Jennifer Wexton, a Congresswoman from Virginia, did something new and special. She used a computer program called artificial intelligence (AI) to speak to the House of Representatives. This was important because she has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk. The AI helped her by using recordings of her old speeches to make a voice that sounds like her.

This was the first time someone used AI to give a speech in Congress. It shows how technology can help people who have trouble speaking. This could change how people communicate in politics and other important places. Using AI to copy a person’s voice might help more people join in and share their ideas.

Jennifer Wexton’s speech was a big step forward and gives hope to others with similar challenges. It shows that technology can help people be part of important conversations. Her story might inspire more people to look into how AI can help those with disabilities. This could lead to new ways for everyone to communicate better.

Original news source: Lawmaker uses AI voice clone to address Congress (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key terms from the article (e.g., “Congress,” “AI,” “speech”) without speaking, while the other groups guess the words. This will help them reinforce vocabulary in a fun way.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students to discuss and vote on the question: “Do you think AI can help people with disabilities?” Students will raise their hands to vote for “Yes” or “No.” After voting, have a few students share their reasons for their choice. This encourages speaking and listening skills.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On the board, write “AI in Communication” in the center. Have students come up one by one to add words or phrases related to the article (like “Jennifer Wexton,” “Congress,” “technology,” “speech”) to the mind map. This visual activity helps students organize their thoughts and vocabulary.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (like “artificial intelligence,” “voice,” “disabilities”) and write them on slips of paper. One student will draw a word from the pile and illustrate it on the board while their classmates guess the word. This reinforces vocabulary through creativity.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Have students think about how technology has changed communication in their lives. After a minute of thinking, they will pair up to discuss their thoughts with a partner. Finally, invite a few pairs to share their ideas with the class. This promotes speaking and critical thinking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Jennifer Wexton?

2. What is the special computer program she used to speak?

3. Why did Jennifer Wexton need help to talk?

4. How did the AI help Jennifer Wexton give her speech?

5. Why is this event important for people who have trouble speaking?

6. What might happen because of Jennifer Wexton’s speech and the use of AI?

7. How could Jennifer Wexton’s story inspire other people?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Jennifer Wexton, a Congresswoman from Virginia, did something new and (1)______. She used a computer program called (2)______ intelligence (AI) to speak to the House of Representatives. This was important because she has a (3)______ problem that makes it hard for her to talk. The AI (4)______ her by using recordings of her old speeches to (5)______ a (6)______ that sounds like her.

This was the first time someone used AI to give a speech in Congress. It shows how technology can help people who have trouble speaking. This could (7)______ how people communicate in politics and other important places. Using AI to copy a person’s voice might help more people join in and share their ideas.

Jennifer Wexton’s speech was a big step forward and gives (8)______ to (9)______ with similar (10)______. It shows that technology can help (11)______ be (12)______ of important conversations. Her story might inspire more people to look into how AI can help those with disabilities. This could lead to new ways for everyone to communicate better.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion about using technology to help people speak?
2. How would you feel if you could not talk and needed help to speak?
3. Do you like the idea of using AI to copy someone’s voice? Why or why not?
4. What is a challenge you have faced when trying to communicate with others?
5. Do you think more people should use technology to help with disabilities? Why?
6. How would you feel if you could not share your ideas with others?
7. Do you think it is important for everyone to be able to speak in important places like Congress? Why?
8. What is a way you think technology can help people with disabilities?
9. Do you like talking in front of a group? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you had to use a computer to speak for you?
11. Do you think it is fair for some people to have help when speaking while others do not? Why?
12. What is your favorite way to communicate with your friends?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Congresswoman
2. artificial intelligence
3. Representatives
4. health problem
5. recordings
6. speeches
7. communicate
8. politics
9. copy
10. challenges
11. disabilities
12. inspire

Meanings:
(A) To make someone want to do something or feel hopeful
(B) Conditions that make it hard to do things most people can do
(C) Something that makes your body not work right
(D) A computer program that can think and learn like a human
(E) Sounds or videos saved to listen to or watch later
(F) Talks given to a group of people
(G) A woman who is a member of a group that makes laws
(H) Activities related to government and making rules
(I) To share ideas or information with others
(J) To make something look or sound like something else
(K) People chosen to speak or act for others
(L) Difficulties or problems to overcome
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is Jennifer Wexton?
(a) A teacher
(b) A doctor
(c) A musician
(d) A Congresswoman from Virginia

2. What technology did Jennifer Wexton use to speak?
(a) A robot
(b) A smartphone
(c) A computer game
(d) Artificial intelligence (AI)

3. Why did Jennifer Wexton use AI to speak?
(a) She wanted to impress her friends
(b) She was bored
(c) She has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk
(d) She wanted to sing

