Driverless cars are still having some problems. Mike Johns had a bad experience with a Waymo taxi that got stuck going in circles in a parking lot. People watched and his video of the incident became popular online. Waymo fixed the problem with a software update, but many people still worry if these cars are safe and ready for everyday use.
Waymo is one of the top companies in self-driving cars in the U.S. They operate in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco. Other companies like General Motors have stopped their self-driving projects because they are too hard and expensive. Some companies like Apple and Uber have also quit, but Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla are still trying to make it work.
Experts think driverless cars will first be used in places with good weather. Southern U.S. states might see these cars sooner because they work better in warm climates. It's hard to make these cars work well in busy cities, and safety is very important. In China, many driverless cars are already on the roads, showing that this technology is growing around the world.
Original news source: The slow but steady advance of driverless vehicles (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different terms related to the article (e.g., "driverless car," "Waymo," "parking lot," "software update"). The other groups will guess the term. This will help reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a simple survey with questions about driverless cars (e.g., "Do you think driverless cars are safe?" "Would you ride in a driverless car?"). Have students walk around the class, ask their classmates the questions, and tally the results. Afterward, discuss the findings as a class.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or the board, write "Driverless Cars" in the center. Ask students to brainstorm ideas related to the article, such as companies, problems, and locations. They will connect their ideas with lines to create a visual mind map.
– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g., "self-driving," "software," "safety"). Students will take turns drawing one word on the board while their classmates guess what it is. This activity will reinforce understanding of key vocabulary.
– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Have students think of three statements about driverless cars based on the articleβtwo true statements and one false one. They will share their statements with a partner, who will guess which one is the lie. This will encourage critical thinking and speaking practice.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Mike Johns's Waymo taxi got stuck going in circles in a parking lot.
People watched the video because it was funny and interesting to see the taxi going in circles.
Waymo is known for making self-driving cars in the U.S.
Waymo operates in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco.
Some companies stopped their self-driving projects because they were too hard and expensive.
Experts think driverless cars will be used first in places with good weather, like the southern U.S. states.
Safety is important for driverless cars because they need to keep people safe on the roads.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Driverless cars are still having some s. Mike Johns had a bad experience with a taxi that got stuck going in circles in a parking lot. People watched and his video of the incident became online. Waymo fixed the problem with a software update, but many still worry if these cars are safe and ready for everyday use. Waymo is one of the top companies in self-driving cars in the U.S. They operate in cities like Phoenix and San . Other companies like General have stopped their self-driving projects because they are too hard and expensive. Some companies like Apple and Uber have also , but Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla are still trying to make it work. Experts think driverless cars will first be used in places with good . U.S. states might see these cars sooner because they better in warm climates. It's hard to make these cars work well in busy cities, and safety is very important. In China, many cars are already on the , showing that this technology is growing around the world.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a driverless car?
2. Do you think driverless cars are safe? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you were in a driverless car that got stuck?
4. Have you ever seen a video of something funny or strange? What was it about?
5. Do you like the idea of riding in a taxi that drives itself? Why?
6. What is a problem you think driverless cars might have?
7. How would you feel if all cars were driverless in the future?
8. Do you think it is important for cars to be safe? Why?
9. What is your favorite way to travel? Do you think driverless cars could be better?
10. Do you think driverless cars will be common in your city soon? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you had to wait for a driverless car to come pick you up?
12. Do you think companies should keep trying to make driverless cars? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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