The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, both in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was also the year's top revenue earning app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch last year. Candy Crush Saga is the current favourite among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, reckons she plays it at least 10 times a day. She said: “I play it in between breaks at work, before I go home, when I get home…It's addictive." Her colleague Katie Newell said she has successfully avoided playing the game. "I know too many people who have fallen prey to Candy Crush. I can't talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's a slippery slope," she said.

Other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, an industry expert, said: "Snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving much more critical mass, so much so that Facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company." Mobile communications analyst Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps seriously challenge the television industry. He said: "Every American spends $100-plus dollars per month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile. It's an area that's ripe for disruption….Someone will come up with new content, maybe a new device and more importantly a better business model."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/31/us-apps-top-idUSBRE9BU0K820131231
  • http://ibnlive.in.com/news/snapchat-vine-candy-crush-saga-among-top-smartphone-apps-of-2013/442681-11.html
  • http://www.13wmaz.com/story/tech/2013/12/30/candy-crush-addiction/4250099/


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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. MOBILE PHONE APPS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about mobile phone apps. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

downloaded / revenue / gamers / addict / after work / colleague / fall prey to / slippery / video sharing / expert / niche / critical / television / mobile apps / business model

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. APPS: How can they be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

App

Things you're not happy about

Suggested improvements

Social networking

 

 

Skype

 

 

Game

 

 

Music

 

 

Studying English

 

 

News

 

 

4. APPS OR TV: Students A strongly believe apps will become more popular than TV; Students B strongly believe this will never happen.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. FAVE APPS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put your favourite apps at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • books

  • games

  • news

  • studying English

  • travel

  • weather

  • money / finance

  • music

6. MOBILE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mobile". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Candy Crush Saga was number one in Apple's app store and Google's.

T / F

b.

Candy Crush was the second-highest revenue-generating app of 2013.

T / F

c.

The Candy Crush app was initially launched in 2011.

T / F

d.

A woman said she likes the slippery slope best in the Candy Crush app.

T / F

e.

Another favourite from last year was a photo and video-sharing app.

T / F

f.

Facebook wanted to spend a lot of money on an app called Snapchat.

T / F

g.

An industry expert believes TV will pull ahead of apps in 2014.

T / F

h.

The expert believes someone may develop a new device to rival TV.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

revenue

a.

enthusiast

2.

earning

b.

authority

3.

launch

c.

buy

4.

addict

d.

grossing

5.

prey

e.

reaching

6.

expert

f.

victim

7.

achieving

g.

ready

8.

acquire

h.

income

9.

ripe

i.

gadget

10.

device

j.

introduction

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

the year's top revenue

a.

company

2.

the current favourite

b.

breaks at work

3.

in between

c.

slope

4.

many people who have fallen

d.

up with new content

5.

It's a slippery

e.

earning app

6.

a niche

f.

is not personalized

7.

acquire the

g.

model

8.

a service that

h.

prey to Candy Crush

9.

Someone will come

i.

app

10.

a better business

j.

among gamers

GAP FILL

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, (1) ____________ in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was also the year's top revenue (2) ____________ app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its (3) ____________ last year. Candy Crush Saga is the current favourite among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, (4) ____________ she plays it at least 10 times a day. She said: "I play it in between breaks at work, before I go home, when I get home…It's (5) ____________." Her colleague Katie Newell said she has successfully (6) ____________ playing the game. "I know too many people who have fallen (7) ____________ to Candy Crush. I can't talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's a (8) ____________ slope," she said.

 

 

reckons
prey
launch
slippery
both
addictive
earning
avoided

Other top downloads of 2013 (9) ____________ the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, an industry expert, said: "Snapchat went from being a (10) ____________ app to achieving much more critical mass, so much so that Facebook was reportedly (11) ____________ to spend billions of dollars to(12) ____________ the company." Mobile communications analyst Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps (13) ____________ challenge the television industry. He said: "Every American spends $100-plus per month on a service that is not (14) ____________ and not mobile. It's an area that's (15) ____________ for disruption….Someone will come up with new content, maybe a new device, and more importantly a better (16) ____________ model."