4. What did the AI use to create a voice for Jennifer Wexton?
(a) Recordings of her old speeches
(b) Music from a movie
(c) Sounds from nature
(d) Voices of other people

5. What was special about Jennifer Wexton’s speech in Congress?
(a) It was the longest speech ever
(b) It was the first time someone used AI to give a speech
(c) It was about a new law
(d) It was in a different language

6. How can AI help people who have trouble speaking?
(a) It can make them sing
(b) It can help them read books
(c) It can copy a person’s voice
(d) It can teach them math

7. What does Jennifer Wexton’s story show about technology?
(a) It is only for fun
(b) It can help people be part of important conversations
(c) It is too complicated for most people
(d) It is not useful at all

8. What might happen because of Jennifer Wexton’s speech?
(a) More people may look into how AI can help those with disabilities
(b) People will stop using technology
(c) Everyone will start talking less
(d) No one will listen to speeches anymore

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The AI made a voice that does not sound like her using old recordings of her speeches.
2. Jennifer Wexton’s speech gives hope to others with similar challenges.
3. This was not the first time AI was used for a speech in Congress.
4. Her use of AI shows how technology can hinder people who have trouble speaking.
5. Jennifer Wexton is not a Congresswoman from Virginia.
6. She has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk.
7. She used artificial intelligence (AI) to help her speak in Congress.
8. Her story might inspire more people to use AI to help with communication.
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. Who is Jennifer Wexton and where is she from?
2. What problem does Jennifer Wexton have that makes it hard for her to talk?
3. How did the computer program help Jennifer Wexton give her speech?
4. Why is Jennifer Wexton’s speech important for other people with disabilities?
5. What could using AI in speeches change about how people communicate?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is Jennifer Wexton?
Jennifer Wexton is a Congresswoman from Virginia.

2. What is the special computer program she used to speak?
She used a computer program called artificial intelligence (AI).

3. Why did Jennifer Wexton need help to talk?
She has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk.

4. How did the AI help Jennifer Wexton give her speech?
The AI helped her by using recordings of her old speeches to make a voice that sounds like her.

5. Why is this event important for people who have trouble speaking?
This event is important because it shows how technology can help people who have trouble speaking.

6. What might happen because of Jennifer Wexton’s speech and the use of AI?
More people might join in and share their ideas, and it could change how people communicate in politics.

7. How could Jennifer Wexton’s story inspire other people?
Her story might inspire others to look into how AI can help those with disabilities.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) special
(2) artificial
(3) health
(4) helped
(5) make
(6) voice
(7) change
(8) hope
(9) others
(10) challenges
(11) people
(12) part
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Congresswoman
Answer: (G) A woman who is a member of a group that makes laws

2. artificial intelligence
Answer: (D) A computer program that can think and learn like a human

3. Representatives
Answer: (K) People chosen to speak or act for others

4. health problem
Answer: (C) Something that makes your body not work right

5. recordings
Answer: (E) Sounds or videos saved to listen to or watch later

6. speeches
Answer: (F) Talks given to a group of people

7. communicate
Answer: (I) To share ideas or information with others

8. politics
Answer: (H) Activities related to government and making rules

9. copy
Answer: (J) To make something look or sound like something else

10. challenges
Answer: (L) Difficulties or problems to overcome

11. disabilities
Answer: (B) Conditions that make it hard to do things most people can do

12. inspire
Answer: (A) To make someone want to do something or feel hopeful
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is Jennifer Wexton?
Answer: (d) A Congresswoman from Virginia

2. What technology did Jennifer Wexton use to speak?
Answer: (d) Artificial intelligence (AI)

3. Why did Jennifer Wexton use AI to speak?
Answer: (c) She has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk

4. What did the AI use to create a voice for Jennifer Wexton?
Answer: (a) Recordings of her old speeches

5. What was special about Jennifer Wexton’s speech in Congress?
Answer: (b) It was the first time someone used AI to give a speech

6. How can AI help people who have trouble speaking?
Answer: (c) It can copy a person’s voice

7. What does Jennifer Wexton’s story show about technology?
Answer: (b) It can help people be part of important conversations

8. What might happen because of Jennifer Wexton’s speech?
Answer: (a) More people may look into how AI can help those with disabilities
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The AI made a voice that does not sound like her using old recordings of her speeches. (Answer: False)
2. Jennifer Wexton’s speech gives hope to others with similar challenges. (Answer: True)
3. This was not the first time AI was used for a speech in Congress. (Answer: False)
4. Her use of AI shows how technology can hinder people who have trouble speaking. (Answer: False)
5. Jennifer Wexton is not a Congresswoman from Virginia. (Answer: False)
6. She has a health problem that makes it hard for her to talk. (Answer: True)
7. She used artificial intelligence (AI) to help her speak in Congress. (Answer: True)
8. Her story might inspire more people to use AI to help with communication. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