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Drone Noise Concerns Lead to Innovation

Drone delivery noise creates a need for quieter solutions.
Try this article at a different level?

Drones are becoming more common for delivering packages. Big companies like Amazon and Walmart use drones to send orders quickly. However, the sound of drones flying overhead bothers some people. Ashley Schmidt from Dallas doesn't like the buzzing noise when drones fly past her house. This noise is different from the usual traffic sound that many people are used to. It stands out and irritates many residents. Ashley and others wish the drones were less noisy. Companies are trying to make new technology to reduce the noise. Greenjets is a company making quieter drone engines. They want to create drones that do not disturb people living below. Other companies are also working on solving the noise problem. They want drones to be helpful and quiet.

Original news source: Drone technology: Start-ups look for ways to make quieter drones – BBC News (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1. delivering
2. buzzing
3. overhead
4. residents
5. quieter
6. engines
7. annoy
8. orders
9. steady
10. beneath
11. experimenting
12. disturbed

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

1. List as many things as you can that can make noise in a neighborhood.
2. How do you feel when you hear loud noises outside?
3. Discuss some deliveries you have received or seen being delivered in your area.
4. Share your thoughts on how technology is changing everyday life.
5. Imagine how drones might be used in the future and share your ideas with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What main job do drones have according to the article?

2. Which companies are mentioned as using drones?

3. Why does Ashley Schmidt dislike drones?

4. What noise is drone sound compared to?

5. What is Greenjets working on?

6. Why are companies experimenting with new technology?

7. What do people wish for regarding drone noise?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Drones are becoming more common for delivering packages. Big companies Amazon and use drones to send orders quickly. , the sound of drones flying overhead bothers some people. Ashley Schmidt from Dallas doesn't like the buzzing when fly past her house. This noise is different from the usual traffic sound that many people are used to. It out and irritates many residents. and others wish the drones were less noisy. Companies are trying to make new technology to reduce the noise. Greenjets is a company drone engines. They to create drones that do not disturb people living below. Other are also on solving the noise problem. They want drones to be helpful and quiet.

💬 Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about drones delivering packages?
2. Have you ever seen a drone in real life? Describe your experience.
3. Do you think the noise of drones is a big problem or not? Why?
4. How would you feel if drones delivered packages to your home?
5. In what other ways could drones be used in the future?
6. What are the pros and cons of using drones for delivery?
7. How important is it for companies to listen to people's complaints about noise?
8. How could engineers work to reduce noise pollution in your community?
9. Would you feel safer if drones were delivering important things like medicines?
10. How do you think drone deliveries could affect traffic on the ground?
11. What would you suggest to improve the technology of drones?
12. Do you think drones could replace delivery people someday? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. delivering
2. buzzing
3. overhead
4. residents
5. quieter
6. engines
7. annoy
8. orders
9. steady
10. beneath
11. experimenting
12. disturbed

Meanings

(A) people who live in a place
(B) making less noise
(C) machines that power vehicles
(D) trying out new ideas
(E) below a certain point
(F) making a sound like a bee
(G) above in the sky
(H) constant, unchanging
(I) carrying something to someone
(J) upset, bothered
(K) requests for goods
(L) irritate or bother

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main use of drones mentioned?
(a) Delivering packages
(b) Flying for fun
(c) Taking photos
(d) Spying on people
2. Who are two companies using drones?
(a) Target and Best Buy
(b) Samsung and Sony
(c) Amazon and Walmart
(d) Google and Facebook
3. What noise is the drone sound compared to?
(a) Traffic noise
(b) Dog barking
(c) Fisherman talking
(d) College lecture
4. Who is Ashley Schmidt?
(a) A drone engineer
(b) A pilot
(c) A person annoyed by drones
(d) A teacher
5. What is Greenjets working on?
(a) Faster delivery
(b) Better cameras
(c) Special helmets
(d) Quieter drone engines
6. Why do companies experiment with new technology?
(a) To increase sales
(b) To reduce drone noise
(c) To make bigger drones
(d) To launch more drones
7. What do many residents wish for?
(a) Bigger drones
(b) Quieter drones
(c) Faster drones
(d) More drones
8. Why do companies want to fix the noise issue?
(a) To make more money
(b) To fly more often
(c) To show off technology
(d) So drones can be both useful and quiet

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Greenjets is working on quieter engines for drones.
2. Drones can be useful and quiet if noise issues are fixed.
3. Ashley Schmidt is from Dallas.
4. Some people find drone noise annoying.
5. Companies are trying to make drones louder.
6. Amazon avoids using drones for quick deliveries.
7. The noise of drones is similar to traffic sounds.
8. Drones are not used for delivering packages.

Writing Questions:

1. Write about a day when you heard a surprising noise.
2. Describe how you think drone deliveries could change in the next five years.
3. Explain why noise pollution might be a problem in big cities.
4. Discuss how technology has changed how we receive packages.
5. Write a letter to a company suggesting ways to improve drone technology.

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