Some ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad were stopped in the UK. They were not telling the truth about how flying hurts the earth. Air France said they cared about the earth. Lufthansa and Etihad used words that made people think they were helping the earth, but they were not.

Lufthansa got in trouble before for saying things that were not true about helping the earth. Flying planes makes a lot of bad gas that warms up the earth. Now, people are watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth. Some other companies also had to stop their ads because they were not telling the truth.

Planes make a lot of gas that is bad for the air. There is a new kind of fuel for planes that is better for the earth, but not many planes use it yet. The UK wants more planes to use this new fuel by 2030. But right now, the UK does not have many places that can make this new fuel.

Original news source: Airline adverts banned over ‘greenwashing’ claims (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the students to read the article and discuss the main points.
4. Ask each group to summarize the article in 3-5 sentences.
5. Have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Write the following question on the board: “Do you think airlines should be held accountable for their environmental impact?”
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct the students to discuss the question and come up with their own opinions.
4. Give each group a few minutes to share their opinions with the class.
5. Conduct a class poll by asking students to raise their hands if they agree or disagree with the statement.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. ads, truth, earth, gas, fuel).
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Give each group a whiteboard or a piece of paper.
4. Instruct the students to choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent it.
5. The other students in the group must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. Repeat the process with different words until all the vocabulary has been practiced.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Write the following statement on the board: “Using new fuel for planes is a good solution for reducing their environmental impact.”
2. Divide the students into two groups: one group will discuss the pros (advantages) and the other group will discuss the cons (disadvantages) of the statement.
3. Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm their ideas.
4. Ask each group to share their points with the class.
5. Facilitate a class discussion to compare and contrast the different viewpoints.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Give each pair a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the students to take turns summarizing the article to their partner in 1 minute or less.
4. After each round, have the pairs switch roles and summarize again.
5. Encourage the students to focus on the main points and key details of the article during the speed summarizing activity.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad in the UK?
2. Why did Lufthansa get in trouble before?
3. What is bad for the air that planes make a lot of?
4. Is there a new kind of fuel for planes that is better for the earth?
5. When does the UK want more planes to use the new fuel?
6. Why can’t the UK make a lot of the new fuel right now?
7. Why are people watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some ads from Air France, (1)______, and Etihad were stopped in the UK. They were not telling the truth about how flying hurts the (2)______. Air France said they cared about the earth. Lufthansa and Etihad used words that (3)______ people think they were (4)______ the earth, but they were not.

Lufthansa got in trouble before for (5)______ things that were not true about helping the earth. Flying planes makes a lot of bad gas that (6)______ up the earth. Now, people are watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the (7)______ about helping the earth. Some other companies also had to (8)______ their ads because they were not telling the truth.

(9)______ make a lot of gas that is bad for the air. There is a new kind of (10)______ for (11)______ that is better for the earth, but not many planes use it yet. The UK (12)______ more planes to use this new fuel by 2030. But right now, the UK does not have many places that can make this new fuel.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think about the ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad being stopped in the UK?
2. How would you feel if you found out that a company was not telling the truth in their advertisements?
3. Do you think it’s important for companies to be honest about how their products or services affect the earth? Why or why not?
4. What is bad gas and why is it harmful for the air?
5. How do you think using a new kind of fuel for planes can help the earth?
6. Do you like flying on airplanes? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about the UK wanting more planes to use the new fuel by 2030?
8. How would you feel if you found out that your favorite airline was not using the new fuel?
9. Do you think it’s fair for the UK to stop companies from advertising if they are not telling the truth about helping the earth? Why or why not?
10. What is your opinion on companies that prioritize profit over protecting the environment?
11. How do you think we can encourage more companies to use the new fuel for planes?
12. Do you think it’s possible for all planes to use the new fuel in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. ads
2. truth
3. hurt
4. earth
5. trouble
6. gas
7. warms up
8. watching
9. companies
10. fuel
11. places
12. make

Meanings:
(A) Locations or areas
(B) Telling what really happened or what is really true
(C) To create or produce something
(D) Short videos or pictures that try to sell something
(E) The planet we live on
(F) A substance that is like air and can burn
(G) To cause damage or pain to something or someone
(H) A substance that is burned to produce energy
(I) Makes something hotter
(J) Businesses or organizations that sell things or provide services
(K) Problems or difficulties
(L) Paying attention to something closely
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why were some ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad stopped in the UK?
(a) They were too expensive.
(b) They were not telling the truth about how flying hurts the earth.
(c) They were promoting a different airline.
(d) They were promoting a different product.

2. Which airline got in trouble before for saying things that were not true about helping the earth?
(a) Air France
(b) Etihad
(c) None of the above
(d) Lufthansa

3. What makes a lot of bad gas that warms up the earth?
(a) Driving cars
(b) Flying planes
(c) Riding bicycles
(d) Taking trains

4. What is the UK’s goal for more planes by 2030?
(a) To have fewer planes in the sky.
(b) To have more planes using the same kind of fuel.
(c) To have more planes using gas that is bad for the air.
(d) To have more planes using a new kind of fuel that is better for the earth.

