Apple has become the biggest phonemaker in the world, beating Samsung, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). Apple made up more than 20% of all phones shipped last year, while Samsung had 19.4% of the market. Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion also did well. The pandemic has caused a drop in smartphone sales, with over 1.2 billion sold last year, which is more than 3% less than the year before. However, experts think the market will get better this year.

Apple’s success is because it keeps growing every year and can deal with challenges like more rules and competition from Huawei in China. Huawei can’t buy chips made with US technology, so they have been making their own chips. People also really like Apple’s expensive phones because they can trade in their old ones and get new ones with no interest to pay.

Samsung used to be the biggest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and TVs, but now they have some bad news. They say they will make less money than they thought because not many people want to buy their stuff. Samsung also has to compete with cheaper Android phones, like Transsion and Xiaomi, which people like because they are cheap and good for places where people don’t have a lot of money.

The IDC says the smartphone market is changing a lot. More companies are making Android phones, so there are more choices for people. People also want phones that fold and have AI. This is a big change for phonemakers and they need to be ready for it.

In the end, Apple becoming the biggest phonemaker is a big deal, but Samsung has some problems to deal with. The smartphone market is changing, so phonemakers need to change too. They need to make what people want and be ready for new competition.

Original news source: Apple overtakes Samsung as world’s biggest phonemaker (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Each team will take turns acting out words or phrases related to the article, such as “Apple”, “Samsung”, “smartphone”, “market”, etc. One person from each team will act out the word or phrase without speaking, while the rest of the team tries to guess. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. The team with the most points at the end wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article. They should try to include information about Apple becoming the biggest phonemaker, Samsung’s challenges, the drop in smartphone sales, and the changing smartphone market. After each summary, the other students can ask questions or provide additional information.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article, such as “Apple makes the best smartphones” or “Samsung will overcome its challenges and regain its position as the biggest phonemaker.” Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates for their opinions on each statement. They should record their classmates’ responses and be prepared to share the results with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board, such as “phonemaker”, “market”, “competition”, “smartphone”, etc. Divide the class into teams. One person from each team will choose a word and draw a picture of it on the board, while the rest of the team tries to guess the word. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. The team with the most points at the end wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group will represent Apple and the other group will represent Samsung. Each group will brainstorm a list of pros and cons for their assigned company based on the information in the article. Afterward, the groups can take turns presenting their lists to the class. The other students can ask questions or provide additional points for each company.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), which company is now the biggest phonemaker in the world?
2. How much of the market did Apple make up last year?
3. Which Chinese companies also did well in the smartphone market?
4. What has caused a drop in smartphone sales?
5. Why do people like Apple’s expensive phones?
6. Why is Samsung making less money than they thought?
7. What are some advantages of cheaper Android phones?
8. What changes are happening in the smartphone market, according to the IDC?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Apple has (1)______ the biggest phonemaker in the world, beating Samsung, according to the (2)______ Data Corporation (IDC). Apple made up more than 20% of all phones shipped last year, while Samsung had 19.4% of the market. Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and (3)______ also did well. The (4)______ has caused a drop in smartphone sales, with over 1.2 billion sold last year, which is more than 3% less than the year before. However, experts think the market will get better this year.

Apple’s success is because it keeps growing every year and can deal with challenges like more rules and competition from (5)______ in China. Huawei can’t buy chips made with US technology, so they have been making their own chips. People also really like Apple’s expensive (6)______ because they can (7)______ in their old ones and get new ones with no interest to pay.

(8)______ used to be the biggest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and TVs, but now they have some bad news. They say they will make less money than they thought because not many (9)______ want to buy their (10)______. Samsung also has to compete with (11)______ Android phones, like Transsion and Xiaomi, which people like because they are cheap and good for places where people don’t have a lot of money.

The IDC says the smartphone market is (12)______ a lot. More companies are (13)______ Android phones, so there are more choices for people. People also want phones that fold and have AI. This is a big (14)______ for (15)______ and they need to be (16)______ for it.

