A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Multiple Choice Check understanding.
- Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
- New Sentences Choose words to complete sentences in new contexts.
- Discussion Builder Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What do you think is still a challenge for these robots?
a) Using them widely in factories and workplaces
b) Getting people interested in watching them
c) Selling more than a few hundred robots
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Chinese robot company Unitree had a very successful stock-market debut in Shanghai. Its shares rose more than 600% on the first day of trading. This made Unitree the first humanoid robot maker to be listed in mainland China.
Unitree has gained attention with robots that can dance, do kung-fu and perform other human-like movements. Last year, the company sold more than 5,500 humanoid robots around the world, making it the world's largest seller of humanoid robots.
China sees humanoid robots as an important future technology and has invested heavily in the industry. Unitree's strong market debut shows that investors are also excited about the company's future.
However, humanoid robots are still not widely used in factories or other workplaces. Most of Unitree's sales are currently for research and education. Industrial use made up less than 10% of its sales in the first three quarters of 2025.
Experts say it may take time before these robots are widely used in factories and homes. For now, Unitree's robots may be impressive to watch, but the bigger question is how useful they will become in everyday work.
Robot Maker Has Big Market Debut
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What do you think is still a challenge for these robots?
a) Using them widely in factories and workplaces
b) Getting people interested in watching them
c) Selling more than a few hundred robots
-
stock-market debut (n. phrase)
-
shares (n.)
-
humanoid robot (n. phrase)
-
list (v.)
-
gain attention (v. phrase)
-
human-like (adj.)
-
invest (v.)
-
industrial use (n. phrase)
-
make up (phr. v.)
-
impressive (adj.)
Chinese robot company Unitree had a very successful stock-market debut in Shanghai. Its shares rose more than 600% on the first day of trading. This made Unitree the first humanoid robot maker to be listed in mainland China.
Unitree has gained attention with robots that can dance, do kung-fu and perform other human-like movements. Last year, the company sold more than 5,500 humanoid robots around the world, making it the world's largest seller of humanoid robots.
China sees humanoid robots as an important future technology and has invested heavily in the industry. Unitree's strong market debut shows that investors are also excited about the company's future.
However, humanoid robots are still not widely used in factories or other workplaces. Most of Unitree's sales are currently for research and education. Industrial use made up less than 10% of its sales in the first three quarters of 2025.
Experts say it may take time before these robots are widely used in factories and homes. For now, Unitree's robots may be impressive to watch, but the bigger question is how useful they will become in everyday work.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Chinese robot company Unitree had a very successful stock-market debut in Shanghai. Its shares (1) more than 600% on the first day of trading. This made Unitree the first humanoid robot maker to be listed in mainland China.
Unitree has gained attention with robots that can dance, do kung-fu and perform other human-like (2) . Last year, the company sold more than 5,500 humanoid robots around the world, making it the world's largest seller of humanoid robots.
China sees humanoid robots as an important future technology and has invested heavily in the (3) . Unitree's strong market debut shows that investors are also excited about the company's future.
However, humanoid robots are still not widely used in factories or other workplaces. Most of Unitree's sales are currently for research and (4) . Industrial use made up less than 10% of its sales in the first three quarters of 2025.
Experts say it may take (5) before these robots are widely used in factories and homes. For now, Unitree's robots may be impressive to watch, but the bigger question is how (6) they will become in everyday work.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Unitree's robot sales grew because its robots can do impressive movements.
- Unitree had a strong market debut, but its robots are still not widely used. Correct answer
- China is using humanoid robots widely in factories and other workplaces.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Unitree's shares rose more than 600% on their first day of trading. TRUEFALSE True
2. Most of Unitree's robots are currently sold for use in factories. TRUEFALSE False
3. Unitree sold more than 5,500 humanoid robots around the world last year. TRUEFALSE True
4. Experts expect humanoid robots to become widely used in factories and homes very soon. TRUEFALSE False
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why was Unitree's stock-market debut important?
a) It became the first humanoid robot maker listed in mainland China.Correct
b) It became the first Chinese company to sell robots overseas.
c) It opened its first large robot factory in Shanghai.