 

seriously
acquire
ripe
niche
business
include
personalized
willing

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

It was also the year's top revenue ______

 

a.  earnings app
b.  earn in app
c.  earns in app
d.  earning app

2)

The game has been downloaded over 500 million times ______

 

a.  since its launch
b.  since its lunch
c.  since its launched
d.  since its launches

3)

I play it in between breaks at work, before I go home, when I get home…______

 

a.  It's addict if
b.  It's addictive
c.  It's addiction
d.  It's addictively

4)

I know too many people who ______

 

a.  have fallen prey
b.  have fallen pray
c.  have fallen play
d.  have fallen ply

5)

I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's ______

 

a.  a slippery sloop
b.  a slippery soap
c.  a slippery sleep
d.  a slippery slope

6)

Snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving much ______

 

a.  more critical mess
b.  more critical miss
c.  more critical mass
d.  more critical moss

7)

Facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to ______

 

a.  acquire the company
b.  inquire the company
c.  require the company
d.  enquire the company

8)

2014 could be the year when mobile apps seriously challenge the ______

 

a.  television industries
b.  television industrial
c.  television industrialize
d.  television industry

9)

Every American spends $100-plus per month on a service that ______

 

a.  is not personalized
b.  is non-personalized
c.  is nothing personalized
d.  is now personalized

10)

…maybe a new device, and more importantly a ______

 

a.  better business models
b.  better business model
c.  better business modelled
d.  better business modelling

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, both in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It (1) ___________________ top revenue earning app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch last year. Candy Crush Saga is (2) ___________________ among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, (3) ___________________ it at least 10 times a day. She said: "I play (4) ___________________ at work, before I go home, when I get home…It's addictive." Her colleague Katie Newell said she has successfully (5) ___________________ game. "I know too many people who have fallen prey to Candy Crush. I can't talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. (6) ___________________," she said.

Other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, (7) ___________________, said: "Snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving (8) ___________________, so much so that Facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company." Mobile (9) ___________________ Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps (10) ___________________ the television industry. He said: "Every American spends $100-plus per month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile. It's              (11) ___________________ disruption….Someone will come up with new content, maybe (12) ___________________ more importantly a better business model."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

In which two stores was Candy Crush the most downloaded app?

2.

Where was Candy Crush on the top-revenue-earnings list of 2013 apps?

3.

How many times was the game downloaded last year?

4.

What adjective did Deborah Alvarez use to describe the app?

5.

What does Katie Newell block?

6.

Who is Craig Palli?

7.

Which company wanted to buy Snapchat?

8.

What could apps challenge in 2014, according to an analyst?

9.

How much do Americans spend on TV each month?

10.

What might someone make an improved version of?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

In which two stores was Candy Crush the most downloaded app?

6.

Who is Craig Palli?

 

a) Amazon and Facebook
b) Game.com and App.com
c) Apple App Store and Google Play
d) Toys "R" Us and Starbucks

 

a) the creator of Candy Crush
b) an industry expert
c) an app critic
d) Facebook's app director

2.

Where was Candy Crush on the top-revenue-earnings list of 2013 apps?

7.

Which company wanted to buy Snapchat?

 

a) first
b) second
c) third
d) fourth

 

a) Facebook
b) Chatsnap
c) Apple
d) Samsung

3.

How many times was the game downloaded last year?

8.

What could apps challenge in 2014, according to an analyst?

 

a) 500,000,000 times
b) 5,000,000,000 times
c) 500,000 times
d) 50,000,000 times

 

a) movies
b) newspapers
c) television
d) PCs

4.

What adjective did Deborah Alvarez use to describe the app?

9.

How much do Americans spend on TV each month?

 

a) awesome
b) addictive
c) fun
d) slippery

 

a) $10
b) around $23
c) up to $50
d) $100 or more

5.

What does Katie Newell block?

10.

What might someone make an improved version of?

 

a) mail from apps
b) Facebook
c) things that attack the candy
d) invites to Candy Crush

 

a) a business model
b) a gadget
c) Facebook
d) games

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Games

You think games apps are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): news apps, studying English apps or weather apps.

Role  B – News

You think news apps are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): games apps, studying English apps or weather apps.

