Airlines want to spend less time on the ground. One way to do this is by choosing the right gate for each plane. There are many choices, even for a few gates and planes. Picking the best gate helps planes move faster, saves fuel, and is better for the environment.

Choosing gates is hard because many things need to be considered. Airlines think about how close gates are to lounges and how easy it is for passengers to catch connecting flights. Sometimes, flights are late, which makes it harder to decide. Some airlines use smart computers to help pick gates faster and save fuel.

In the future, airlines might use even smarter computers called quantum computers. These can help find the best gate choices quickly. This could make flying smoother for passengers and help airports handle more flights. Using new technology can make flying better and help airports work more efficiently.

Original news source: Airlines look to cut time spent on the tarmac (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have students take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking while the rest of the class guesses the word.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair should take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner within a time limit of 2 minutes. Encourage the use of their own words and not reading directly from the article.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write down discussion questions related to the article, such as “Do you think using smart computers to choose gates is a good idea? Why or why not?” Have students walk around the class and ask their classmates the questions, tallying their responses to share with the group.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Have students take turns coming to the board to draw a visual representation of the word while the rest of the class guesses what it is. This helps reinforce vocabulary retention.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about how they think airline technology will continue to evolve in the future based on the information in the article. Encourage them to use the vocabulary and concepts they learned from the text. Then, have each group share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do airlines want to spend less time on the ground?
2. Why is choosing the right gate important for planes?
3. What are some things airlines consider when choosing gates?
4. How do smart computers help airlines pick gates faster?
5. What are quantum computers, and how can they help airlines?
6. How can using new technology make flying better for passengers?
7. How can using the right gate help airports handle more flights efficiently?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Airlines want to spend (1)______ time on the ground. One way to do this is by choosing the right gate for each plane. There are many (2)______, even for a few (3)______ and planes. Picking the best gate helps planes move faster, saves fuel, and is better for the environment.

Choosing gates is hard because many things (4)______ to be considered. Airlines (5)______ about how close gates are to lounges and how easy it is for passengers to (6)______ connecting flights. Sometimes, flights are late, which makes it (7)______ to decide. Some airlines use smart computers to help pick gates faster and save (8)______.

In the future, airlines might use even smarter computers called (9)______ computers. These can help find the best gate choices quickly. This could make (10)______ smoother for passengers and help (11)______ handle (12)______ flights. Using new technology can make flying better and help airports work more efficiently.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think is the best part about planes spending less time on the ground?
2. Do you like the idea of using smart computers to help pick gates for planes? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you missed your connecting flight because the gate was too far away?
4. What do you think would happen if airlines didn’t care about saving fuel?
5. Do you think it’s important for airlines to consider the environment when choosing gates? Why or why not?
6. How do you think quantum computers could make flying smoother for passengers?
7. What is a lounge at an airport and why do you think it’s important for airlines to consider them when choosing gates?
8. Do you think airports should be able to handle more flights in the future? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if you were on a late flight and the gate was really far away?
10. What do you think are some other ways airlines could use technology to improve flying for passengers?
11. Do you think it’s a good idea for airlines to use new technology to help them work more efficiently? Why or why not?
12. How do you think choosing the right gate can make a difference in how smoothly a flight goes?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. airlines
2. environment
3. considered
4. lounges
5. connecting
6. passengers
7. quantum
8. smoother
9. efficiently
10. technology
11. handle
12. fuel

Meanings:
(A) Doing something in a way that saves time and energy
(B) Companies that fly people and goods in airplanes
(C) Thought about something carefully
(D) To manage or deal with something
(E) A material used to power engines, like in cars and planes
(F) Using machines, tools, or science to solve problems
(G) People who travel on airplanes
(H) A type of very advanced computer
(I) Comfortable waiting areas in airports
(J) Easier and without bumps
(K) The natural world around us, like air, water, and land
(L) Joining or linking together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why do airlines want to spend less time on the ground?
(a) To have more time for passengers to shop
(b) To enjoy the view from the airport
(c) To move faster, save fuel, and be better for the environment
(d) To take longer breaks between flights

2. What helps planes move faster and save fuel?
(a) Having more flight attendants
(b) Painting the plane a different color
(c) Playing music during takeoff
(d) Choosing the right gate

3. What do airlines consider when choosing gates?
(a) The color of the gate
(b) How close gates are to lounges and connecting flights
(c) The number of windows at the gate
(d) The gate number

4. Why is it harder to choose gates when flights are late?
(a) It affects the schedule and connections
(b) It makes passengers happier
(c) It gives more time to decide
(d) It doesn’t impact gate choice

5. What do some airlines use to help pick gates faster and save fuel?
(a) Smartphones
(b) Paper maps
(c) Walkie-talkies
(d) Smart computers

