The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Amazon is testing a new way to deliver parcels. It wants to use drones. These will deliver to customers in 30 minutes. Small, remote-controlled helicopters, called 'octocopters,' will carry things up to 2.3kg. About 86% of Amazon's parcels are under this weight. 'Octocopters' look like toys. Amazon's boss talked about them on TV. He said they looked like science fiction. He added: "It won't work for everything. We're not going to deliver kayaks…this way."

The new system could start by 2018. The boss said it will be good for the environment and that "it's better than driving trucks around". The U.S. needs to say OK, so Amazon is making sure the 'octocopter' is safe to fly. Bezos joked that the 'octocopters' couldn't "land on somebody's head". Amazon has to find new ways to be the best. Companies can disappear quickly. Other businesses can overtake Amazon, especially if they use technology.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1176325/amazon-testing-drone-delivery-system
  • http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/01/technology/amazon-drone-delivery/
  • http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/12/01/amazon-bezos-drone-delivery/3799021/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

a new way to deliver

a.

on TV

2.

remote-

b.

like toys

3.

86% of Amazon's parcels are under

c.

fiction

4.

'Octocopters' look

d.

controlled helicopters

5.

Amazon's boss talked about them

e.

this way

6.

science

f.

everything

7.

It won't work for

g.

parcels

8.

We're not going to deliver kayaks

h.

this weight


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The new system could start

a.

safe to fly

2.

good for the

b.

somebody's head

3.

better than driving

c.

overtake Amazon

4.

making sure the 'octocopter' is

d.

trucks around

5.

land on

e.

technology

6.

find new ways to be

f.

by 2018

7.

Other businesses can

g.

environment

8.

especially if they use

h.

the best

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Amazon is testing (1) ___________________ deliver parcels. It wants to use drones. These (2) ___________________ customers in 30 minutes. Small, remote-controlled helicopters, called 'octocopters,' will (3) ___________________ 2.3kg. About 86% of Amazon's parcels are (4) ___________________. 'Octocopters' look like toys. Amazon's boss talked about them on TV. He said they looked like (5) ___________________. He added: "It won't work for everything. We're (6) ___________________ deliver kayaks…this way."

The new system (7) ___________________ 2018. The boss said it will be good for (8) ___________________ and that "it's better than driving trucks around". The U.S. needs to say OK, so Amazon is (9) ___________________ 'octocopter' is safe to fly. Bezos joked that the 'octocopters' couldn't "(10) ___________________ head". Amazon has to find new ways to be the best. Companies can (11) ___________________. Other businesses can overtake Amazon, (12) ___________________ technology.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Amazonistestinganewwaytodeliverparcels.Itwantstousedrones.
Thesewilldelivertocustomersin30minutes.Small,remote-contr
olledhelicopters,called'octocopters,'willcarrythingsupto2.3kg.Ab
out86%ofAmazon'sparcelsareunderthisweight.'Octocopters'loo
kliketoys.Amazon'sbosstalkedaboutthemonTV.Hesaidtheylooke
dlikesciencefiction.Headded:"Itwon'tworkforeverything.We'ren
otgoingtodeliverkayaks…thisway."Thenewsystemcouldstartby2
018.Thebosssaiditwillbegoodfortheenvironmentandthat"it'sbett
erthandrivingtrucksaround".TheU.S.needstosayOK,soAmazonis
makingsurethe'octocopter'issafetofly.Bezosjokedthatthe'octoco
pters'couldn't"landonsomebody'shead".Amazonhastofindneww
aystobethebest.Companiescandisappearquickly.Otherbusinesse
scanovertakeAmazon,especiallyiftheyusetechnology.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about online shopping for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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