Many people don’t read instruction manuals when they buy something new. In the UK, one out of five people skips the manual, and in the US, it might be as many as half. Some people, like Caspar Herzberg, think manuals are important, but many just throw them away. In factories, engineers need to know how machines work, especially when something goes wrong.

To help with this, a company called Aveva made a smart computer system that can read and learn from manuals. This system acts like a helper for engineers, remembering lots of information about machines like power grids and wind turbines. When a machine has a problem, the system can quickly find answers and show engineers what to do. This helps new workers learn faster, even if older experts are not around anymore.

Other companies are also using smart computers to make guides. Dozuki and Scribe are two companies doing this. Dozuki can make step-by-step guides from videos, and Scribe can create guides by watching what people do on a computer. These tools help share important knowledge as older workers retire, making it easier for new workers to learn and do their jobs well.

Original news source: Could reading instruction manuals become a thing of the past? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out different actions related to reading manuals or using machines without speaking. The class will guess what they are acting out. This helps practice vocabulary and encourages students to think creatively.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they read instruction manuals when they buy something new. Have them raise their hands to indicate “yes” or “no.” Then, discuss their opinions about why they do or do not read manuals. This encourages speaking and listening skills.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., “manual,” “engineer,” “guide”). One student draws a word on the board while the others guess what it is. This reinforces vocabulary understanding in a fun way.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In small groups, students create a mind map about the importance of instruction manuals and how technology can help. They should write down ideas and draw connections between them. This activity develops brainstorming and collaborative skills.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Have students predict how technology might change the way we use instruction manuals in the future. They can share their ideas with a partner and then present them to the class. This encourages creative thinking and speaking practice.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do some people not read instruction manuals when they buy something new?
2. What does Caspar Herzberg think about manuals?
3. What is the name of the company that made a smart computer system to help engineers?
4. How does the smart computer system help engineers when a machine has a problem?
5. What are the names of the two companies that also make smart guides?
6. How does Dozuki create guides?
7. Why is it important for new workers to have these smart guides?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many (1)______ don’t (2)______ instruction manuals when they buy something new. In the UK, one out of five people (3)______ the manual, and in the US, it might be as many as half. Some people, like Caspar Herzberg, think manuals are important, but many just throw them away. In factories, engineers need to know how machines work, especially when something goes wrong.

To help with this, a company called Aveva (4)______ a smart computer (5)______ that can read and learn from manuals. This system acts like a helper for engineers, (6)______ lots of information about machines like power grids and wind (7)______. When a machine has a problem, the system can quickly find answers and show engineers what to do. This helps new workers learn faster, even if older (8)______ are not around anymore.

Other (9)______ are also using smart computers to make guides. Dozuki and Scribe are two companies (10)______ this. Dozuki can make step-by-step guides from videos, and Scribe can create guides by watching what people do on a computer. These (11)______ help share important knowledge as older workers retire, making it (12)______ for new workers to learn and do their jobs well.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a manual?
2. Do you like reading instruction manuals? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you bought something new and didn’t have a manual?
4. Do you think it’s important to read manuals? Why?
5. Have you ever thrown away a manual? What happened?
6. What is a smart computer system?
7. How do you think smart computers can help workers?
8. Do you think learning from videos is better than reading? Why?
9. Have you ever learned something new from a video? What was it?
10. How would you feel if you had to teach someone a job without any guides?
11. Do you think older workers should share their knowledge more? Why or why not?
12. What is a guide? Can you give an example of a guide you have used?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. instruction
2. manual
3. skips
4. engineers
5. factories
6. system
7. power grids
8. turbines
9. quickly
10. experts
11. retire
12. knowledge

Meanings:
(A) A group of parts that work together
(B) A book that tells you how to use something
(C) To stop working because of age
(D) Directions on how to do something
(E) To miss or not do something
(F) Networks that deliver electricity
(G) People who design and build machines
(H) Information and skills you have learned
(I) In a short amount of time
(J) Machines that spin to make energy
(K) Places where things are made
(L) People who know a lot about something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What do many people do with instruction manuals when they buy something new?
(a) They read them carefully
(b) They keep them forever
(c) They skip them
(d) They give them to friends

2. How many people in the UK skip reading the manual?
(a) One out of ten
(b) One out of five
(c) One out of three
(d) One out of four

