Elon Musk is visiting Beijing to talk about making Tesla cars drive themselves in China. This feature is already in the US, but not in China yet. Musk wants to use data from China to improve Tesla’s technology. His visit comes after reports of Tesla cars crashing while using self-driving modes.

China is very important for Tesla, and other companies are trying to compete with similar technology. Tesla is working to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars by setting up a data center in Shanghai. Musk has big plans for Teslas to become self-driving taxis. Some people think Musk is exaggerating to help Tesla’s stock price, which has dropped because of less demand and more competition.

Tesla is lowering prices in China and other places to sell more cars. Musk says prices need to change based on how many cars they can make and sell. Recently, Tesla’s car sales went down by 13% in the first part of the year. Their overall sales and profits also dropped, and Tesla’s stock price fell by 32% in 2024.

Original news source: Musk in China to discuss enabling Full Self Driving (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Ask them to read the article and then write a summary of the main points. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team comes to the front of the class and chooses a word from the list. They then have to draw a picture to represent the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly earns a point.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the class a question related to the article, such as “Do you think self-driving cars will be popular in China?” Give students a few minutes to think about their answer individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their opinions with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article, such as “Self-driving cars are the future of transportation” or “Tesla should focus on lowering prices instead of developing self-driving technology.” Have students move around the room and find classmates to discuss each statement with. They should ask their classmates if they agree or disagree and why. After a few minutes, have students share their findings with the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to imagine what the future of transportation will be like in China. They should consider the role of self-driving cars and how Tesla might fit into this future. After a few minutes, have each group present their predictions to the class. Encourage them to use English as much as possible when discussing their ideas.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Elon Musk talking about in Beijing?
2. Where is self-driving technology already available?
3. What is Musk’s plan for Teslas in China?
4. Why are some people skeptical of Musk’s plans?
5. What is Tesla doing to sell more cars in China?
6. How much did Tesla’s car sales go down by in the first part of the year?
7. How much did Tesla’s stock price fall by in 2024?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Elon Musk is visiting (1)______ to (2)______ about (3)______ Tesla cars drive themselves in China. This feature is already in the US, but not in China yet. Musk wants to use data from China to improve Tesla’s technology. His visit comes after reports of Tesla cars crashing while using self-driving modes.

China is very important for Tesla, and other companies are (4)______ to (5)______ with similar technology. Tesla is working to make Chinese officials (6)______ with self-driving cars by setting up a data center in Shanghai. Musk has big plans for Teslas to become self-driving taxis. Some people think Musk is exaggerating to help Tesla’s stock price, which has (7)______ because of less (8)______ and (9)______ competition.

Tesla is lowering prices in China and other places to sell more cars. Musk says (10)______ need to change based on how many cars they can make and sell. Recently, Tesla’s car sales went down by 13% in the first part of the (11)______. Their overall sales and (12)______ also dropped, and Tesla’s stock price fell by 32% in 2024.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a self-driving car?
2. How would you feel if cars could drive themselves?
3. Do you like the idea of self-driving taxis? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about Elon Musk’s plans for Tesla cars in China?
5. How do you think self-driving cars could be improved?
6. What do you think about Tesla lowering their prices in China?
7. Do you think Tesla’s stock price will go up again? Why or why not?
8. How do you feel about the competition between Tesla and other companies?
9. What would you do if you saw a self-driving car on the road?
10. Do you think self-driving cars are safe? Why or why not?
11. How do you think self-driving cars could change our daily lives?
12. What do you think about Tesla’s decision to set up a data center in Shanghai?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. feature
2. technology
3. reports
4. officials
5. exaggerating
6. demand
7. competition
8. data
9. center
10. stock
11. profits
12. overall

Meanings:
(A) Information collected to study or use
(B) Including everything or everyone
(C) Shares of a company that people can buy or sell
(D) The use of science to make things work better
(E) People who have important jobs in the government
(F) Written or spoken news about something
(G) Trying to be better than others at the same thing
(H) Money made from selling things after costs are paid
(I) A place where a lot of activities happen
(J) How much people want to buy something
(K) Making something seem bigger or more important than it really is
(L) A special part or quality of something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is Elon Musk visiting to talk about self-driving cars?
(a) New York
(b) London
(c) Beijing
(d) Tokyo

2. Is self-driving technology already available in China?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Maybe
(d) Not mentioned

3. What does Elon Musk want to use data from China for?
(a) To sell more cars
(b) To compete with other companies
(c) Not mentioned
(d) To improve Tesla’s technology

