A man named Philip Paxson died because he drove off a broken bridge. His family is blaming Google because they say Google Maps didn’t show that the bridge was broken. The family is also blaming three local companies for not taking care of the bridge. Google is looking into these claims.

Paxson was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened. He was in a place he didn’t know well. He was using Google Maps to find his way home, but the map was wrong and led him to the broken bridge. He crashed into a creek and drowned.

People living nearby had told Google many times to fix their maps after the bridge broke in 2013. The family’s lawsuit also says that barriers that should have been in front of the bridge were not there because of vandalism. The family wants justice for Paxson’s death and is upset that the people responsible for the map and the bridge didn’t care more about people’s safety. Google said they are sorry for the family’s loss and that they aim to give correct directions on their maps. They are looking into the lawsuit.

Original news source: Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. One student will be the “reporter” and the other student will be the “listener.” The reporter will summarize the article in their own words, while the listener takes notes. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch roles. Finally, have a few pairs share their summaries with the whole class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think Google should be held responsible for Philip Paxson’s death?” Divide the class into small groups and give each group a few minutes to discuss the question. Then, have each group choose a representative to share their group’s opinion with the class. Encourage students to give reasons for their opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. bridge, accident, drown, lawsuit). Divide the class into small groups and give each group a whiteboard or a large piece of paper. One student from each group will choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent it, while the other students in the group try to guess the word. The first group to guess correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words until all the vocabulary has been practiced.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write a list of keywords from the article on the board (e.g. Google Maps, broken bridge, lawsuit). Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a set of index cards. One student will be the “explainer” and the other student will be the “guesser.” The explainer will choose a card with a keyword on it and try to explain the word to their partner without using the keyword itself. The guesser must try to guess the keyword based on the explanation. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch roles.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group will be in favor of holding Google responsible for Paxson’s death, and the other group will be against it. Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm arguments to support their position. Then, have a class debate where each group presents their arguments. Encourage students to use the language of opinion and persuasion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
2. Why is Paxson’s family blaming Google?
3. Who else is Paxson’s family blaming for the accident?
4. What was Paxson using to find his way home?
5. Why did Paxson crash into the creek?
6. What did people living nearby tell Google?
7. How does Paxson’s family feel about the people responsible for the map and the bridge?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man (1)______ Philip Paxson died because he (2)______ off a broken bridge. His family is blaming Google because they say Google Maps didn’t show that the bridge was broken. The family is also blaming three local companies for not taking (3)______ of the bridge. Google is looking into these claims.

Paxson was driving home from his daughter’s birthday (4)______ when the accident happened. He was in a place he didn’t know well. He was using (5)______ Maps to find his way home, but the map was (6)______ and led him to the broken bridge. He crashed into a creek and drowned.

People (7)______ nearby had told Google many times to fix their maps after the bridge (8)______ in 2013. The family’s lawsuit also says that barriers that should have been in front of the bridge were not there because of (9)______. The family wants justice for Paxson’s death and is (10)______ that the people responsible for the map and the bridge didn’t care more about people’s safety. Google said they are (11)______ for the family’s loss and that they aim to give (12)______ directions on their maps. They are looking into the lawsuit.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Google Maps?
2. How would you feel if you were driving and the map led you to a broken bridge?
3. Do you think Google should be blamed for this accident? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the family wants from the lawsuit?
5. Do you think the local companies should be blamed for the accident? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the family feels about the people responsible for the map and the bridge?
7. Have you ever used Google Maps? What was your experience like?
8. Do you think Google should fix their maps more quickly when people report errors? Why or why not?
9. How important do you think it is for maps to give correct directions? Why?
10. Have you ever been in a situation where you were lost and needed a map? How did you feel?
11. What do you think Google can do to improve their maps and prevent accidents like this?
12. Do you think the family will win the lawsuit? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Philip
2. bridge
3. Google Maps
4. accident
5. creek
6. lawsuit
7. directions
8. safety

Meanings:
(a) Being protected from danger or harm
(b) A small stream of water
(c) An app that helps you find your way
(d) A legal case where someone is seeking justice
(e) Something bad that happens unexpectedly
(f) Instructions on how to get somewhere
(g) A man’s name
(h) A structure that goes over water or roads
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Philip Paxson’s family blaming Google?
(a) They say Google Maps took him to the wrong place.
(b) They say Google Maps didn’t show that the bridge was broken.
(c) They say Google Maps made him crash into a creek.
(d) They say Google Maps didn’t show him the way home.

2. How did Philip Paxson die?
(a) He fell off a broken bridge.
(b) He got lost on his way home.
(c) He crashed into a creek and drowned.
(d) He was driving too fast.