In the end, Apple becoming the biggest phonemaker is a big deal, but Samsung has some problems to deal with. The smartphone market is changing, so phonemakers need to change too. They need to make what people want and be ready for new competition.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think about Apple becoming the biggest phonemaker in the world?
2. How would you feel if you had to trade in your old phone for a new one with no interest to pay?
3. Do you like smartphones that fold and have AI? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are some challenges that phonemakers like Apple and Samsung face in the smartphone market?
5. How do you think the pandemic has affected smartphone sales?
6. Do you think it’s important for phonemakers to keep up with new technology trends? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever traded in your old phone for a new one? How was your experience?
8. What do you think are some advantages of cheaper Android phones like Transsion and Xiaomi?
9. How do you think the availability of more choices for Android phones has affected the smartphone market?
10. Do you think it’s fair for Huawei to not be able to buy chips made with US technology? Why or why not?
11. How do you think Apple’s success can be attributed to its ability to deal with challenges?
12. What do you think are some potential reasons why people prefer Apple’s expensive phones over cheaper options?
13. Do you think the smartphone market will continue to change in the future? Why or why not?
14. How do you think phonemakers can stay competitive in the changing smartphone market?
15. Have you ever owned a phone from a Chinese company like Xiaomi or OPPO? How was your experience?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. phonemaker
2. shipped
3. pandemic
4. experts
5. challenges
6. competition
7. trade
8. interest
9. memory
10. Android
11. fold
12. artificial intelligence (AI)
13. phonemakers
14. deal
15. market

Meanings:
(A) Trying to be more successful than others
(B) Money that is paid for borrowing money, or money that is earned from an investment
(C) A worldwide outbreak of a disease
(D) Technology that allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence
(E) To exchange something for something else
(F) A company that creates and sells phones
(G) The area or environment in which businesses sell products or services
(H) The part of a computer or phone that stores information
(I) To bend something, especially so that one part of it lies on top of another part
(J) People with a lot of knowledge about a subject
(K) Sent to customers or stores
(L) To take care of a problem or situation
(M) Companies that create and sell phones
(N) An operating system used by many smartphones that is not made by Apple
(O) Difficult situations that need to be overcome
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), which company is currently the biggest phonemaker in the world?
(a) Samsung
(b) Apple
(c) Xiaomi
(d) OPPO

2. How much of the market did Apple make up in terms of phones shipped last year?
(a) More than 20%
(b) Less than 20%
(c) Exactly 20%
(d) More than 19.4%

3. Which Chinese companies also performed well in the smartphone market, according to the article?
(a) Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO
(b) Samsung, Huawei, and Transsion
(c) Apple, Xiaomi, and Transsion
(d) Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion

4. How much did smartphone sales drop last year compared to the previous year?
(a) Less than 3%
(b) More than 3%
(c) Exactly 3%
(d) More than 1.2 billion

5. What is one reason for Apple’s success in the smartphone market?
(a) It has the cheapest phones on the market.
(b) It has the most advanced AI technology.
(c) It keeps growing every year and can deal with challenges.
(d) It has the most affordable trade-in options.

6. What challenge does Huawei face in the smartphone market?
(a) It has a limited range of phone choices.
(b) It has a smaller customer base than Apple.
(c) It faces competition from Samsung in China.
(d) It can’t buy chips made with US technology.

7. Which company used to be the biggest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and TVs?
(a) Samsung
(b) Apple
(c) Xiaomi
(d) OPPO