5. Why do planes need a new kind of fuel?
(a) Because the current fuel is bad for the air.
(b) Because the current fuel is not available.
(c) Because the current fuel is too expensive.
(d) Because the current fuel is not powerful enough.

6. What is the UK lacking in terms of the new fuel for planes?
(a) Many places that can make it.
(b) Many planes that can use it.
(c) Many people who want to use it.
(d) Many companies that sell it.

7. What did Air France claim in their ads?
(a) They cared about the earth.
(b) They had the cheapest flights.
(c) They had the fastest planes.
(d) They had the most comfortable seats.

8. Why are people watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth?
(a) Because they want to fly more.
(b) Because they want to save money.
(c) Because they are interested in the environment.
(d) Because they want to travel to different countries.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Other companies had to continue running their ads because they were not being truthful.
2. Air France claimed to care about the moon in their ads, but they were not being honest.
3. Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad had their ads stopped in the UK because they were not telling the truth about how flying harms the earth.
4. Driving cars produces a lot of helpful gas that helps combat global warming.
5. Lufthansa has been in trouble before for making false claims about helping the earth.
6. People are now paying closer attention to ensure that companies are telling the truth about their efforts to help the earth.
7. Although there is a new type of fuel for planes that is better for the earth, not many planes are currently using it.
8. Lufthansa and Etihad used words in their ads that made people think they were harming the earth, but they were actually not.
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 to the ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad in the UK?
2. Why did Lufthansa get in trouble before?
3. What is the problem with flying planes and the earth?
4. What is the new kind of fuel for planes that is better for the earth?
5. What does the UK want to happen with this new fuel by 2030?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad in the UK?
The ads were stopped in the UK because they were not telling the truth about how flying hurts the earth.

2. Why did Lufthansa get in trouble before?
Lufthansa got in trouble before for saying things that were not true about helping the earth.

3. What is bad for the air that planes make a lot of?
Planes make a lot of gas that is bad for the air.

4. Is there a new kind of fuel for planes that is better for the earth?
Yes, there is a new kind of fuel for planes that is better for the earth.

5. When does the UK want more planes to use the new fuel?
The UK wants more planes to use the new fuel by 2030.

6. Why can’t the UK make a lot of the new fuel right now?
The UK does not have many places that can make this new fuel right now.

7. Why are people watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth?
People are watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth because they want to make sure companies are actually doing what they say and not just pretending to help the earth.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Lufthansa
(2) earth
(3) made
(4) helping
(5) saying
(6) warms
(7) truth
(8) stop
(9) Planes
(10) fuel
(11) planes
(12) wants
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. ads
Answer: (D) Short videos or pictures that try to sell something

2. truth
Answer: (B) Telling what really happened or what is really true

3. hurt
Answer: (G) To cause damage or pain to something or someone

4. earth
Answer: (E) The planet we live on

5. trouble
Answer: (K) Problems or difficulties

6. gas
Answer: (F) A substance that is like air and can burn

7. warms up
Answer: (I) Makes something hotter

8. watching
Answer: (L) Paying attention to something closely

9. companies
Answer: (J) Businesses or organizations that sell things or provide services

10. fuel
Answer: (H) A substance that is burned to produce energy

11. places
Answer: (A) Locations or areas

12. make
Answer: (C) To create or produce something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why were some ads from Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad stopped in the UK?
Answer: (b) They were not telling the truth about how flying hurts the earth.

2. Which airline got in trouble before for saying things that were not true about helping the earth?
Answer: (d) Lufthansa

3. What makes a lot of bad gas that warms up the earth?
Answer: (b) Flying planes

4. What is the UK’s goal for more planes by 2030?
Answer: (d) To have more planes using a new kind of fuel that is better for the earth.

5. Why do planes need a new kind of fuel?
Answer: (c) Because the current fuel is too expensive.

6. What is the UK lacking in terms of the new fuel for planes?
Answer: (a) Many places that can make it.

7. What did Air France claim in their ads?
Answer: (a) They cared about the earth.

8. Why are people watching more closely to make sure companies are telling the truth about helping the earth?
Answer: (c) Because they are interested in the environment.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Other companies had to continue running their ads because they were not being truthful. (Answer: False)
2. Air France claimed to care about the moon in their ads, but they were not being honest. (Answer: False)
3. Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad had their ads stopped in the UK because they were not telling the truth about how flying harms the earth. (Answer: True)
4. Driving cars produces a lot of helpful gas that helps combat global warming. (Answer: False)
5. Lufthansa has been in trouble before for making false claims about helping the earth. (Answer: True)
6. People are now paying closer attention to ensure that companies are telling the truth about their efforts to help the earth. (Answer: True)
7. Although there is a new type of fuel for planes that is better for the earth, not many planes are currently using it. (Answer: True)
8. Lufthansa and Etihad used words in their ads that made people think they were harming the earth, but they were actually not. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