Role  C – Studying English

You think studying English apps are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): news apps, games apps or weather apps.

Role  D – Weather

You think weather apps are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): news apps, studying English apps or games apps.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'candy' and 'crush'.

candy

 

crush

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • both
  • top
  • launch
  • 10
  • before
  • slope
  • service
  • mass
  • spend
  • seriously
  • area
  • better

MOBILE PHONE APPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about mobile phone apps 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.

MOBILE PHONE APPS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'app'?

c)

What's your favourite app?

d)

How important is your mobile phone / tablet to you?

e)

Do you like gaming?

f)

How often do you download stuff?

g)

Are you / Have you been addicted to an app?

h)

What do you do in your break time from work / studying?

i)

Are games apps good for us?

j)

Do you block apps?

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

What social networking or photo-sharing apps do you like?

c)

How often do you delete apps? Why?

d)

Will apps ever become more popular than TV?

e)

In what ways are apps better than television?

f)

What would you like to see an app invented for?

g)

How could mobile technology change television?

h)

What might a new device do?

i)

What improvements would you like to see in mobile technology?

j)

What questions would you like to ask an app developer?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, (1) ____ in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was also the year's top revenue (2) ____ app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch last year. Candy Crush Saga is the (3) ____ favourite among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, reckons she plays it at least 10 times a day. She said: "I play it (4) ____ between breaks at work, before I go home, when I get home…It's addictive." Her colleague Katie Newell said she has successfully avoided playing the game. "I know too many people who have fallen (5) ____ to Candy Crush. I can't talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's a (6) ____ slope," she said.

Other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, an industry expert, said: "Snapchat (7) ____ from being a niche app to achieving much more critical mass, so much so that Facebook was reportedly      (8) ____ to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company." Mobile communications analyst Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps (9) ____ challenge the television industry. He said: "Every American spends $100-plus dollars (10) ____ month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile. It's an area that's (11) ____ for disruption….Someone will come up with new content, maybe a new device, and more importantly a better business         (12) ____."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

all

(b)

both

(c)

either

(d)

whole

2.

(a)

ear

(b)

earned

(c)

earner

(d)

earning

3.

(a)

currency

(b)

current

(c)

currant

(d)

currants

4.

(a)

on

(b)

at

(c)

in

(d)

to

5.

(a)

prey

(b)

ply

(c)

pray

(d)

plea

6.

(a)

slippery

(b)

slippage

(c)

slipped

(d)

slips

7.

(a)

erupted

(b)

left

(c)

departed

(d)

went

8.

(a)

willing

(b)

billing

(c)

filling

(d)

milling

9.

(a)

studiously

(b)

seriously

(c)

starkly

(d)

slanderously

10.

(a)

for

(b)

one

(c)

per

(d)

all

11.

(a)

firm

(b)

soft

(c)

ripe

(d)

raw

12.

(a)

vvvvv

(b)

model

(c)

vvvvv

(d)

vvvvv

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the year's top evnruee earning app

2.

500 million times since its nuhcla last year

3.

It's devticdai.

4.

Her lcluoeeag Katie Newell said…

5.

people who have fallen eryp to Candy Crush

6.

It's a ieprsylp slope

Paragraph 2

7.

an industry txrpee

8.

spend billions of dollars to eicaqru the company

9.

communications ytanlsa

10.

a service that is not enidlroezpsa (USA) / oasniprseedl (UK)

11.

It's an area that's ripe for poutdsrini

12.

a new cdivee

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

expert, said: "Snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving much more critical mass, so much

(    )

she plays it at least 10 times a day. She said: "I play it in between breaks at

(    )

avoided playing the game. "I know too many people who have fallen prey to Candy Crush. I can't

(    )

also the year's top revenue earning app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since

(    )

so that Facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company." Mobile communications

(    )

analyst Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps seriously challenge the television

(    )

its launch last year. Candy Crush Saga is the current favourite among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, reckons

(    )

personalized and not mobile. It's an area that's ripe for disruption….Someone will come

(    )

up with new content, maybe a new device, and more importantly a better business model."

(    )

Other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, an industry

(    )

talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's a slippery slope," she said.

