On April 19, 2025, Beijing, China, made history by hosting the first-ever half-marathon race with both humans and humanoid robots. This special event drew thousands of runners who raced alongside 21 humanoid robots on a tough 21-kilometer (13-mile) course. The robots came in different heights, with some as short as 3 feet 9 inches and others as tall as 5 feet 9 inches. They were designed to look like humans and could run or walk without using wheels.

The robot that stood out the most was Tiangong Ultra, which finished the race in an impressive time of two hours and 40 minutes. In comparison, the fastest human runner completed the race in just one hour and two minutes. Tang Jian, the chief technology officer at the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, said that Tiangong’s success was due to its long legs and a smart program that copied human running styles. He felt proud of what the robot achieved and mentioned that no other robotics companies in the West have done anything like this.

During the race, the robots faced some challenges. One robot tripped at the starting line and had to take a moment to get back up before it could continue. Another robot ran into a railing, causing its human operator to fall. These incidents showed how tricky it can be for robots to perform well in a competitive setting, where even small mistakes can lead to problems.

Human trainers were there to help the robots during the race, giving them physical support when needed. Some robots wore running shoes, while others had fun accessories like boxing gloves and a red headband that said “Bound to Win” in Chinese. These extra touches not only made the robots look cool but also added a fun element to the competition. China’s progress in robotics is impressive, with many companies working on humanoid robots and robotic dogs, showing the country’s leadership in this exciting field.

Original news source: China hosts world’s first half-marathon race between humans and robots (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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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 without speaking, while the other groups guess the terms. Words can include “humanoid robot,” “marathon,” “Beijing,” “running shoes,” and “challenges.”

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to robots in sports. For example, “Humanoid robots should compete in human sports.” Students will walk around the classroom, asking their classmates to agree or disagree with the statements and explain their reasons.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In pairs, students will create a mind map based on the article. They will brainstorm and visually organize key themes such as “humanoid robots,” “marathon,” “technology,” and “challenges.” Each pair will then present their mind map to the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to come up with a catchy headline for the article. They should think about the most significant aspects of the event and try to convey the excitement and uniqueness of the half-marathon with humans and robots in just a few words.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will write down two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They will then take turns sharing their statements with a partner, who will guess which one is the lie. This encourages critical thinking and comprehension of the article’s content.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was significant about the half-marathon race held in Beijing on April 19, 2025?
2. How did the heights of the humanoid robots vary in the race?
3. Who was the standout robot in the race, and what was its finishing time?
4. What did Tang Jian attribute to Tiangong Ultra’s success in the race?
5. Can you describe some of the challenges that the robots faced during the race?
6. What kind of support did human trainers provide to the robots during the competition?
7. How did some robots add a fun element to the race with their accessories?
8. What does the article suggest about China’s position in the field of robotics?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

On April 19, 2025, Beijing, China, made history by hosting the first-ever half-marathon race with both (1)______ and humanoid robots. This (2)______ event drew thousands of runners who raced alongside 21 humanoid robots on a (3)______ 21-kilometer (13-mile) course. The robots came in different heights, with some as short as 3 feet 9 (4)______ and others as tall as 5 feet 9 inches. They were designed to look like humans and could run or walk without using wheels.

The robot that stood out the most was Tiangong (5)______, which finished the race in an impressive time of two hours and 40 minutes. In comparison, the fastest (6)______ runner completed the race in just one hour and two minutes. Tang Jian, the chief technology officer at the Beijing Innovation (7)______ of Human Robotics, said that Tiangong’s success was due to its long legs and a smart program that copied human running styles. He felt proud of what the (8)______ achieved and mentioned that no other robotics companies in the West have done anything like this.

During the race, the robots faced some (9)______. One robot tripped at the starting line and had to take a moment to get back up before it could (10)______. Another robot ran into a railing, causing its human (11)______ to fall. These incidents showed how (12)______ it can be for robots to perform well in a competitive setting, where even small mistakes can lead to problems.

