EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices

An EFL and ESL English Lesson

Lesson Collection
A photo of a pair of Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons.

Date: 29th July 2023

Level: B1 Intermediate

Grammar: Adjectives with prefixes

Topics: Video Games, Nature & the Environment, Politics & Law

Printables: 10-Page Lesson, Single-Page Lesson

Worksheets: Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing

Lesson

Text

EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices

Future generations of battery-powered gaming systems will be more user-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such systems are unable to be taken out without inconvenient professional help.

The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental waste of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many valuable resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The definition they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.

While this rule does not apply worldwide, it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non-standard model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in development and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently provided details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be forced to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

Information sources (external links): cnet.com, ign.com

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Warm-up activities and vocabulary

Activities:

What kind of topics can people learn about from playing video games?

Starting with the word batteries, think of a new word that begins with its last letter (s) and is connected to it by theme. Do the same with the new word and its last letter. Keep going like this until you can get back to batteries by think of a word ending in b. Try to have at least three words.

Wired or wireless? Which is better for you and why?

Vocabulary:

1. Scan the text and find a word or phrase that means:

  • A. easy to use (paragraph 1)u...
  • B. not possible (paragraph 1)u...
  • C. expert (paragraph 1)p...
  • D. planned (paragraph 2)d...
  • E. expensive (paragraph 2)v...
  • F. publicly (paragraph 2)c...
  • G. internationally (paragraph 3)w...
  • H. secret (paragraph 3)u...
  • I. gave (paragraph 3)p...
  • J. made to (paragraph 3)f...
Answers
  • A. user-friendly, B. unable, C. professional, D. designed, E. valuable, F. commercially, G. worldwide, H. unknown, I. provided, J. forced to

2. What does the italicised word below mean — lesson, explanation, or speech?

  • the definition they give is not unclear
Answer
  • explanation

3. Which word below doesn’t belong?

  • market — resource — professional — commercial
Answer
  • resource (the others describe business)

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Reading comprehension true or false

  1. Gaming systems in 2027 must come with two batteries.
  2. Only a qualified person can swap the Switch battery.
  3. The EU plans to buy back all used batteries after 2027.
  4. Batteries contain important natural resources.
  5. The law gives clear instructions about changeable batteries.
  6. Future products will have to come with a screwdriver.
  7. The EU policy will likely affect the rest of the world.
  8. The next Nintendo system is code-named Project Q.
  9. Not just Nintendo and Valve have been affected.
  10. Sony hope the new law will be delayed.
Answers
  • 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. True, 6. False, 7. True, 8. False, 9. True, 10. False

reading worksheet  |   interactive  |   listening  |   top

Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms match-up

Match the words on the left to their endings to make phrases from the text.

  1. battery-
  2. professional
  3. commercially
  4. valuable
  5. raw
  6. user-
  7. in
  8. forced to
  9. provided
  10. environmental
  1. details
  2. resources
  3. available
  4. waste
  5. friendly
  6. help
  7. materials
  8. rethink
  9. powered
  10. addition
Answers
  • 1I, 2F, 3C, 4B, 5G, 6E, 7J, 8H, 9A, 10D

Match the words on the left from the text to their synonyms.

  1. user
  2. non-standard
  3. development
  4. generation
  5. unclear
  1. range
  2. production
  3. unusual
  4. not understandable
  5. player
Answers
  • 1E, 2C, 3B, 4A, 5D

Match the words on the left from the text to their antonyms.

  1. inconvenient
  2. reuse
  3. dissimilar
  1. practical
  2. related
  3. throw away
Answers
  • 1A, 2C, 3B

interactive  |   top

Grammar gap-fill cloze: adjectives with prefixes

Add the correct prefix to the adjectives before putting them in the correct spaces.

Use the prefixes: dis, im, in, non-, re, un.

  1. likely
  2. able
  3. recycled
  4. possible
  5. standard
  1. known
  2. clear
  3. moveable
  4. similar
  5. convenient

Future generations of battery-powered gaming systems will be more user-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be 1._______________ to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such systems are 2._______________ to be taken out without 3._______________ professional help.

The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental waste of 4._______________ batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many valuable resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The definition they give is not 5._______________. They say that a battery should be easily “6._______________ and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.

While this rule does not apply worldwide, it is 7._______________ that game companies would develop a 8._______________ model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is 9._______________ at what stage the next Nintendo system is in development and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently provided details on their new Project Q, a device not too 10._______________ to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be forced to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

Answers
  1. 1D impossible, 2B unable, 3J inconvenient, 4C non-recycled, 5G unclear, 6H removeable, 7A unlikely, 8E non-standard, 9F unknown, 10I dissimilar

grammar worksheet  |   interactive  |   top

Vocabulary multiple-choice cloze

Future 1._______________ of battery-powered gaming systems will be more 2._______________-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such systems are unable to be taken out without inconvenient 3._______________ help.

