Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is currently in Beijing, China, where he is talking about bringing Full Self Driving (FSD) to Tesla cars in the country. FSD is already available in the US, but not in China. Musk wants to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms. This visit comes after a report in the US linked Tesla’s autonomous driving modes to several crashes, including one death. Musk met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed Tesla’s interest in working together with China.

China is Tesla’s second-biggest market, and other car companies like Xpeng are trying to compete with Tesla by adding similar self-driving features to their cars. Musk has praised Chinese car companies, saying they are the most competitive in the world. To address concerns about FSD in China, Tesla has taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities, like setting up a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data according to local laws.

This visit comes after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started an investigation into whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not paying enough attention, even though they were supposed to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control when autonomous driving is on. Tesla’s software is designed to make sure drivers are paying attention and that the feature is only used in the right conditions, like on highways.

Elon Musk has always said that Teslas will eventually be able to work as autonomous “robotaxis.” But some people criticize him for exaggerating the potential of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla’s stock price. Tesla is facing challenges like lower demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers. Musk denies these accusations. To deal with these challenges, Tesla has been lowering car prices in China and other places to encourage people to buy. The company recently reported a 13% drop in car sales for the first three months of this year, along with a 9% decrease in overall sales and a big decrease in profits compared to last year. Tesla’s stock price has also gone down 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: In pairs, students will read the article and summarize the main points in their own words. They will take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In groups, students will discuss their opinions on Elon Musk’s visit to China and Tesla’s plans for Full Self Driving. Each group will appoint a spokesperson who will present their group’s opinions to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and be shown a vocabulary word from the article. They will have one minute to draw the word on the board, while their team tries to guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to find synonyms for selected words from the article. They will then share their synonyms with the class and discuss any differences in meaning or usage.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of autonomous driving and Tesla’s role in it. They will share their predictions with the class and explain the reasons behind their choices.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where is Elon Musk currently visiting to discuss bringing Full Self Driving to Tesla cars?
2. Why does Elon Musk want to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms?
3. What did Elon Musk say about Chinese car companies?
4. What steps has Tesla taken to reassure Chinese authorities about FSD in China?
5. What investigation did the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration start regarding Tesla’s driver assistance system?
6. What did the NHTSA find regarding the drivers involved in the crashes?
7. What is one criticism that some people have about Elon Musk’s claims about full autonomous driving?
8. What challenges is Tesla currently facing and how are they trying to address them?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is currently in Beijing, China, where he is (1)______ about bringing Full Self Driving (FSD) to Tesla cars in the country. FSD is already available in the US, but not in China. Musk wants to use data (2)______ in China to train Tesla’s algorithms. This visit comes after a report in the US linked Tesla’s autonomous driving modes to several (3)______, including one death. Musk met with Chinese (4)______ Li Qiang and expressed Tesla’s interest in working together with China.

China is Tesla’s second-biggest market, and other car companies like Xpeng are trying to compete with (5)______ by adding similar self-driving features to their cars. Musk has praised (6)______ car companies, saying they are the most (7)______ in the world. To address concerns about FSD in China, Tesla has taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities, like setting up a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data according to local laws.

This visit comes after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started an investigation into whether a recall (8)______ safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not (9)______ enough attention, even though they were supposed to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control when autonomous driving is on. Tesla’s software is (10)______ to make sure drivers are paying attention and that the feature is only used in the right (11)______, like on highways.

