Bedbugs in hotels are becoming a big problem, especially in France and the UK. Companies are using technology to find and stop these bugs. One company called Spotta made a device that goes between the mattress and bedframe. It has a special chemical that attracts bedbugs. If a bug goes inside, a camera takes a picture and sends it to a database. If it’s a bedbug, the managers get a message on their phone so they can fix the problem early. Another company called Valpas made a bug trap that is part of the legs of the bed.
Some hotels are also using sniffer dogs to find bedbugs. These dogs are trained to smell the bugs and they’re really good at it. But they can’t be at the hotel all the time and it takes them a long time to check every room.
Even though there are more bedbugs in hotels, experts say that the risk is still low. You can protect yourself by checking the bed and the area around it. But hotels are worried because bedbugs can hurt their business. Some hotels are using technology to find out if their customers are complaining about bedbugs on websites like TripAdvisor. This shows how important it is for hotels to stop bedbugs and keep their good reputation.
Original news source: Bedbugs: Hotels turn to tech as outbreaks rise (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Afterward, have each group share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and come up with their opinions on the following question: “Do you think hotels should be responsible for preventing and eliminating bedbugs?” Give them a few minutes to discuss and then have each group share their opinions with the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team will take turns picking a word from the hat and drawing it on the board, while their team tries to guess the word within a certain time limit. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and come up with the pros and cons of using technology (such as devices and sniffer dogs) to find and stop bedbugs in hotels. Give them a few minutes to discuss and then have each group share their ideas with the class.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the class to imagine that they are hotel managers in the future. In pairs or small groups, have them discuss and come up with ideas for new technologies or methods that could be used to prevent and eliminate bedbugs in hotels. Afterward, have each group share their ideas with the class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the problem that hotels in France and the UK are facing?
2. How does the device made by Spotta help in finding bedbugs?
3. What happens when a bedbug goes inside the device made by Spotta?
4. What does the device made by Valpas do to trap bedbugs?
5. How do sniffer dogs help in finding bedbugs in hotels?
6. Why can’t sniffer dogs be at the hotel all the time?
7. What can hotels do to protect themselves from bedbugs?
8. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs and their reputation?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Bedbugs in (1)______ are becoming a big problem, especially in France and the UK. Companies are using technology to find and stop these bugs. One (2)______ called Spotta made a device that goes between the (3)______ and (4)______. It has a special chemical that attracts bedbugs. If a bug goes inside, a camera (5)______ a picture and sends it to a (6)______. If it’s a bedbug, the managers get a (7)______ on their phone so they can fix the problem early. Another company called Valpas made a bug trap that is part of the legs of the bed.
Some hotels are also using (8)______ dogs to find bedbugs. These dogs are trained to smell the bugs and they’re really good at it. But they can’t be at the (9)______ all the time and it takes them a long time to (10)______ every room.
Even though there are more (11)______ in hotels, experts say that the risk is still low. You can protect yourself by (12)______ the bed and the area around it. But hotels are (13)______ because bedbugs can hurt their (14)______. Some hotels are using technology to find out if their customers are complaining about bedbugs on (15)______ like (16)______. This shows how important it is for hotels to stop bedbugs and keep their good reputation.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What are bedbugs and why are they a problem?
2. How do companies use technology to find and stop bedbugs?
3. How does the device made by Spotta work to detect bedbugs?
4. How does the bug trap made by Valpas help in dealing with bedbugs?
5. What are sniffer dogs trained to do and how do they help in finding bedbugs?
6. Why can’t sniffer dogs be at the hotel all the time?
7. Why is it important for hotels to check for bedbugs?
8. How can hotels use technology to find out if their customers are complaining about bedbugs?
9. How can bedbugs affect a hotel’s reputation and business?
10. Have you ever encountered bedbugs in a hotel? If yes, how did it make you feel?
11. How would you feel if you found out that a hotel you stayed in had bedbugs?
12. Do you think using technology is an effective way to deal with bedbugs? Why or why not?
13. Do you like the idea of using sniffer dogs to find bedbugs in hotels? Why or why not?
14. What precautions do you take to protect yourself from bedbugs when staying in a hotel?
15. Have you ever read or written a review on a website like TripAdvisor? How important do you think these reviews are for hotels?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. bedbugs
2. technology
3. device
4. chemical
5. camera
6. sniffer dogs
7. risk
8. reputation
Meanings:
(a) The use of scientific knowledge to solve problems
(b) The opinion that people have about someone or something
(c) A device that takes pictures or records videos
(d) Small insects that live in beds and bite people
(e) An object or tool that has a specific purpose
(f) The possibility of something bad happening
(g) A substance used to kill or attract insects
(h) Dogs that are trained to use their sense of smell to find things
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is one reason why bedbugs are becoming a big problem in hotels?