Human trainers were there to help the robots during the race, giving them physical support when (13)______. Some (14)______ wore running (15)______, while others had fun accessories like boxing gloves and a red headband that said “Bound to Win” in Chinese. These extra touches not only made the robots look cool but also added a fun element to the competition. China’s (16)______ in robotics is impressive, with many companies working on humanoid robots and robotic dogs, showing the country’s leadership in this exciting field.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion about the idea of robots competing in races against humans?
2. How would you feel if you were running in a race with humanoid robots?
3. Do you think robots will ever be able to run faster than humans? Why or why not?
4. What is a humanoid robot, and how do you think they could change our lives in the future?
5. Have you ever participated in a running event or marathon? What was that experience like for you?
6. Do you like the idea of robots having fun accessories, like boxing gloves or headbands? Why or why not?
7. How do you think people would react if robots started winning races more often than humans?
8. What is your opinion on the challenges robots face in competitions, like tripping or running into things?
9. Do you think it’s important for robots to look like humans? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you had to train a robot to run? Would it be fun or frustrating?
11. Do you think the advancements in robotics are exciting or scary? Why?
12. What is a major benefit of having humanoid robots in sports?
13. How do you think the development of robots might affect jobs in the future?
14. Do you think competitions like this half-marathon will become more popular around the world? Why or why not?
15. What is your favorite sport, and would you want to see robots compete in it? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. humanoid
2. impressive
3. comparison
4. technology
5. innovation
6. challenges
7. competitive
8. incidents
9. perform
10. accessories
11. progress
12. leadership
13. hosting
14. operator
15. setting

Meanings:
(A) Events or occurrences, often unexpected
(B) Looking at the differences and similarities between two things
(C) Causing admiration due to skill or ability
(D) A new method, idea, or product
(E) The ability to guide or direct a group
(F) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
(G) The environment or surroundings where something happens
(H) A person who controls or manages a machine
(I) Extra items added for decoration or function
(J) Resembling a human in appearance or behavior
(K) To carry out an action or task
(L) Forward movement or development
(M) Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome
(N) Involving a contest or rivalry
(O) Organizing and managing an event
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When did Beijing host the first-ever half-marathon race with humanoid robots?
(a) April 19, 2025
(b) March 15, 2024
(c) June 1, 2023
(d) December 10, 2022

2. How long was the course of the half-marathon race?
(a) 10 kilometers (6 miles)
(b) 21 kilometers (13 miles)
(c) 15 kilometers (9 miles)
(d) 5 kilometers (3 miles)

3. What was the name of the robot that finished the race in two hours and 40 minutes?
(a) RoboRunner
(b) Tiangong Ultra
(c) SpeedyBot
(d) MarathonMaster

4. Who is Tang Jian?
(a) The fastest human runner in the race
(b) A famous robot designer
(c) The organizer of the half-marathon
(d) The chief technology officer at the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics

5. What challenge did one of the robots face at the starting line?
(a) It ran too fast and fell
(b) It lost its running shoes
(c) It malfunctioned and stopped working
(d) It tripped and had to get back up

6. What kind of support did human trainers provide to the robots during the race?
(a) Physical support when needed
(b) Technical support for programming
(c) Nutritional support with energy drinks
(d) Emotional support by cheering

7. What fun accessory did some robots wear during the race?
(a) Sunglasses
(b) A cape
(c) A red headband that said “Bound to Win”
(d) A backpack

8. What does the article suggest about China’s progress in robotics?
(a) It is falling behind other countries
(b) It focuses only on robotic dogs
(c) It shows impressive advancements and leadership in the field
(d) It has no significant developments in humanoid robots

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The standout robot, Tiangong Ultra, finished the race in two hours and 20 minutes.
2. Some robots faced challenges during the race, including tripping and running into a railing.
3. Human trainers supervised the robots during the competition.
4. The race covered a distance of 21 kilometers, which is about 13 miles.
5. Beijing hosted the first full-marathon race featuring both humans and humanoid robots on April 19, 2025.
6. The fastest human runner completed the race in one hour and two minutes.
7. Many robots wore accessories like running shoes and boxing gloves, adding a serious element to the event.
8. There were 21 humanoid robots participating in the race alongside thousands of human runners.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What was special about the half-marathon race held in Beijing on April 19, 2025?
2. How did the robot Tiangong Ultra perform in the race compared to the fastest human runner?
3. What challenges did the humanoid robots face during the race?
4. How did human trainers assist the robots during the competition?
5. What does the article suggest about China’s advancements in robotics?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was significant about the half-marathon race held in Beijing on April 19, 2025?
It was the first-ever half-marathon race where both humans and humanoid robots competed together.

