Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is bringing high-speed internet to remote areas in Africa. Starlink is the biggest satellite internet provider globally and has already started offering its services in many African countries. People are curious to see if Starlink can really solve the problem of unreliable internet in Africa.

Starlink could make a big difference in Africa by closing the gap between those who have good internet access and those who don’t. With its superfast internet, Starlink could change how people in Africa use the internet, helping them join the digital economy and connect with the world.

Even though Starlink sounds promising, it might face challenges like cost and not enough infrastructure in Africa. People are also wondering if Starlink can keep working well in Africa in the long run. Rules and competition from other internet providers could also affect how successful Starlink is in Africa.

As Africa works towards giving more people internet access, new ideas like Starlink are important. If Starlink does well in Africa, it could inspire similar projects in other parts of the world that need better internet access. The future of Starlink in Africa will show if it can really make a difference in bringing fast internet to remote areas.

Original news source: Is Elon Musk’s Starlink a game changer for Africa? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to create a catchy headline for an article about Starlink bringing high-speed internet to Africa. Encourage them to focus on the key points of the article and use vocabulary related to technology and connectivity. Each group can then present their headline to the class.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a line on the board labeled “Strongly Disagree” on one end and “Strongly Agree” on the other end. Read out statements related to Starlink and have students physically place themselves along the line according to how much they agree or disagree with each statement. Encourage students to discuss their opinions with those around them.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have students take turns choosing a word and drawing it on the board while the rest of the class tries to guess the word. This activity can help reinforce vocabulary retention and understanding.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to list the pros of Starlink bringing high-speed internet to Africa and the other group to list the cons. Give them a few minutes to brainstorm and then have each group present their points to the class. Encourage a discussion about the different perspectives.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question to the class related to the future of internet access in Africa with the help of Starlink. Ask students to take a moment to think about their response individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner to discuss their ideas. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class for sharing and comparing different viewpoints.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are people in Africa curious about Starlink?
2. How could Starlink help bridge the gap in internet access in Africa?
3. What challenges might Starlink face in Africa according to the article?
4. Why are new ideas like Starlink important for Africa?
5. How could the success of Starlink in Africa impact other parts of the world?
6. What could happen if Starlink is not able to keep working well in Africa in the long run?
7. How might rules and competition affect Starlink’s success in Africa?
8. In what ways could Starlink change how people in Africa use the internet?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is (1)______ high-speed internet to (2)______ areas in Africa. Starlink is the biggest satellite internet provider globally and has already started offering its services in many African countries. People are curious to see if Starlink can really solve the (3)______ of (4)______ internet in Africa.

Starlink could make a big (5)______ in Africa by closing the gap between those who have good (6)______ access and those who don’t. With its superfast internet, Starlink could change how people in Africa use the internet, helping them join the (7)______ economy and connect with the (8)______.

Even though Starlink sounds promising, it might face (9)______ like cost and not enough (10)______ in Africa. (11)______ are also wondering if Starlink can keep working well in Africa in the long run. Rules and competition from other internet providers could also affect how (12)______ Starlink is in Africa.

As Africa works towards giving more (13)______ internet access, new ideas like Starlink are important. If Starlink does well in Africa, it could inspire similar (14)______ in (15)______ parts of the world that need better internet access. The (16)______ of Starlink in Africa will show if it can really make a difference in bringing fast internet to remote areas.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Starlink and why is it important for people in Africa?
2. How would you feel if you lived in a remote area without reliable internet access?
3. Do you think having access to high-speed internet can change people’s lives? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think some people are skeptical about Starlink’s success in Africa?
5. Do you like the idea of using satellite internet to connect remote areas to the digital world? Why or why not?
6. How do you think fast internet access can help people join the digital economy?
7. What challenges do you think Starlink might face in Africa besides cost and infrastructure?
8. Why is it important for Africa to work on giving more people internet access?
9. Do you think competition from other internet providers will affect Starlink’s success in Africa? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Starlink’s success in Africa could impact other parts of the world?
11. What do you think the future holds for projects like Starlink in bringing fast internet to remote areas?
12. Why do you think reliable internet access is crucial in today’s world?
13. How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to the internet?
14. Do you believe technology can help bridge the gap between developed and developing countries? Why or why not?
15. In your opinion, what are the most important factors to consider when bringing internet access to remote areas?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. remote
2. globally
3. unreliable
4. infrastructure
5. promising
6. competition
7. inspire
8. digital
9. economy
10. provider
11. access
12. successful
13. difference
14. challenges
15. future