The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental 4._______________ of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many 5._______________ resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The 6._______________ they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.

While this rule does not apply 7._______________, it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non-standard model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in 8._______________ and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently 9._______________ details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be 10._______________ to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

1.
A. generally
B. generations
C. powers
D. powerfully
2.
A. user
B. used
C. usage
D. useless
3.
A. employee
B. professor
C. educational
D. professional
4.
A. waste
B. fasten
C. tasty
D. taste
5.
A. valuable
B. unpleasant
C. trendy
D. scientific
6.
A. defined
B. definite
C. definition
D. definitely
7.
A. worldwide
B. worldly
C. wildly
D. wide
8.
A. decision
B. divide
C. decide
D. development
9.
A. processed
B. served
C. provided
D. stole
10.
A. freeze
B. formed
C. frame
D. forced
Answers
  1. 1B, 2A, 3D, 4A, 5A, 6C, 7A, 8D, 9C, 10D

vocabulary worksheet  |   interactive  |   listening  |   top

Writing cloze

Spell the missing words correctly.

  1. t n o g a r e i s n e
  2. s r e u
  3. n a b e u l
  4. a e n i s p f r o l s o
  5. g n d e d s e i
  1. e t w a s
  2. b v a l u e l a
  3. i a s l t e r m a
  4. f i e i o n t n i d
  5. l m i c a o r c e l y m
  1. d w i l w e o r d
  2. a d s d r n t a
  3. p n e o t l e d m v e
  4. v p d r i d e o
  5. r c d f e o

Future 1._______________ of battery-powered gaming systems will be more 2._______________-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such systems are 3._______________ to be taken out without inconvenient 4._______________ help.

The new rule is 5._______________ to reduce the environmental 6._______________ of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many 7._______________ resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw 8._______________”. The 9._______________ they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “10._______________ available tools”.

While this rule does not apply 11._______________, it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non- 12._______________ model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in 13._______________ and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently 14._______________ details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be 15._______________ to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

Answers
  • 1. generations, 2. user, 3. unable, 4. professional, 5. designed, 6. waste, 7. valuable, 8. materials, 9. definition, 10. commercially, 11. worldwide, 12. standard, 13. development, 14. provided, 15. forced

writing worksheet  |   interactive  |   top

Fill-in missing vowels

Fill-in the text with the three missing letters: e o u

F_t_r_ g_n_rati_ns _f batt_ry-p_w_r_d gaming syst_ms will b_ m_r_ _s_r-fri_ndly thanks t_ a n_w European Union law. Starting fr_m 2027, batt_ri_s in syst_ms lik_ th_ Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck m_st n_t b_ imp_ssibl_ t_ b_ swapp_d by th_ play_r. Th_ batt_ri_s c_rr_ntly in s_ch syst_ms ar_ _nabl_ t_ b_ tak_n __t with__t inc_nv_ni_nt pr_f_ssi_nal h_lp.

Th_ n_w r_l_ is d_sign_d t_ r_d_c_ th_ _nvir_nm_ntal wast_ _f n_n-r_cycl_d batt_ri_s. In a stat_m_nt giv_n by th_ European Council, th_y said that “batt_ri_s c_ntain many val_abl_ r_s__rc_s and w_ m_st b_ abl_ t_ r__s_ th_s_ critical raw mat_rials”. Th_ d_finiti_n th_y giv_ is n_t _ncl_ar. Th_y say that a batt_ry sh__ld b_ _asily “r_m_v_abl_ and r_plac_abl_” with th_ _s_ _f “c_mm_rcially availabl_ t__ls”.

Whil_ this r_l_ d__s n_t apply w_rldwid_, it is _nlik_ly that gam_ c_mpani_s w__ld d_v_l_p a n_n-standard m_d_l _f th_ir p_p_lar syst_ms j_st f_r __r_p_. It is _nkn_wn at what stag_ th_ n_xt Nintendo syst_m is in d_v_l_pm_nt and h_w it might b_ aff_ct_d. In additi_n, Sony als_ r_c_ntly pr_vid_d d_tails _n th_ir n_w Project Q, a d_vic_ n_t t__ dissimilar t_ th_ Switch. As a r_s_lt, Sony might b_ f_rc_d t_ r_think th_ir n_w syst_m f_r r_l_as_ in th_ __r_p_an mark_t t__.

