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20 Sept 2026
Image Credit: Florian Olivo from Unsplas
Do Video Games Deserve Their Bad Reputation?
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Playing games can help children relax with friends.
b) Video games always turn children into bad people.
c) Nobody plays video games on a mobile phone.
Ask:
(1) Do you like playing video games after school?
(2) Which game is your favorite to play with friends?
VOCABULARY
screen (/skriːn/, noun)
Meaning: The flat glass part of a computer, television, or phone that shows images.
Example: I look at the screen when I play games.
relax (/rɪˈlæks/, verb)
Meaning: To rest and feel happy after a long day.
Example: Children relax by reading or playing games.
friend (/frend/, noun)
Meaning: A person who you know well and like to spend time with.
Example: I play games with my best friend.
tired (/ˈtaɪəd/, adjective)
Meaning: Needing rest or sleep.
Example: He is tired because he stays up late.
rule (/ruːl/, noun)
Meaning: An instruction about what you must or must not do.
Example: Following a family rule helps you sleep well.
world (/wɜːld/, noun)
Meaning: A place in a game or in real life.
Example: Some video games have colorful worlds to explore.
Many young people love video games. They play games on a computer or a mobile phone. Games have bright colors and fun sounds. Children play with friends after school. Playing a game helps kids relax after a busy day.
Some parents worry about video games. They say that games take too much time. Kids stay up late and feel tired at school. Sometimes kids get angry when they lose a game. Some games have scary or bad things inside them.
Is gaming always bad? No, it is not! Video games can teach us new things. Players solve clever puzzles and think fast. Friends talk and work together in fun online worlds. Video games are safe when children follow simple family rules. It is good to stop playing and go outside too.
Image Credit: JESHOOTS.COM from Unsplash
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Do you play games on a phone or a computer?
(2) How do you feel when you play with your friends?
(3) Why do some parents worry about video games?
(4) What rules do you have for screen time at home?
(5) What outdoor activities do you enjoy doing?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: friend, relax, rules, screen
Many young people love video games. They play games on a computer or a mobile phone. Games have bright colors and fun sounds. Children play with a _______(1) after school. Playing a game helps kids _______(2) after a busy day.
Some parents worry about video games. They say that games take too much time. Kids stay up late and feel tired at school. Sometimes kids get angry when they lose a game. Some games have scary or bad things inside them.
Is gaming always bad? No, it is not! Video games can teach us new things. Players solve clever puzzles and think fast. Friends talk and work together in fun online worlds. Video games are safe when children follow simple family _______(3) on their _______(4). It is good to stop playing and go outside too.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this text?
a) Video games are always bad for all children.
b) Video games have bad sides, but they can be fun and helpful with good rules.
c) Children should only play video games on mobile phones.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Video games can help children relax after a busy day. T/F
(2) Parents never worry about their children staying up late to play games. T/F
(3) Video games can help players learn to solve puzzles and think fast. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the following events in the correct order (1-3):
( ) Children follow simple family rules to stay safe.
( ) Children play fun video games after school to relax.
( ) Children stop playing their games and go outside to play.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) relax
(2) screen
(3) rule
(4) friend
(5) tired
a) Needing rest or sleep.
b) A person you know well and like.
c) An instruction about what you must do.
d) To rest and feel happy.
e) The flat glass part of a display.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) Playing video games helps me _______ with my classmates after school.
a) relax
b) angry
c) rule
(2) We must follow a family _______ to stay safe while gaming.
a) screen
b) rule
c) tired
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
A) a busy
B) video games
C) day at school
D) relax after
E) help kids
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
A) rules when
B) We should
C) games online
D) follow family
E) we play
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) friend
(2) relax
(3) rules
(4) screen
Section 2: Main Idea
b
Section 3: True or False
(1) T
(2) F
(3) T
Section 4: Put Events in Order
1) Children play fun video games after school to relax.
2) Children follow simple family rules to stay safe.
3) Children stop playing their games and go outside to play.
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) d
(2) e
(3) c
(4) b
(5) a
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) a
(2) b
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) B - E - D - A - C (Video games help kids relax after a busy day at school.)
(2) B - D - A - E - C (We should follow family rules when we play games online.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own answers based on the text.
Thank you for your feedback!