3. What does the smart computer system made by Aveva do?
(a) It reads and learns from manuals
(b) It writes new manuals
(c) It builds machines
(d) It sells products

4. What type of machines does the Aveva system help with?
(a) Cars and trucks
(b) Phones and tablets
(c) TVs and radios
(d) Power grids and wind turbines

5. What do Dozuki and Scribe create?
(a) Step-by-step guides
(b) Instruction manuals
(c) Video games
(d) Websites

6. How does Dozuki make guides?
(a) From books
(b) From videos
(c) From pictures
(d) From music

7. What does Scribe do to create guides?
(a) It reads books
(b) It listens to people talk
(c) It draws pictures
(d) It watches what people do on a computer

8. Why are smart computers important for new workers?
(a) They make machines work better
(b) They sell more products
(c) They help new workers learn faster
(d) They fix old machines

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some people think instruction manuals are important, while others throw them away.
2. Many people follow instruction manuals when they purchase new items.
3. This intelligent system assists engineers in locating solutions when machines encounter issues.
4. Aveva developed an intelligent computer system that is able to read and learn from manuals.
5. In the UK, only one in every five people opt for reading the manual.
6. Engineers in factories need to understand how machines work.
7. Other companies like Dozuki and Scribe also make smart guides to help workers learn.
8. In the US, about half of the people might not read the manual.
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 do many people not read instruction manuals when they buy something new?
2. What is the name of the company that made a smart computer system to help engineers?
3. How does the smart computer system help engineers when there is a problem with a machine?
4. What are the names of the two other companies that make guides for workers?
5. How do Dozuki and Scribe help new workers learn from older workers?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why do some people not read instruction manuals when they buy something new?
Some people think manuals are not important or they just want to use the product right away.

2. What does Caspar Herzberg think about manuals?
Caspar Herzberg thinks manuals are important.

3. What is the name of the company that made a smart computer system to help engineers?
The company is called Aveva.

4. How does the smart computer system help engineers when a machine has a problem?
The system finds answers quickly and shows engineers what to do.

5. What are the names of the two companies that also make smart guides?
The two companies are Dozuki and Scribe.

6. How does Dozuki create guides?
Dozuki creates guides from videos.

7. Why is it important for new workers to have these smart guides?
It is important because the guides help new workers learn faster and do their jobs well.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) read
(3) skips
(4) made
(5) system
(6) remembering
(7) turbines
(8) experts
(9) companies
(10) doing
(11) tools
(12) easier
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. instruction
Answer: (D) Directions on how to do something

2. manual
Answer: (B) A book that tells you how to use something

3. skips
Answer: (E) To miss or not do something

4. engineers
Answer: (G) People who design and build machines

5. factories
Answer: (K) Places where things are made

6. system
Answer: (A) A group of parts that work together

7. power grids
Answer: (F) Networks that deliver electricity

8. turbines
Answer: (J) Machines that spin to make energy

9. quickly
Answer: (I) In a short amount of time

10. experts
Answer: (L) People who know a lot about something

11. retire
Answer: (C) To stop working because of age

12. knowledge
Answer: (H) Information and skills you have learned
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What do many people do with instruction manuals when they buy something new?
Answer: (c) They skip them

2. How many people in the UK skip reading the manual?
Answer: (b) One out of five

3. What does the smart computer system made by Aveva do?
Answer: (a) It reads and learns from manuals

4. What type of machines does the Aveva system help with?
Answer: (d) Power grids and wind turbines

5. What do Dozuki and Scribe create?
Answer: (a) Step-by-step guides

6. How does Dozuki make guides?
Answer: (b) From videos

7. What does Scribe do to create guides?
Answer: (d) It watches what people do on a computer

8. Why are smart computers important for new workers?
Answer: (c) They help new workers learn faster
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some people think instruction manuals are important, while others throw them away. (Answer: True)
2. Many people follow instruction manuals when they purchase new items. (Answer: False)
3. This intelligent system assists engineers in locating solutions when machines encounter issues. (Answer: False)
4. Aveva developed an intelligent computer system that is able to read and learn from manuals. (Answer: False)
5. In the UK, only one in every five people opt for reading the manual. (Answer: False)
6. Engineers in factories need to understand how machines work. (Answer: True)
7. Other companies like Dozuki and Scribe also make smart guides to help workers learn. (Answer: True)
8. In the US, about half of the people might not read the manual. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