Tesla’s stores to take pictures with it. But because it’s expensive, not everyone will want to buy it. Tesla is using this time to fix other problems, like making more places where you can charge electric cars and getting people to like how the cybertruck looks.

Original news source: Will Tesla’s truck recover from its shattering start? (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article together and summarize the main points in a brief news summary.
4. After a designated time, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Write the following question on the board: “Do you think the cybertruck will be a popular choice among consumers? Why or why not?”
2. Instruct students to discuss their opinions in pairs or small groups.
3. After a few minutes, conduct an opinion poll by having students raise their hands to indicate if they think the cybertruck will be popular or not.
4. Ask a few students to share their reasons for their opinions.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pencil.
2. Instruct the students to sketch what they think the cybertruck looks like based on the description in the article.
3. After a designated time, have students share their sketches with a partner and discuss the similarities and differences.
4. Encourage students to use English to describe their sketches and discuss their impressions of the cybertruck.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. One student from each team takes turns selecting a word and drawing it on the board without using any letters or numbers.
4. The rest of the team members must guess the word in English.
5. The team that guesses correctly earns a point, and the game continues with the next student from each team.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Instruct students to work in pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of electric vehicles, specifically focusing on the cybertruck.
3. Encourage students to use English to express their ideas and support their predictions.
4. After a designated time, have each group share their predictions with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the windows of the cybertruck when they first showed it to people?
2. Is the cybertruck easy or hard to make?
3. Why is it difficult for people to buy new things right now?
4. Have other companies made electric trucks too?
5. Why do some people not like what Elon Musk says on the internet?
6. Why are people excited about the cybertruck?
7. What are some other problems that Tesla is trying to fix?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Tesla made a new (1)______ called the cybertruck. When they first (2)______ it to people, the (3)______ broke, which was embarrassing. Now, they are giving the truck to people who want to buy it. But it costs more than they said it would, and it’s hard to make.

The cybertruck is coming out when it’s hard for (4)______ to buy new things because they have to pay more when they borrow money. Other companies have made (5)______ trucks too. Some people don’t like what (6)______ Musk says on the internet, and they (7)______ it makes Tesla (8)______ bad. Tesla (9)______ lots of people want to buy the cybertruck, but we don’t know how many will really buy it.

People are excited about the cybertruck because it looks very different. They even go to Tesla’s stores to take pictures with it. But because it’s expensive, not everyone will want to buy it. Tesla is using this (10)______ to fix other (11)______, like making more places where you can charge electric cars and getting people to like how the cybertruck (12)______.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the cybertruck?
2. How would you feel if you were one of the people who saw the windows break when Tesla first showed the cybertruck?
3. Do you like the way the cybertruck looks? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about Elon Musk’s comments on the internet? Do you think it makes Tesla look bad?
5. Do you think many people will buy the cybertruck? Why or why not?
6. How do you think people feel when they go to Tesla’s stores to take pictures with the cybertruck?
7. Do you think the cybertruck is too expensive? Why or why not?
8. What other problems do you think Tesla needs to fix besides the cost and appearance of the cybertruck?
9. Have you ever seen an electric truck before? What did you think of it?
10. How do you feel about borrowing money to buy new things?
11. Do you think it’s important to have more places to charge electric cars? Why or why not?
12. Would you want to buy a cybertruck? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. truck
2. windows
3. buy
4. costs
5. borrow
6. electric
7. stores
8. charge

Meanings:
(a) Powered by electricity instead of gasoline
(b) A big vehicle used to transport things
(c) Places where you can go to buy things
(d) The glass parts of a vehicle that you can see through
(e) To get something by paying money for it
(f) To put electricity into a battery or device
(g) To get money from someone with the promise to pay it back later
(h) The amount of money you need to pay for something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the new truck made by Tesla?
(a) Electruck
(b) Cybertruck
(c) Supertruck
(d) Powertruck

2. What happened to the windows of the cybertruck when Tesla first showed it to people?
(a) They became dirty
(b) They turned blue
(c) They disappeared
(d) They broke

3. Why are some people not happy with what Elon Musk says on the internet?
(a) They think it makes Tesla look good
(b) They think it’s funny
(c) They think it’s interesting
(d) They think it makes Tesla look bad

4. Why are people excited about the cybertruck?
(a) It looks very different
(b) It’s very cheap
(c) It’s very small
(d) It’s very slow