1  )

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, both in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was

(    )

industry. He said: "Every American spends $100-plus per month on a service that is not

(    )

work, before I go home, when I get home…It's addictive." Her colleague Katie Newell said she has successfully

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

earning    also    year's    revenue    was    the    app    It    .    top

2.

game    downloaded    million    The    been    500    has    over   times.   

3.

plays   addict   day   10   it   reckons    times   at   she   One   a   least.   

4.

in    between    I    breaks    play    at    it    work.   

5.

too    know    I    it    to    prey    fallen    have    who    people    many.   

6.

dollars   to   acquire    the   company   Willing   to   spend   billions   of.   

7.

apps    The    seriously    year    challenge    when    television   mobile.   

8.

that    personalized    mobile    service    not    not    A    is    and.   

9.

area    an    It's    disruption    for    ripe    that's.   

10.

content    new    with    up    come    will    Someone.   

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2013, either / both in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was also the year's top revenue earning / earned app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launched / launch last year. Candy Crush Saga is the currant / current favourite among gamers. One addict, Deborah Alvarez, beckons / reckons she plays it at least / last 10 times a day. She said: "I play it in between breaks at work, before I go home, when I get home…It's addict / addictive." Her colleague / collage Katie Newell said she has successfully avoided playing the game. "I know too many people who have fallen hunter / prey to Candy Crush. I can't talk to them. I have to block invites to Candy Crush. It's a slippery slip / slope," she said.

Other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service Snapchat. Craig Palli, an industrial / industry expert, said: "Snapchat went from being a niche / corniche app to achieving much more critical / acclaim mass, so much so that Facebook was reports / reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to require / acquire the company." Mobile communications analyst / analysis Simon Khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps seriously / serious challenge the television industry. He said: "Every American spends / spending $100-plus per month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile. It's an area that's ripen / ripe for disruption….Someone will come up with new content, maybe a new device, and more importantly a better company / business model."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

c_ndy cr_sh s_g_ w_s th_ m_st d_wnl__d_d _pp _f 2013, b_th _n _ppl_'s _pp st_r_ _nd g__gl_'s pl_y st_r_. _t w_s _ls_ th_ y__r's t_p r_v_n__ __rn_ng _pp. th_ g_m_ h_s b__n d_wnl__d_d _v_r 500 m_ll__n t_m_s s_nc_ _ts l__nch l_st y__r. c_ndy cr_sh s_g_ _s th_ c_rr_nt f_v__r_t_ _m_ng g_m_rs. _n_ _dd_ct, d_b_r_h _lv_r_z, r_ck_ns sh_ pl_ys _t _t l__st 10 t_m_s _ d_y. sh_ s__d: "_ pl_y _t _n b_tw__n br__ks _t w_rk, b_f_r_ _ g_ h_m_, wh_n _ g_t h_m_…_t's _dd_ct_v_." h_r c_ll__g__ k_t__ n_w_ll s__d sh_ h_s s_cc_ssf_lly _v__d_d pl_y_ng th_ g_m_. "_ kn_w t__ m_ny p__pl_ wh_ h_v_ f_ll_n pr_y t_ c_ndy cr_sh. _ c_n't t_lk t_ th_m. _ h_v_ t_ bl_ck _nv_t_s t_ c_ndy cr_sh. _t's _ sl_pp_ry sl_p_," sh_ s__d.

_th_r t_p d_wnl__ds _f 2013 _ncl_d_ th_ ph_t_ _nd v_d__-sh_r_ng s_rv_c_ sn_pch_t. cr__g p_ll_, _n _nd_stry _xp_rt, s__d: "sn_pch_t w_nt fr_m b__ng _ n_ch_ _pp t_ _ch__v_ng m_ch m_r_ cr_t_c_l m_ss, s_ m_ch s_ th_t f_c_b__k w_s r_p_rt_dly w_ll_ng t_ sp_nd b_ll__ns _f d_ll_rs t_ _cq__r_ th_ c_mp_ny." m_b_l_ c_mm_n_c_t__ns _n_lyst s_m_n kh_l_f b_l__v_s 2014 c__ld b_ th_ y__r wh_n m_b_l_ _pps s_r___sly ch_ll_ng_ th_ t_l_v_s__n _nd_stry. h_ s__d: "_v_ry _m_r_c_n sp_nds $100-pl_s d_ll_rs p_r m_nth _n _ s_rv_c_ th_t _s n_t p_rs_n_l_z_d _nd n_t m_b_l_. _t's _n _r__ th_t's r_p_ f_r d_sr_pt__n….s_m__n_ w_ll c_m_ _p w_th n_w c_nt_nt, m_yb_ _ n_w d_v_c_ _nd m_r_ _mp_rt_ntly _ b_tt_r b_s_n_ss m_d_l."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