3. Who else is the family blaming for the accident?
(a) The people living nearby.
(b) Google Maps users.
(c) The police.
(d) Three local companies.

4. What did people living nearby tell Google?
(a) To build a new bridge.
(b) To put barriers in front of the bridge.
(c) To fix their maps after the bridge broke.
(d) To stop using Google Maps.

5. Why were there no barriers in front of the bridge?
(a) Because the bridge was broken.
(b) Because Google Maps didn’t show them.
(c) Because the family didn’t ask for them.
(d) Because of vandalism.

6. What does the family want?
(a) Google to fix their maps.
(b) Justice for Paxson’s death.
(c) A new bridge to be built.
(d) The people responsible to be fired.

7. What did Google say about the family’s loss?
(a) They are sorry.
(b) They don’t care.
(c) It’s not their fault.
(d) They will fix their maps.

8. What is Google doing about the lawsuit?
(a) They are looking into it.
(b) They are ignoring it.
(c) They are blaming the family.
(d) They are fixing the bridge.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. People living nearby had informed Google multiple times about the broken bridge, asking them to fix their maps.
2. The family is seeking justice for Paxson’s death and is upset that the responsible parties did not prioritize people’s safety.
3. Paxson’s family is blaming Apple for the accident because they say Apple Maps did not show that the bridge was broken.
4. Apple is ignoring the claims made by Paxson’s family.
5. He was using Apple Maps to find his way home, but the map was wrong and led him to the broken bridge.
6. Paxson was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened.
7. The family is also blaming three local companies for not taking care of the broken bridge.
8. A man named Philip Paxson died in a car accident because he drove off a functional bridge.
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 Philip Paxson?
2. Why is Paxson’s family blaming Google?
3. How was Paxson using Google Maps at the time of the accident?
4. Why are people living nearby upset with Google?
5. What is Google’s response to the family’s lawsuit?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to Philip Paxson?
Philip Paxson died in a car accident.
2. Why is Paxson’s family blaming Google?
Paxson’s family is blaming Google because they say Google Maps didn’t show that the bridge was broken.
3. Who else is Paxson’s family blaming for the accident?
Paxson’s family is also blaming three local companies for not taking care of the bridge.
4. What was Paxson using to find his way home?
Paxson was using Google Maps to find his way home.
5. Why did Paxson crash into the creek?
Paxson crashed into the creek because the map led him to a broken bridge.
6. What did people living nearby tell Google?
People living nearby told Google many times to fix their maps after the bridge broke in 2013.
7. How does Paxson’s family feel about the people responsible for the map and the bridge?
Paxson’s family is upset and feels that the people responsible for the map and the bridge didn’t care enough about people’s safety.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) drove
(3) care
(4) party
(5) Google
(6) wrong
(7) living
(8) broke
(9) vandalism
(10) upset
(11) sorry
(12) correct
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Philip
Answer: (g) A man’s name

2. bridge
Answer: (h) A structure that goes over water or roads

3. Google Maps
Answer: (c) An app that helps you find your way

4. accident
Answer: (e) Something bad that happens unexpectedly

5. creek
Answer: (b) A small stream of water

6. lawsuit
Answer: (d) A legal case where someone is seeking justice

7. directions
Answer: (f) Instructions on how to get somewhere

8. safety
Answer: (a) Being protected from danger or harm
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Philip Paxson’s family blaming Google?
Answer: (b) They say Google Maps didn’t show that the bridge was broken.

2. How did Philip Paxson die?
Answer: (c) He crashed into a creek and drowned.

3. Who else is the family blaming for the accident?
Answer: (d) Three local companies.

4. What did people living nearby tell Google?
Answer: (c) To fix their maps after the bridge broke.

5. Why were there no barriers in front of the bridge?
Answer: (d) Because of vandalism.

6. What does the family want?
Answer: (b) Justice for Paxson’s death.

7. What did Google say about the family’s loss?
Answer: (a) They are sorry.

8. What is Google doing about the lawsuit?
Answer: (a) They are looking into it.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. People living nearby had informed Google multiple times about the broken bridge, asking them to fix their maps. (Answer: True)
2. The family is seeking justice for Paxson’s death and is upset that the responsible parties did not prioritize people’s safety. (Answer: True)
3. Paxson’s family is blaming Apple for the accident because they say Apple Maps did not show that the bridge was broken. (Answer: False)
4. Apple is ignoring the claims made by Paxson’s family. (Answer: False)
5. He was using Apple Maps to find his way home, but the map was wrong and led him to the broken bridge. (Answer: False)
6. Paxson was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened. (Answer: True)
7. The family is also blaming three local companies for not taking care of the broken bridge. (Answer: True)
8. A man named Philip Paxson died in a car accident because he drove off a functional bridge. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