Elon Musk has always said that Teslas will eventually be able to work as autonomous “robotaxis.” But some (12)______ criticize him for exaggerating the potential of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla’s stock price. Tesla is facing challenges like (13)______ demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers. Musk (14)______ these (15)______. To deal with these challenges, Tesla has been lowering car prices in China and other places to encourage people to buy. The company recently reported a 13% drop in car sales for the first three months of this year, along with a 9% (16)______ in overall sales and a big decrease in profits compared to last year. Tesla’s stock price has also gone down 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 Full Self Driving (FSD) and why is it important for Tesla cars?
2. How do you think Tesla could use data collected in China to improve their autonomous driving technology?
3. Do you think it’s a good idea for Tesla to work together with China? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were driving a car that had autonomous driving modes linked to crashes?
5. Do you like the idea of self-driving cars? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about other car companies adding self-driving features to their cars to compete with Tesla?
7. How do you think Tesla can address concerns about FSD in China?
8. Do you think the drivers involved in the crashes with Tesla’s driver assistance system were at fault? Why or why not?
9. What do you think about Elon Musk’s idea of Tesla cars working as autonomous “robotaxis”?
10. How do you think Tesla’s stock price could be affected by the criticism Elon Musk is facing?
11. Do you think Elon Musk is exaggerating the potential of full autonomous driving? Why or why not?
12. How do you think lower demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers could affect Tesla?
13. What do you think about Tesla lowering car prices in China and other places to encourage people to buy?
14. How would you feel if you were a Tesla shareholder and saw a big decrease in profits and stock price?
15. Do you think Tesla will be able to overcome these challenges? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. algorithms
2. autonomous
3. competitive
4. reassure
5. investigation
6. recall
7. exaggerating
8. potential
9. demand
10. manufacturers
11. accusations
12. encourage
13. decrease
14. profits
15. stock

Meanings:
(A) A set of rules or steps used to solve problems, especially by a computer
(B) Trying to be better than others in the same field
(C) The ability to develop or become something in the future
(D) Claims that someone has done something wrong
(E) The desire or need for something by people
(F) Shares of ownership in a company
(G) To become smaller or less
(H) To make someone feel less worried or afraid
(I) Money earned from a business after all costs are paid
(J) Making something seem bigger or more important than it really is
(K) A request to return a product because of a problem
(L) A careful search or examination to find out the truth
(M) Able to operate or function without human control
(N) To give support or confidence to someone
(O) Companies that make goods or products
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is Elon Musk currently visiting to discuss Full Self Driving (FSD) for Tesla cars?
(a) Beijing, China
(b) New York, USA
(c) London, UK
(d) Tokyo, Japan

2. In which country is FSD already available for Tesla cars?
(a) China
(b) USA
(c) Germany
(d) France

3. What does Elon Musk want to use data collected in China for?
(a) To sell to other car companies
(b) To improve Tesla’s customer service
(c) To train Tesla’s algorithms
(d) To develop new car designs

4. Which country is Tesla’s second-biggest market?
(a) USA
(b) China
(c) Germany
(d) France

5. Which car company is trying to compete with Tesla by adding self-driving features to their cars?
(a) Toyota
(b) Ford
(c) Volkswagen
(d) Xpeng

6. What has Tesla done to address concerns about FSD in China?
(a) Lowered car prices in China
(b) Increased car sales in China
(c) Set up a data center in Shanghai
(d) Started an investigation into safety issues

7. What did the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigate?
(a) Whether Tesla’s stock price is too high
(b) Whether Tesla’s software is working properly
(c) Whether Tesla’s cars are safe to drive
(d) Whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system

8. What challenges is Tesla currently facing?
(a) Lower demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from Chinese manufacturers
(b) Higher demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from European manufacturers
(c) Lower demand for gasoline cars worldwide and competition from Japanese manufacturers
(d) Higher demand for gasoline cars worldwide and competition from American manufacturers

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not paying enough attention, even though they were supposed to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control when autonomous driving is on.
2. Tesla has not taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities by setting up a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data according to local laws.
3. China is Tesla’s second-biggest market, and other car companies like Xpeng are trying to compete with Tesla by adding similar self-driving features to their cars.
4. Tesla’s stock price has gone up by 32% in 2024, and the company recently reported a 13% increase in car sales for the first three months of this year, along with a 9% increase in overall sales and a significant increase in profits compared to last year.
5. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not started an investigation into whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system.
6. Musk met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed Tesla’s interest in working together with China.
7. FSD is already available in the US, but not in China, and Musk wants to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms.
8. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is not currently in Beijing, China, discussing the introduction of Full Self Driving (FSD) to Tesla cars in the country.
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 is Elon Musk talking about during his visit to Beijing, China?
2. Why does Elon Musk want to use data collected in China for Tesla’s algorithms?
3. How are other car companies in China trying to compete with Tesla?
4. What steps has Tesla taken to address concerns about Full Self Driving in China?
5. What challenges is Tesla currently facing in the car market?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where is Elon Musk currently visiting to discuss bringing Full Self Driving to Tesla cars?
Elon Musk is currently visiting Beijing, China.