Meanings:
(A) The time that is yet to come, what will happen later
(B) The act of trying to win or be better than others
(C) A person or company that supplies a service
(D) Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome
(E) Far away from other places or people
(F) The basic systems and structures needed for a place to function, like roads and power
(G) All over the world
(H) Achieving a goal or reaching a desired outcome
(I) The ability to use or get something
(J) Related to technology and computers
(K) To motivate or encourage someone to do something
(L) Not dependable or trustworthy
(M) A change that makes something better or different
(N) The system of money, trade, and industry in a country or region
(O) Showing signs of future success or potential
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of Elon Musk’s company bringing high-speed internet to remote areas in Africa?
(a) Skylink
(b) SpaceLink
(c) Starlink
(d) StarConnect

2. What problem in Africa could Starlink potentially solve?
(a) Lack of electricity
(b) Food shortage
(c) Traffic congestion
(d) Unreliable internet

3. What could Starlink help people in Africa do with its superfast internet?
(a) Join the digital economy
(b) Become farmers
(c) Build houses
(d) Learn a new language

4. What are some challenges Starlink might face in Africa?
(a) Language barriers
(b) Lack of interest
(c) Cost and infrastructure
(d) Too much competition

5. What could affect how successful Starlink is in Africa?
(a) Weather conditions
(b) Rules and competition
(c) Time zones
(d) Political stability

6. Why are new ideas like Starlink important for Africa?
(a) To give more people internet access
(b) To build more roads
(c) To increase pollution
(d) To start a space program

7. If Starlink does well in Africa, what could it inspire in other parts of the world?
(a) More traditional businesses
(b) Similar projects for better internet access
(c) Less technology use
(d) More isolation

8. What will show if Starlink can really make a difference in bringing fast internet to remote areas?
(a) The number of satellites in space
(b) The price of internet plans
(c) The popularity of social media
(d) The future of Starlink in Africa

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Competition from other internet providers and regulations could impact Starlink’s success in Africa.
2. The rapid internet from Starlink could transform how individuals in Africa access online resources and participate in the digital economy.
3. There are concerns about whether Starlink can maintain its service quality in Africa in the long term.
4. People are curious to see if Starlink can address the problem of inconsistent internet in Africa.
5. Starlink has the potential to bridge the gap in internet access between different regions in Africa.
6. Elon Musk’s firm, Starlink, is offering high-speed internet to underserved areas in Africa.
7. Starlink is the largest satellite internet provider globally and is already operating in many African countries.
8. Challenges for Starlink in Africa may include affordability and lack of infrastructure.
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 Starlink and what is it trying to do in Africa?
2. Why is it important for people in Africa to have access to reliable internet?
3. What are some challenges that Starlink might face in Africa?
4. How could the success of Starlink in Africa impact other parts of the world?
5. Why do you think fast internet access is important for remote areas?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are people in Africa curious about Starlink?
People in Africa are curious about Starlink because it is bringing high-speed internet to remote areas, which could solve the problem of unreliable internet in the region.

2. How could Starlink help bridge the gap in internet access in Africa?
Starlink could bridge the gap in internet access in Africa by providing superfast internet, allowing more people to join the digital economy and connect with the world.

3. What challenges might Starlink face in Africa according to the article?
Starlink might face challenges such as cost, lack of infrastructure, and competition from other internet providers in Africa. There are also concerns about whether it can keep working well in the long run.

