EU votes for universal phone charger

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Have you ever thought why phone chargers are all different? European lawmakers have thought about the same thing. Consumers should be happy with a new common-sense plan. The EU decided that smartphone companies must make the plug that connects to the electricity supply the same. However, the connector to the phone itself doesn't have to be the same. This will puzzle many people who wanted a standardized connector too.

The variety of adaptors is bad for the environment. People buy a new phone, throw away their old charger and buy a new one with their new phone. The new law will reduce this electronic waste, which is currently 51,000 tons a year. A politician said the incompatibility of chargers for electronic devices was "a nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers". Manufacturers must follow the new law by 2017.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-24726077
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/item/36152-smartphone-companies-to/
http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/meps-vote-harmonise-mobile-phone-news-534138

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.	Have you ever thought	a.	sense plan
2.	Consumers should	b.	the phone
3.	a new common-	c.	be happy
4.	the plug that connects	d.	many people
5.	the connector to	e.	why
6.	This will puzzle	f.	to the electricity supply

MY e-BOOK

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 variety	a.	tons a year
2.	bad	b.	away their old charger
3.	throw	c.	inconvenience
4.	reduce this electronic	d.	of adaptors
5.	currently 51,000	e.	waste
6.	a nightmare and a real	f.	for the environment

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Have (1) ___________________ phone chargers are all different? European lawmakers have (2) ___________________ thing. Consumers should be happy with a new (3) ___________________. The EU decided that smartphone companies must make (4) ___________________ to the electricity (5) ___________________. However, the connector to the phone itself doesn't have to be the same. This will puzzle many people who wanted a (6) ___________________.

The (7) ___________________ bad for the environment. People buy a new phone, (8) ___________________ charger and buy a new one with their new phone. The new law will (9) ___________________ waste, which is currently 51,000 tons a year. A politician (10) ___________________ of chargers for electronic devices (11) ___________________ and a real inconvenience for consumers". Manufacturers must (12) ___________________ by 2017.

PHONE CHARGERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about phone chargers in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about phone chargers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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