candy crush saga was the most downloaded app of 2013 both in apple's app store and google's play store it was also the year's top revenue earning app the game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch last year candy crush saga is the current favourite among gamers one addict deborah alvarez reckons she plays it at least 10 times a day she said "i play it in between breaks at work before i go home when i get home…it's addictive" her colleague katie newell said she has successfully avoided playing the game "i know too many people who have fallen prey to candy crush i can't talk to them i have to block invites to candy crush it's a slippery slope" she said

other top downloads of 2013 include the photo and video-sharing service snapchat craig palli an industry expert said "snapchat went from being a niche app to achieving much more critical mass so much so that facebook was reportedly willing to spend billions of dollars to acquire the company" mobile communications analyst simon khalaf believes 2014 could be the year when mobile apps seriously challenge the television industry he said "every american spends $100-plus per month on a service that is not personalized and not mobile it's an area that's ripe for disruption…someone will come up with new content maybe a new device, and more importantly a better business model"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

CandyCrushSagawasthemostdownloadedappof2013,bothinApple'sAppStor
eandGoogle'sPlaystore.Itwasalsotheyear'stoprevenueearningapp.Thegam
ehasbeendownloadedover500milliontimessinceitslaunchlastyear.CandyCr
ushSagaisthecurrentfavouriteamonggamers.Oneaddict,DeborahAlvarez,re
ckonssheplaysitatleast10timesaday.Shesaid:"Iplayitinbetweenbreaksatwo
rk,beforeIgohome,whenIgethome…It'saddictive."HercolleagueKatieNewell
saidshehassuccessfullyavoidedplayingthegame."Iknowtoomanypeoplewho
havefallenpreytoCandyCrush.Ican'ttalktothem.IhavetoblockinvitestoCand
yCrush.It'saslipperyslope,"shesaid.Othertopdownloadsof2013includethep
hotoandvideo-sharingserviceSnapchat.CraigPalli,anindustryexpert,sai
d:"Snapchatwentfrombeinganicheapptoachievingmuchmorecriticalmass,s
omuchsothatFacebookwasreportedlywillingtospendbillionsofdollarstoacqui
rethecompany."MobilecommunicationsanalystSimonKhalafbelieves2014co
uldbetheyearwhenmobileappsseriouslychallengethetelevisionindustry.Hes
aid:"EveryAmericanspends$100-plusdollarspermonthonaservicethatisn
otpersonalizedandnotmobile.It'sanareathat'sripefordisruption….Someone
willcomeupwithnewcontent,maybeanewdeviceandmoreimportantlyabetter
businessmodel."

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast mobile apps and television. Which do you prefer and why?

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about mobile phone apps. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MOBILE PHONE APPS: Make a poster about mobile phone apps. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. APPS OR TV? Write a magazine article about the rivalry between apps and TV. Include imaginary interviews with supporters of both.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a mobile communications expert. Ask him/her three questions about mobile phone apps. Give him/her three of your opinions on their future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

revenue

a.

income

2.

earning

b.

grossing

3.

launch

c.

introduction

4.

addict

d.

enthusiast

5.

prey

e.

victim

6.

expert

f.

authority

7.

achieving

g.

reaching

8.

acquire

h.

buy

9.

ripe

i.

ready

10.

device

j.

gadget

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Apple App Store and Google Play

2.

Top

3.

500 million times

4.

Addictive

5.

Invites to Candy Crush

6.

An industry expert

7.

Facebook

8.

Television

9.

Over $100

10.

A business model

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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