2. What are most of Unitree's robots currently sold for?
a) Factory and warehouse work
b) Research and educationCorrect
c) Entertainment and sports events
3. What question does the story raise about humanoid robots?
a) Whether Unitree will sell fewer robots next year
b) Whether they will become useful in everyday workCorrect
c) Whether they can perform more human-like movements
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. gaine) attention
2. selld) robots
3. investc) heavily
4. make upb) less than 10%
5. performa) human-like movements
a) human-like movements
b) less than 10%
c) heavily
d) robots
e) attention
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
-
The young artist began to {blank} after her work was shared online.
-
My uncle bought some {blank} in a technology company last year.
-
The company was {blank} on the stock market after several years of growth.
-
The government has {blank} heavily in new public transport.
-
International students {blank} almost half of the class.
-
The student's final presentation was clear, confident, and very {blank}.
New Sentences
Use the words in the bank to complete the new sentences.
gain attention / human-like / impressive / industrial use / invested / listed / made up / shares
- The young artist began to after her work was shared online.
- My uncle bought some in a technology company last year.
- The company was on the stock market after several years of growth.
- The government has heavily in new public transport.
- International students almost half of the class.
- The student's final presentation was clear, confident, and very .
Discussion Builder
1) Reason 2) Result 3) Contrast
Q: Why do you think videos of dancing or fighting robots get so much attention?
A:Q: What kinds of jobs do you think humanoid robots could do well?
A:Q: Would you feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Why do you think videos of dancing or fighting robots get so much attention?
A: Videos of dancing robots get a lot of attention they are unusual and fun to watch.
because / but / so / although
Videos of dancing robots get a lot of attention because they are unusual and fun to watch.
Q: What kinds of jobs do you think humanoid robots could do well?
A: Humanoid robots could do some dangerous jobs. people will feel safer at work.
For example, / As a result, / However, / In addition,
Humanoid robots could do some dangerous jobs. As a result, people will feel safer at work.
Q: Would you feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot?
A: I would not feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot at first, I might get used to it.
but / so / because / and
I would not feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot at first, but I might get used to it.
Discussion Questions
- Did anything in this story surprise you? Why?
- Why do you think videos of dancing or fighting robots get so much attention?
- Would you like to see a humanoid robot in real life? Why or why not?
- What kinds of jobs do you think humanoid robots could do well?
- What kinds of jobs would be difficult for humanoid robots?
- Would you feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot?
- Do you think robots will become common in homes one day? Why or why not?
- If you could design a humanoid robot for one everyday task, what would you want it to do?
Discussion Questions
- Did anything in this story surprise you? Why?
- Why do you think videos of dancing or fighting robots get so much attention?
- Would you like to see a humanoid robot in real life? Why or why not?
- What kinds of jobs do you think humanoid robots could do well?
- What kinds of jobs would be difficult for humanoid robots?
- Would you feel comfortable working with a humanoid robot?
- Do you think robots will become common in homes one day? Why or why not?
- If you could design a humanoid robot for one everyday task, what would you want it to do?
Answers
Think Ahead: a
Listening: (1) rose, (2) movements, (3) industry, (4) education, (5) time, (6) useful
Main Idea: Unitree had a strong market debut, but its robots are still not widely used.
True or False:
- True. The story says Unitree's shares rose more than 600% on the first day.
- False. Most of Unitree's sales are for research and education, not industrial use.
- True. The story says Unitree sold more than 5,500 humanoid robots last year.
- False. Experts say it may take time before these robots are widely used.
Multiple Choice: a, b, b
Vocabulary:
- gain: attention
- sell: robots
- invest: heavily
- make up: less than 10%
- perform: human-like movements
New Sentences: 1. gain attention; 2. shares; 3. listed; 4. invested; 5. made up; 6. impressive
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Result. 3) Contrast.
- because
- As a result,
- but