4. What is Tesla doing to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars?
(a) Lowering prices
(b) Setting up a data center in Shanghai
(c) Increasing competition
(d) Not mentioned

5. What does Elon Musk want Teslas to become?
(a) Self-driving taxis
(b) Electric bikes
(c) Regular cars
(d) Not mentioned

6. Why has Tesla’s stock price dropped?
(a) More demand and less competition
(b) No demand and no competition
(c) Not mentioned
(d) Less demand and more competition

7. What has happened to Tesla’s car sales in the first part of the year?
(a) They went down by 13%
(b) They went up by 13%
(c) They stayed the same
(d) Not mentioned

8. How much has Tesla’s stock price fallen in 2024?
(a) 10%
(b) 50%
(c) 32%
(d) Not mentioned

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Elon Musk is visiting Beijing to discuss making Tesla cars drive themselves in China.
2. Tesla is setting up a data center in Shanghai to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars.
3. Tesla is lowering prices in China and other places to sell more cars.
4. Musk has no plans for Teslas to become self-driving taxis.
5. Recently, Tesla’s car sales went down by 13% in the first part of the year, and their overall sales and profits also dropped.
6. Musk does not want to use data from China to improve Tesla’s technology.
7. Some people think Musk is fabricating to help Tesla’s stock price, which has dropped due to higher demand and less competition.
8. Tesla’s self-driving feature is already available in the US, but not yet in China.
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 is Elon Musk visiting Beijing?
2. What feature does Elon Musk want to bring to Tesla cars in China?
3. How is Tesla trying to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars?
4. Why are some people skeptical about Elon Musk’s plans for self-driving taxis?
5. Why is Tesla lowering prices in China?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Elon Musk is talking about making Tesla cars drive themselves in China.
2. Self-driving technology is already available in the US.
3. Musk’s plan for Teslas in China is to make them self-driving taxis.
4. Some people are skeptical of Musk’s plans because they think he is exaggerating to help Tesla’s stock price.
5. Tesla is lowering prices in China to sell more cars.
6. Tesla’s car sales went down by 13% in the first part of the year.
7. Tesla’s stock price fell by 32% in 2024.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Beijing
(2) talk
(3) making
(4) trying
(5) compete
(6) comfortable
(7) dropped
(8) demand
(9) more
(10) prices
(11) year
(12) profits
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. feature
Answer: (L) A special part or quality of something

2. technology
Answer: (D) The use of science to make things work better

3. reports
Answer: (F) Written or spoken news about something

4. officials
Answer: (E) People who have important jobs in the government

5. exaggerating
Answer: (K) Making something seem bigger or more important than it really is

6. demand
Answer: (J) How much people want to buy something

7. competition
Answer: (G) Trying to be better than others at the same thing

8. data
Answer: (A) Information collected to study or use

9. center
Answer: (I) A place where a lot of activities happen

10. stock
Answer: (C) Shares of a company that people can buy or sell

11. profits
Answer: (H) Money made from selling things after costs are paid

12. overall
Answer: (B) Including everything or everyone
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is Elon Musk visiting to talk about self-driving cars?
Answer: (c) Beijing

2. Is self-driving technology already available in China?
Answer: (b) No

3. What does Elon Musk want to use data from China for?
Answer: (d) To improve Tesla’s technology

4. What is Tesla doing to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars?
Answer: (b) Setting up a data center in Shanghai

5. What does Elon Musk want Teslas to become?
Answer: (a) Self-driving taxis

6. Why has Tesla’s stock price dropped?
Answer: (d) Less demand and more competition

7. What has happened to Tesla’s car sales in the first part of the year?
Answer: (a) They went down by 13%

8. How much has Tesla’s stock price fallen in 2024?
Answer: (c) 32%
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Elon Musk is visiting Beijing to discuss making Tesla cars drive themselves in China. (Answer: False)
2. Tesla is setting up a data center in Shanghai to make Chinese officials comfortable with self-driving cars. (Answer: True)
3. Tesla is lowering prices in China and other places to sell more cars. (Answer: True)
4. Musk has no plans for Teslas to become self-driving taxis. (Answer: False)
5. Recently, Tesla’s car sales went down by 13% in the first part of the year, and their overall sales and profits also dropped. (Answer: True)
6. Musk does not want to use data from China to improve Tesla’s technology. (Answer: False)
7. Some people think Musk is fabricating to help Tesla’s stock price, which has dropped due to higher demand and less competition. (Answer: False)
8. Tesla’s self-driving feature is already available in the US, but not yet in China. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