2. How did the heights of the humanoid robots vary in the race?
The robots varied in height, with some as short as 3 feet 9 inches and others as tall as 5 feet 9 inches.

3. Who was the standout robot in the race, and what was its finishing time?
The standout robot was Tiangong Ultra, which finished the race in two hours and 40 minutes.

4. What did Tang Jian attribute to Tiangong Ultra’s success in the race?
Tang Jian attributed Tiangong Ultra’s success to its long legs and a smart program that copied human running styles.

5. Can you describe some of the challenges that the robots faced during the race?
One robot tripped at the starting line and had to get back up, while another robot ran into a railing, causing its human operator to fall.

6. What kind of support did human trainers provide to the robots during the competition?
Human trainers helped the robots by giving them physical support when needed during the race.

7. How did some robots add a fun element to the race with their accessories?
Some robots wore running shoes and had fun accessories like boxing gloves and a red headband that said “Bound to Win” in Chinese.

8. What does the article suggest about China’s position in the field of robotics?
The article suggests that China is a leader in robotics, with many companies working on advanced humanoid robots and robotic dogs.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) humans
(2) special
(3) tough
(4) inches
(5) Ultra
(6) human
(7) Centre
(8) robot
(9) challenges
(10) continue
(11) operator
(12) tricky
(13) needed
(14) robots
(15) shoes
(16) progress
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. humanoid
Answer: (J) Resembling a human in appearance or behavior

2. impressive
Answer: (C) Causing admiration due to skill or ability

3. comparison
Answer: (B) Looking at the differences and similarities between two things

4. technology
Answer: (F) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

5. innovation
Answer: (D) A new method, idea, or product

6. challenges
Answer: (M) Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome

7. competitive
Answer: (N) Involving a contest or rivalry

8. incidents
Answer: (A) Events or occurrences, often unexpected

9. perform
Answer: (K) To carry out an action or task

10. accessories
Answer: (I) Extra items added for decoration or function

11. progress
Answer: (L) Forward movement or development

12. leadership
Answer: (E) The ability to guide or direct a group

13. hosting
Answer: (O) Organizing and managing an event

14. operator
Answer: (H) A person who controls or manages a machine

15. setting
Answer: (G) The environment or surroundings where something happens
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When did Beijing host the first-ever half-marathon race with humanoid robots?
Answer: (a) April 19, 2025

2. How long was the course of the half-marathon race?
Answer: (b) 21 kilometers (13 miles)

3. What was the name of the robot that finished the race in two hours and 40 minutes?
Answer: (b) Tiangong Ultra

4. Who is Tang Jian?
Answer: (d) The chief technology officer at the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics

5. What challenge did one of the robots face at the starting line?
Answer: (d) It tripped and had to get back up

6. What kind of support did human trainers provide to the robots during the race?
Answer: (a) Physical support when needed

7. What fun accessory did some robots wear during the race?
Answer: (c) A red headband that said “Bound to Win”

8. What does the article suggest about China’s progress in robotics?
Answer: (c) It shows impressive advancements and leadership in the field
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The standout robot, Tiangong Ultra, finished the race in two hours and 20 minutes. (Answer: False)
2. Some robots faced challenges during the race, including tripping and running into a railing. (Answer: True)
3. Human trainers supervised the robots during the competition. (Answer: False)
4. The race covered a distance of 21 kilometers, which is about 13 miles. (Answer: True)
5. Beijing hosted the first full-marathon race featuring both humans and humanoid robots on April 19, 2025. (Answer: False)
6. The fastest human runner completed the race in one hour and two minutes. (Answer: True)
7. Many robots wore accessories like running shoes and boxing gloves, adding a serious element to the event. (Answer: False)
8. There were 21 humanoid robots participating in the race alongside thousands of human runners. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