4. Why are new ideas like Starlink important for Africa?
New ideas like Starlink are important for Africa because they can improve internet access and help more people connect to the digital world, which is crucial for economic growth and development.

5. How could the success of Starlink in Africa impact other parts of the world?
If Starlink is successful in Africa, it could inspire similar projects in other parts of the world that also need better internet access, leading to global improvements in connectivity.

6. What could happen if Starlink is not able to keep working well in Africa in the long run?
If Starlink is not able to keep working well in Africa in the long run, it could lead to continued challenges with unreliable internet access in remote areas, hindering progress and development.

7. How might rules and competition affect Starlink’s success in Africa?
Rules and competition from other internet providers could affect Starlink’s success in Africa by creating obstacles in terms of regulations, pricing, and market share, impacting its ability to expand and thrive.

8. In what ways could Starlink change how people in Africa use the internet?
Starlink could change how people in Africa use the internet by providing superfast connectivity, allowing for smoother online activities, improved communication, access to online education and resources, and overall enhancing the digital experience for users in the region.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) bringing
(2) remote
(3) problem
(4) unreliable
(5) difference
(6) internet
(7) digital
(8) world
(9) challenges
(10) infrastructure
(11) People
(12) successful
(13) people
(14) projects
(15) other
(16) future
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. remote
Answer: (E) Far away from other places or people

2. globally
Answer: (G) All over the world

3. unreliable
Answer: (L) Not dependable or trustworthy

4. infrastructure
Answer: (F) The basic systems and structures needed for a place to function, like roads and power

5. promising
Answer: (O) Showing signs of future success or potential

6. competition
Answer: (B) The act of trying to win or be better than others

7. inspire
Answer: (K) To motivate or encourage someone to do something

8. digital
Answer: (J) Related to technology and computers

9. economy
Answer: (N) The system of money, trade, and industry in a country or region

10. provider
Answer: (C) A person or company that supplies a service

11. access
Answer: (I) The ability to use or get something

12. successful
Answer: (H) Achieving a goal or reaching a desired outcome

13. difference
Answer: (M) A change that makes something better or different

14. challenges
Answer: (D) Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome

15. future
Answer: (A) The time that is yet to come, what will happen later
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of Elon Musk’s company bringing high-speed internet to remote areas in Africa?
Answer: (c) Starlink

2. What problem in Africa could Starlink potentially solve?
Answer: (d) Unreliable internet

3. What could Starlink help people in Africa do with its superfast internet?
Answer: (a) Join the digital economy

4. What are some challenges Starlink might face in Africa?
Answer: (c) Cost and infrastructure

5. What could affect how successful Starlink is in Africa?
Answer: (b) Rules and competition

6. Why are new ideas like Starlink important for Africa?
Answer: (a) To give more people internet access

7. If Starlink does well in Africa, what could it inspire in other parts of the world?
Answer: (b) Similar projects for better internet access

8. What will show if Starlink can really make a difference in bringing fast internet to remote areas?
Answer: (d) The future of Starlink in Africa
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Competition from other internet providers and regulations could impact Starlink’s success in Africa. (Answer: True)
2. The rapid internet from Starlink could transform how individuals in Africa access online resources and participate in the digital economy. (Answer: False)
3. There are concerns about whether Starlink can maintain its service quality in Africa in the long term. (Answer: True)
4. People are curious to see if Starlink can address the problem of inconsistent internet in Africa. (Answer: False)
5. Starlink has the potential to bridge the gap in internet access between different regions in Africa. (Answer: True)
6. Elon Musk’s firm, Starlink, is offering high-speed internet to underserved areas in Africa. (Answer: False)
7. Starlink is the largest satellite internet provider globally and is already operating in many African countries. (Answer: True)
8. Challenges for Starlink in Africa may include affordability and lack of infrastructure. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