6. What might airlines use in the future to find the best gate choices quickly?
(a) Typewriters
(b) Quantum computers
(c) Abacuses
(d) Fax machines

7. How can using new technology help airports handle more flights?
(a) By making flying smoother for passengers
(b) By causing delays
(c) By making airports busier
(d) By making passengers walk longer distances

8. How can using new technology make flying better?
(a) By making flights longer
(b) By increasing fuel consumption
(c) By helping airports work more efficiently
(d) By reducing passenger comfort

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Picking the best gate cannot save fuel and is not better for the environment.
2. Airlines are looking for ways to spend less time on the ground.
3. Airlines consider factors like proximity to lounges and ease of catching connecting flights when choosing gates.
4. Choosing the wrong gate for each plane can hinder planes from moving faster.
5. In the past, airlines might have used even smarter computers called quantum computers.
6. Using old technology can make flying smoother for passengers and help airports handle more flights.
7. Some airlines use smart computers to help pick gates faster and save fuel.
8. Quantum computers can help find the best gate choices quickly.
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 do airlines want to spend less time on the ground?
2. What are some things airlines consider when choosing the right gate for each plane?
3. How do smart computers help airlines pick gates faster?
4. What are quantum computers and how can they help airlines in the future?
5. How can using new technology like quantum computers make flying better for passengers?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why do airlines want to spend less time on the ground?
Airlines want to spend less time on the ground to make flights faster, save fuel, and be better for the environment.

2. Why is choosing the right gate important for planes?
Choosing the right gate is important for planes because it helps them move faster, saves fuel, and makes it easier for passengers to catch connecting flights.

3. What are some things airlines consider when choosing gates?
Airlines consider how close gates are to lounges, how easy it is for passengers to catch connecting flights, and if flights are late when choosing gates.

4. How do smart computers help airlines pick gates faster?
Smart computers help airlines pick gates faster by using technology to analyze different factors and find the best gate choices quickly.

5. What are quantum computers, and how can they help airlines?
Quantum computers are very smart computers that can help airlines find the best gate choices even faster than regular smart computers, making flying smoother for passengers.

6. How can using new technology make flying better for passengers?
Using new technology can make flying better for passengers by making flights faster, more efficient, and smoother overall.

7. How can using the right gate help airports handle more flights efficiently?
Using the right gate helps airports handle more flights efficiently by reducing delays, saving fuel, and making sure planes move quickly in and out of the airport.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) less
(2) choices
(3) gates
(4) need
(5) think
(6) catch
(7) harder
(8) fuel
(9) quantum
(10) flying
(11) airports
(12) more
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. airlines
Answer: (B) Companies that fly people and goods in airplanes

2. environment
Answer: (K) The natural world around us, like air, water, and land

3. considered
Answer: (C) Thought about something carefully

4. lounges
Answer: (I) Comfortable waiting areas in airports

5. connecting
Answer: (L) Joining or linking together

6. passengers
Answer: (G) People who travel on airplanes

7. quantum
Answer: (H) A type of very advanced computer

8. smoother
Answer: (J) Easier and without bumps

9. efficiently
Answer: (A) Doing something in a way that saves time and energy

10. technology
Answer: (F) Using machines, tools, or science to solve problems

11. handle
Answer: (D) To manage or deal with something

12. fuel
Answer: (E) A material used to power engines, like in cars and planes
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why do airlines want to spend less time on the ground?
Answer: (c) To move faster, save fuel, and be better for the environment

2. What helps planes move faster and save fuel?
Answer: (d) Choosing the right gate

3. What do airlines consider when choosing gates?
Answer: (b) How close gates are to lounges and connecting flights

4. Why is it harder to choose gates when flights are late?
Answer: (a) It affects the schedule and connections

5. What do some airlines use to help pick gates faster and save fuel?
Answer: (d) Smart computers

6. What might airlines use in the future to find the best gate choices quickly?
Answer: (b) Quantum computers

7. How can using new technology help airports handle more flights?
Answer: (a) By making flying smoother for passengers

8. How can using new technology make flying better?
Answer: (c) By helping airports work more efficiently
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Picking the best gate cannot save fuel and is not better for the environment. (Answer: False)
2. Airlines are looking for ways to spend less time on the ground. (Answer: True)
3. Airlines consider factors like proximity to lounges and ease of catching connecting flights when choosing gates. (Answer: True)
4. Choosing the wrong gate for each plane can hinder planes from moving faster. (Answer: False)
5. In the past, airlines might have used even smarter computers called quantum computers. (Answer: False)
6. Using old technology can make flying smoother for passengers and help airports handle more flights. (Answer: False)
7. Some airlines use smart computers to help pick gates faster and save fuel. (Answer: True)
8. Quantum computers can help find the best gate choices quickly. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