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Cool-down discussion, game, and keywords

Discussion questions:

  • Should all handheld devices have easily replaceable batteries?
  • What gaming systems do you like to play on?
  • What items and materials can be recycled?
  • What everyday things can be passed on to younger generations to use?
  • Do you feel a personal responsibility to recycle and not throw away?

Beginning with each letter below, think of things that are battery-powered.

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

CEFR B1 10 lesson keywords:

(adj = adjective / adv = adverb / n = noun / v = verb)

  • definition (n)
  • development (n)
  • force (n/v)
  • generation (n)
  • professional (adj)
  • provide (v)
  • user (n)
  • valuable (adj)
  • waste (n/v)
  • worldwide (adj/adv)

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Interactive exercises

EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices

Reading comprehension true or false

Choose the correct options from the pairs

EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices

Future generations of battery-powered gaming systems will be more user-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such devices are unable to be taken out without inconvenient professional help.

The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental waste of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many valuable resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The definition they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.

While this rule does not apply worldwide, it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non-standard model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in development and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently provided details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be forced to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

1.
Gaming systems in 2027 must come with two batteries.
2.
Only a qualified person can swap the Switch battery.
3.
The EU plans to buy back all used batteries after 2027.
4.
Batteries contain important natural resources.
5.
The law gives clear instructions about changeable batteries.
6.
Future products will have to come with a screwdriver.
7.
The EU policy will likely affect the rest of the world.
8.
The next Nintendo system is code-named Project Q.
9.
Not just Nintendo and Valve have been affected.
10.
Sony hope the new law will be delayed.

reading worksheet  |   lesson  |   listening  |   top

Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms match-up

Select the correct matches from the dropdown menus

Phrases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Synonyms
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Antonyms
16.
17.
18.

lesson  |   top

Grammar gap-fill cloze: adjectives with prefixes

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

Future generations of battery-powered gaming systems will be more user-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be
1.
possible
to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such devices are
2.
able
to be taken out without
3.
convenient
professional help.
The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental waste of
4.
recycled
batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many valuable resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The definition they give is not
5.
clear.
They say that a battery should be easily “
6.
moveable
and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.
While this rule does not apply worldwide, it is
7.
likely
that game companies would develop a
8.
standard
model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is
9.
known
at what stage the next Nintendo system is in development and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently provided details on their new Project Q, a device not too
10.
similar
to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be forced to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

grammar worksheet  |   lesson  |   top

Vocabulary multiple-choice cloze

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

Future
1.
of battery-powered gaming systems will be more
2.
-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such devices are unable to be taken out without inconvenient
3.
help.
The new rule is designed to reduce the environmental
4.
of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many
5.
resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw materials”. The
6.
they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “commercially available tools”.
While this rule does not apply
7.
,
it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non-standard model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in
8.
and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently
9.
details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be
10.
to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

vocabulary worksheet  |   lesson  |   listening  |   top

Writing cloze

Type the words correctly in the boxes

Future
1.
of battery-powered gaming systems will be more
2.
-friendly thanks to a new European Union law. Starting from 2027, batteries in systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck must not be impossible to be swapped by the player. The batteries currently in such devices are
3.
to be taken out without inconvenient
4.
help.
The new rule is
5.
to reduce the environmental
6.
of non-recycled batteries. In a statement given by the European Council, they said that “batteries contain many
7.
resources and we must be able to reuse those critical raw
8.
”.
The
9.
they give is not unclear. They say that a battery should be easily “removeable and replaceable” with the use of “
10.
available tools”.
While this rule does not apply
11.
,
it is unlikely that game companies would develop a non-
12.
model of their popular systems just for Europe. It is unknown at what stage the next Nintendo system is in
13.
and how it might be affected. In addition, Sony also recently
14.
details on their new Project Q, a device not too dissimilar to the Switch. As a result, Sony might be
15.
to rethink their new system for release in the European market too.

writing worksheet  |   lesson  |   top

Listening exercises

EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices

Listening comprehension true or false

Choose the correct options from the pairs

EU law requires replaceable batteries in devices
1.
Gaming systems in 2027 must come with two batteries.
2.
Only a qualified person can swap the Switch battery.
3.
The EU plans to buy back all used batteries after 2027.
4.
Batteries contain important natural resources.
5.
The law gives clear instructions about changeable batteries.
6.
Future products will have to come with a screwdriver.
7.
The EU policy will likely be followed by the rest of the world.
8.
The next Nintendo system is code-named Project Q.
9.
Not just Nintendo and Valve have been affected.
10.
Sony hope the new law will be delayed.

lesson  |   interactive  |   top

Keyword reordering

Select the words from the dropdown menus in the order they are heard

definition development forced generations professional provided user valuable waste worldwide

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

lesson  |   interactive  |   top

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