5. Why might not everyone want to buy the cybertruck?
(a) It’s too big
(b) It’s too slow
(c) It’s expensive
(d) It’s not available in their country

6. What problems is Tesla trying to fix during this time?
(a) Making more electric cars
(b) Making more trucks
(c) Making more places to charge electric cars
(d) Making more money

7. What are some people doing at Tesla’s stores?
(a) Buying the cybertruck
(b) Taking pictures with the cybertruck
(c) Fixing the cybertruck
(d) Selling the cybertruck

8. What do we know about how many people will buy the cybertruck?
(a) We don’t know
(b) Everyone will buy it
(c) No one will buy it
(d) Only a few people will buy it

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. It is difficult for people to buy new things right now because borrowing money is more expensive.
2. The cybertruck costs the same as what Tesla initially said it would.
3. No people don’t like what Elon Musk says on the internet, and they think it reflects poorly on Tesla.
4. Other companies have also made electric trucks.
5. Tesla did not create a new truck called the cybertruck.
6. Tesla claims that many people want to buy the cybertruck, but it is uncertain how many will actually purchase it.
7. Tesla is not selling the cybertruck to people who want to buy it.
8. When they first showed the cybertruck, the windows broke, which was embarrassing.
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 happened when Tesla first showed the cybertruck to people?
2. Why is it hard for people to buy new things right now?
3. What are some problems that people have with Tesla and the cybertruck?
4. Why are people excited about the cybertruck?
5. What other problems is Tesla trying to fix right now?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the windows of the cybertruck when they first showed it to people?
The windows broke.

2. Is the cybertruck easy or hard to make?
The cybertruck is hard to make.

3. Why is it difficult for people to buy new things right now?
It’s difficult because they have to pay more when they borrow money.

4. Have other companies made electric trucks too?
Yes, other companies have made electric trucks too.

5. Why do some people not like what Elon Musk says on the internet?
Some people think it makes Tesla look bad.

6. Why are people excited about the cybertruck?
People are excited because it looks very different.

7. What are some other problems that Tesla is trying to fix?
Tesla is trying to fix problems like making more places to charge electric cars and getting people to like how the cybertruck looks.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) truck
(2) showed
(3) windows
(4) people
(5) electric
(6) Elon
(7) think
(8) look
(9) says
(10) time
(11) problems
(12) looks
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. truck
Answer: (b) A big vehicle used to transport things

2. windows
Answer: (d) The glass parts of a vehicle that you can see through

3. buy
Answer: (e) To get something by paying money for it

4. costs
Answer: (h) The amount of money you need to pay for something

5. borrow
Answer: (g) To get money from someone with the promise to pay it back later

6. electric
Answer: (a) Powered by electricity instead of gasoline

7. stores
Answer: (c) Places where you can go to buy things

8. charge
Answer: (f) To put electricity into a battery or device
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the new truck made by Tesla?
Answer: (b) Cybertruck

2. What happened to the windows of the cybertruck when Tesla first showed it to people?
Answer: (d) They broke

3. Why are some people not happy with what Elon Musk says on the internet?
Answer: (d) They think it makes Tesla look bad

4. Why are people excited about the cybertruck?
Answer: (a) It looks very different

5. Why might not everyone want to buy the cybertruck?
Answer: (c) It’s expensive

6. What problems is Tesla trying to fix during this time?
Answer: (c) Making more places to charge electric cars

7. What are some people doing at Tesla’s stores?
Answer: (b) Taking pictures with the cybertruck

8. What do we know about how many people will buy the cybertruck?
Answer: (a) We don’t know
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. It is difficult for people to buy new things right now because borrowing money is more expensive. (Answer: True)
2. The cybertruck costs the same as what Tesla initially said it would. (Answer: False)
3. No people don’t like what Elon Musk says on the internet, and they think it reflects poorly on Tesla. (Answer: False)
4. Other companies have also made electric trucks. (Answer: True)
5. Tesla did not create a new truck called the cybertruck. (Answer: False)
6. Tesla claims that many people want to buy the cybertruck, but it is uncertain how many will actually purchase it. (Answer: True)
7. Tesla is not selling the cybertruck to people who want to buy it. (Answer: False)
8. When they first showed the cybertruck, the windows broke, which was embarrassing. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