2. Why does Elon Musk want to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms?
Elon Musk wants to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms because it will help improve the performance and safety of Full Self Driving in Chinese conditions.

3. What did Elon Musk say about Chinese car companies?
Elon Musk praised Chinese car companies, saying they are the most competitive in the world.

4. What steps has Tesla taken to reassure Chinese authorities about FSD in China?
To reassure Chinese authorities about Full Self Driving in China, Tesla has set up a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data according to local laws.

5. What investigation did the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration start regarding Tesla’s driver assistance system?
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an investigation into whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system.

6. What did the NHTSA find regarding the drivers involved in the crashes?
The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not paying enough attention, even though they were supposed to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control when autonomous driving is on.

7. What is one criticism that some people have about Elon Musk’s claims about full autonomous driving?
Some people criticize Elon Musk for exaggerating the potential of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla’s stock price.

8. What challenges is Tesla currently facing and how are they trying to address them?
Tesla is currently facing challenges like lower demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers. To address these challenges, Tesla has been lowering car prices in China and other places to encourage people to buy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) talking
(2) collected
(3) crashes
(4) Premier
(5) Tesla
(6) Chinese
(7) competitive
(8) fixed
(9) paying
(10) designed
(11) conditions
(12) people
(13) lower
(14) denies
(15) accusations
(16) decrease
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. algorithms
Answer: (A) A set of rules or steps used to solve problems, especially by a computer

2. autonomous
Answer: (M) Able to operate or function without human control

3. competitive
Answer: (B) Trying to be better than others in the same field

4. reassure
Answer: (H) To make someone feel less worried or afraid

5. investigation
Answer: (L) A careful search or examination to find out the truth

6. recall
Answer: (K) A request to return a product because of a problem

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

8. potential
Answer: (C) The ability to develop or become something in the future

9. demand
Answer: (E) The desire or need for something by people

10. manufacturers
Answer: (O) Companies that make goods or products

11. accusations
Answer: (D) Claims that someone has done something wrong

12. encourage
Answer: (N) To give support or confidence to someone

13. decrease
Answer: (G) To become smaller or less

14. profits
Answer: (I) Money earned from a business after all costs are paid

15. stock
Answer: (F) Shares of ownership in a company
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is Elon Musk currently visiting to discuss Full Self Driving (FSD) for Tesla cars?
Answer: (a) Beijing, China

2. In which country is FSD already available for Tesla cars?
Answer: (b) USA

3. What does Elon Musk want to use data collected in China for?
Answer: (c) To train Tesla’s algorithms

4. Which country is Tesla’s second-biggest market?
Answer: (b) China

5. Which car company is trying to compete with Tesla by adding self-driving features to their cars?
Answer: (d) Xpeng

6. What has Tesla done to address concerns about FSD in China?
Answer: (c) Set up a data center in Shanghai

7. What did the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigate?
Answer: (d) Whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system

8. What challenges is Tesla currently facing?
Answer: (a) Lower demand for electric cars worldwide and competition from Chinese manufacturers
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not paying enough attention, even though they were supposed to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control when autonomous driving is on. (Answer: True)
2. Tesla has not taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities by setting up a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data according to local laws. (Answer: False)
3. China is Tesla’s second-biggest market, and other car companies like Xpeng are trying to compete with Tesla by adding similar self-driving features to their cars. (Answer: True)
4. Tesla’s stock price has gone up by 32% in 2024, and the company recently reported a 13% increase in car sales for the first three months of this year, along with a 9% increase in overall sales and a significant increase in profits compared to last year. (Answer: False)
5. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not started an investigation into whether a recall fixed safety issues with Tesla’s driver assistance system. (Answer: False)
6. Musk met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed Tesla’s interest in working together with China. (Answer: True)
7. FSD is already available in the US, but not in China, and Musk wants to use data collected in China to train Tesla’s algorithms. (Answer: True)
8. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is not currently in Beijing, China, discussing the introduction of Full Self Driving (FSD) to Tesla cars in the country. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