(a) Hotels are not taking any measures to prevent bedbugs
(b) Bedbugs are attracted to hotels more than other places
(c) People are bringing bedbugs from their homes to hotels
(d) Companies are using technology to find and stop the bugs
2. What does the device made by Spotta do?
(a) Kills bedbugs instantly
(b) Attracts bedbugs and takes pictures of them
(c) Repels bedbugs from the mattress and bedframe
(d) Sends a message to the managers if a bug is detected
3. How does the bug trap made by Valpas work?
(a) It is part of the legs of the bed and catches bedbugs
(b) It releases a special chemical that repels bedbugs
(c) It emits a sound that scares away bedbugs
(d) It sends a message to the managers if bedbugs are detected
4. What are sniffer dogs trained to do?
(a) Kill bedbugs
(b) Repel bedbugs from hotels
(c) Smell and find bedbugs
(d) Check every room in a hotel quickly
5. Why can’t sniffer dogs be at the hotel all the time?
(a) They need breaks to rest and eat
(b) They are too expensive to hire for long periods of time
(c) They are not effective at finding bedbugs
(d) They are afraid of being in hotels
6. According to experts, what is the risk of encountering bedbugs in hotels?
(a) Very high
(b) Increasing rapidly
(c) Unknown
(d) Still low
7. How can people protect themselves from bedbugs in hotels?
(a) By using bug spray on themselves
(b) By avoiding hotels altogether
(c) By checking the bed and the area around it
(d) By bringing their own mattress and bedframe
8. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
(a) Bedbugs can cause health problems for their customers
(b) Bedbugs can hurt their business and reputation
(c) Bedbugs are difficult to get rid of once they infest a hotel
(d) Bedbugs are becoming resistant to all forms of treatment
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Valpas has made a bug trap that is part of the legs of the bed.
2. Some hotels are using sniffer dogs to find bedbugs.
3. The pictures of bedbugs are not sent to a database and the managers do not receive a message on their phone.
4. Hotels are not using technology to monitor customer complaints about bedbugs on websites like TripAdvisor.
5. Bedbugs in hotels are not becoming a big problem in France and the UK.
6. Spotta has created a device that attracts bedbugs and takes pictures of them.
7. Experts say that the risk of bedbugs in hotels is still high.
8. Companies are using technology to find and stop bedbugs.
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 are some ways that companies are using technology to find and stop bedbugs in hotels?
2. How does the device made by Spotta work to detect bedbugs?
3. How do sniffer dogs help in finding bedbugs in hotels?
4. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs and their reputation?
5. What can hotel guests do to protect themselves from bedbugs?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the problem that hotels in France and the UK are facing?
Hotels in France and the UK are facing a problem with bedbugs.
2. How does the device made by Spotta help in finding bedbugs?
The device made by Spotta helps in finding bedbugs by attracting them with a special chemical and taking pictures of them.
3. What happens when a bedbug goes inside the device made by Spotta?
When a bedbug goes inside the device made by Spotta, a camera takes a picture and sends it to a database. If it’s a bedbug, the managers get a message on their phone.
4. What does the device made by Valpas do to trap bedbugs?
The device made by Valpas traps bedbugs by being part of the legs of the bed.
5. How do sniffer dogs help in finding bedbugs in hotels?
Sniffer dogs help in finding bedbugs in hotels by using their sense of smell to track them down.
6. Why can’t sniffer dogs be at the hotel all the time?
Sniffer dogs can’t be at the hotel all the time because it takes them a long time to check every room and they need breaks too.
7. What can hotels do to protect themselves from bedbugs?
Hotels can protect themselves from bedbugs by using technology devices, such as the ones made by Spotta and Valpas, and by checking the bed and the area around it regularly.
8. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs and their reputation?
Hotels are worried about bedbugs and their reputation because bedbugs can hurt their business. If customers complain about bedbugs on websites like TripAdvisor, it can damage the hotel’s reputation and make people not want to stay there.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) hotels
(2) company
(3) mattress
(4) bedframe
(5) takes
(6) database
(7) message
(8) sniffer
(9) hotel
(10) check
(11) bedbugs
(12) checking
(13) worried
(14) business
(15) websites
(16) TripAdvisor
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. bedbugs
Answer: (d) Small insects that live in beds and bite people
2. technology
Answer: (a) The use of scientific knowledge to solve problems
3. device
Answer: (e) An object or tool that has a specific purpose
4. chemical
Answer: (g) A substance used to kill or attract insects
5. camera
Answer: (c) A device that takes pictures or records videos
6. sniffer dogs
Answer: (h) Dogs that are trained to use their sense of smell to find things
7. risk
Answer: (f) The possibility of something bad happening
8. reputation
Answer: (b) The opinion that people have about someone or something
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is one reason why bedbugs are becoming a big problem in hotels?
Answer: (d) Companies are using technology to find and stop the bugs
2. What does the device made by Spotta do?
Answer: (b) Attracts bedbugs and takes pictures of them
3. How does the bug trap made by Valpas work?
Answer: (a) It is part of the legs of the bed and catches bedbugs
4. What are sniffer dogs trained to do?
Answer: (c) Smell and find bedbugs
5. Why can’t sniffer dogs be at the hotel all the time?
Answer: (a) They need breaks to rest and eat
6. According to experts, what is the risk of encountering bedbugs in hotels?
Answer: (d) Still low
7. How can people protect themselves from bedbugs in hotels?
Answer: (c) By checking the bed and the area around it
8. Why are hotels worried about bedbugs?
Answer: (b) Bedbugs can hurt their business and reputation
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Valpas has made a bug trap that is part of the legs of the bed. (Answer: True)
2. Some hotels are using sniffer dogs to find bedbugs. (Answer: True)
3. The pictures of bedbugs are not sent to a database and the managers do not receive a message on their phone. (Answer: False)
4. Hotels are not using technology to monitor customer complaints about bedbugs on websites like TripAdvisor. (Answer: False)
5. Bedbugs in hotels are not becoming a big problem in France and the UK. (Answer: False)
6. Spotta has created a device that attracts bedbugs and takes pictures of them. (Answer: True)
7. Experts say that the risk of bedbugs in hotels is still high. (Answer: False)
8. Companies are using technology to find and stop bedbugs. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