8. What is one reason why people like cheaper Android phones?
(a) They have the most advanced features.
(b) They offer the best trade-in options.
(c) They are cheap and good for places where people don’t have a lot of money.
(d) They are the most durable phones on the market.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion did not perform well in the smartphone market.
2. Apple has not surpassed Samsung to become the world’s largest phonemaker, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).
3. Huawei’s inability to purchase chips made with US technology has led them to develop their own chips.
4. Samsung, once the leader in memory chips, smartphones, and TVs, is now facing financial setbacks as fewer people are interested in buying their products.
5. Apple’s expensive phones are not popular because customers can trade in their old devices and get new ones without paying any interest.
6. Despite challenges such as decreased regulations and competition from Huawei in China, Apple continues to decline every year.
7. Last year, Apple accounted for over 20% of all phones shipped, while Samsung had 19.4% of the market.
8. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in smartphone sales, with over 1.2 billion sold last year, which is a decrease of more than 3% compared to the previous year.
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. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), which company is now the biggest phonemaker in the world?
2. How did Apple manage to become the biggest phonemaker?
3. Why has there been a drop in smartphone sales during the pandemic?
4. What challenges has Apple faced in the smartphone market?
5. Why are cheaper Android phones becoming popular among consumers?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple is now the biggest phonemaker in the world.
2. Apple made up more than 20% of the market last year.
3. Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion also did well in the smartphone market.
4. The drop in smartphone sales has been caused by the pandemic.
5. People like Apple’s expensive phones because they can trade in their old ones and get new ones with no interest to pay.
6. Samsung is making less money than they thought because not many people want to buy their products.
7. Cheaper Android phones, like Transsion and Xiaomi, are liked because they are affordable and suitable for people with limited funds.
8. According to the IDC, the smartphone market is changing with more companies making Android phones, and people are looking for phones that fold and have AI.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) become
(2) International
(3) Transsion
(4) pandemic
(5) Huawei
(6) phones
(7) trade
(8) Samsung
(9) people
(10) stuff
(11) cheaper
(12) changing
(13) making
(14) change
(15) phonemakers
(16) ready
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. phonemaker
Answer: (F) A company that creates and sells phones

2. shipped
Answer: (K) Sent to customers or stores

3. pandemic
Answer: (C) A worldwide outbreak of a disease

4. experts
Answer: (J) People with a lot of knowledge about a subject

5. challenges
Answer: (O) Difficult situations that need to be overcome

6. competition
Answer: (A) Trying to be more successful than others

7. trade
Answer: (E) To exchange something for something else

8. interest
Answer: (B) Money that is paid for borrowing money, or money that is earned from an investment

9. memory
Answer: (H) The part of a computer or phone that stores information

10. Android
Answer: (N) An operating system used by many smartphones that is not made by Apple

11. fold
Answer: (I) To bend something, especially so that one part of it lies on top of another part

12. artificial intelligence (AI)
Answer: (D) Technology that allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence

13. phonemakers
Answer: (M) Companies that create and sell phones

14. deal
Answer: (L) To take care of a problem or situation

15. market
Answer: (G) The area or environment in which businesses sell products or services
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), which company is currently the biggest phonemaker in the world?
Answer: (b) Apple

2. How much of the market did Apple make up in terms of phones shipped last year?
Answer: (a) More than 20%

3. Which Chinese companies also performed well in the smartphone market, according to the article?
Answer: (d) Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion

4. How much did smartphone sales drop last year compared to the previous year?
Answer: (b) More than 3%

5. What is one reason for Apple’s success in the smartphone market?
Answer: (c) It keeps growing every year and can deal with challenges.

6. What challenge does Huawei face in the smartphone market?
Answer: (d) It can’t buy chips made with US technology.

7. Which company used to be the biggest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and TVs?
Answer: (a) Samsung

8. What is one reason why people like cheaper Android phones?
Answer: (c) They are cheap and good for places where people don’t have a lot of money.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Chinese companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion did not perform well in the smartphone market. (Answer: False)
2. Apple has not surpassed Samsung to become the world’s largest phonemaker, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). (Answer: False)
3. Huawei’s inability to purchase chips made with US technology has led them to develop their own chips. (Answer: True)
4. Samsung, once the leader in memory chips, smartphones, and TVs, is now facing financial setbacks as fewer people are interested in buying their products. (Answer: True)
5. Apple’s expensive phones are not popular because customers can trade in their old devices and get new ones without paying any interest. (Answer: False)
6. Despite challenges such as decreased regulations and competition from Huawei in China, Apple continues to decline every year. (Answer: False)
7. Last year, Apple accounted for over 20% of all phones shipped, while Samsung had 19.4% of the market. (Answer: True)
8. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in smartphone sales, with over 1.2 billion sold last year, which is a decrease of more than 3% compared to the previous year. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