Why read this: This short news story tells your students about a real change at Apple, one of the most famous companies in the world. The boss, Tim Cook, will soon leave, and a new boss may take over. Students learn about the new man, John Ternus, and the three big problems he must deal with: AI, US taxes on China, and a product that did not sell well. The story uses simple words and short sentences, so A2 readers can follow the news without help.
What to notice: The article gives facts in a clear order. Each problem comes in its own paragraph, and the words "first", "second", and "third" tell the reader what comes next. New ideas are explained right away. For example, the text says "AI is new computer technology that can think and talk like a person" and "these taxes are called tariffs". Help students notice these short explanations. They show how news writers help new readers.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, simple news in English. They learn key words for technology and business, like vice president, tech giant, AI bubble, and VR headset. They practise finding facts in the text, like ages, dates, and the names of products. The questions ask them to list, name, and describe — so they practise picking out information and putting it in their own words. This is good early practice for reading real news in English.
Apple's new boss: who is John Ternus?
Tim Cook will soon leave Apple, and a man named John Ternus may take his place.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Apple is a famous American company that makes phones and computers. The bossboss: The person who is in charge of a workplace and tells others what to do. — 老板；上司 of Apple is Tim Cook, and he is 65 years old. Soon, he will leave his job, and a new boss will take over. Most people think the new boss will be a man named John Ternus.
John Ternus is 51 years old, and he has worked at Apple for 25 years. He is a vice president: the executive ranking just below the president of a company — 副总裁, and he helps make new products. People call him "a product guy: a boss whose passion is the product itself, not money or operations — 产品型高管" because he loves products. A BBC writer met him in the UK and asked if he will be the new boss. He laughed but did not answer. Insteadinstead: In place of something else. — 代替；反而, he said only nice things about Tim Cook.
Apple is a very big and rich tech giant: a very large and powerful technology company — 科技巨头, but it has some big problems. The first problem is AI. AI is new computer technologytechnology: Scientific knowledge used to create machines and devices that help us. — 技术；科技 that can think and talk like a person. Other tech giants: the largest technology companies — 科技巨头 spent a lot of money on AI, but Apple did not. Some people say Apple is too slow with this new technology. Apple uses AI toolstool: An object used for doing a particular job or activity, such as a hammer or knife. — 工具；器具 from other companies, like ChatGPT and Gemini. Some expertsexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 worryworry: To feel anxious or troubled about a problem or possible event. — 担心；烦恼 there is an AI bubble: a time when AI companies are worth too much money and the price may suddenly drop — AI泡沫. They think prices for AI companies may fall soon.
The secondsecond: Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two — 第二的 problem is the US president, Donald Trump. Trump put new taxestax: money that you have to pay to the government based on your income or the cost of goods — 税；税款 on things made in China, and these taxes are called tariffstariff: A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves — 关税；关税制度. Apple makes many of its products in China. So the new taxes hurthurt: To cause pain to someone or to feel pain. — 伤害；疼痛 Apple a lot. Tim Cook tried to be friends with Trump and even gave him a goldgold: A valuable yellow metal used in jewellery and money. — 黄金 gift. The new boss must also work well with Trump.
The third problem is Tim Cook's lastlast: Most recent — 最近的 big product, the Vision Pro. The Vision Pro is an expensive VR headset: a special device you wear on your head that shows a computer-made world — VR头显 that you wear on your face. It did not sell well. The new boss must do better and make people excited about Apple again. That will not be easy.
Apple is a famous American company that makes phones and computers. The bossboss: The person who is in charge of a workplace and tells others what to do. — 老板；上司 of Apple is Tim Cook, and he is 65 years old. Soon, he will leave his job, and a new boss will take over. Most people think the new boss will be a man named John Ternus.
John Ternus is 51 years old, and he has worked at Apple for 25 years. He is a vice president: the executive ranking just below the president of a company — 副总裁, and he helps make new products. People call him "a product guy: a boss whose passion is the product itself, not money or operations — 产品型高管" because he loves products. A BBC writer met him in the UK and asked if he will be the new boss. He laughed but did not answer. Insteadinstead: In place of something else. — 代替；反而, he said only nice things about Tim Cook.
Apple is a very big and rich tech giant: a very large and powerful technology company — 科技巨头, but it has some big problems. The first problem is AI. AI is new computer technologytechnology: Scientific knowledge used to create machines and devices that help us. — 技术；科技 that can think and talk like a person. Other tech giants: the largest technology companies — 科技巨头 spent a lot of money on AI, but Apple did not. Some people say Apple is too slow with this new technology. Apple uses AI toolstool: An object used for doing a particular job or activity, such as a hammer or knife. — 工具；器具 from other companies, like ChatGPT and Gemini. Some expertsexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 worryworry: To feel anxious or troubled about a problem or possible event. — 担心；烦恼 there is an AI bubble: a time when AI companies are worth too much money and the price may suddenly drop — AI泡沫. They think prices for AI companies may fall soon.
The secondsecond: Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two — 第二的 problem is the US president, Donald Trump. Trump put new taxestax: money that you have to pay to the government based on your income or the cost of goods — 税；税款 on things made in China, and these taxes are called tariffstariff: A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves — 关税；关税制度. Apple makes many of its products in China. So the new taxes hurthurt: To cause pain to someone or to feel pain. — 伤害；疼痛 Apple a lot. Tim Cook tried to be friends with Trump and even gave him a goldgold: A valuable yellow metal used in jewellery and money. — 黄金 gift. The new boss must also work well with Trump.
The third problem is Tim Cook's lastlast: Most recent — 最近的 big product, the Vision Pro. The Vision Pro is an expensive VR headset: a special device you wear on your head that shows a computer-made world — VR头显 that you wear on your face. It did not sell well. The new boss must do better and make people excited about Apple again. That will not be easy.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How old is John Ternus?
- 02
Why do the new US taxes hurt Apple?
- 03
What was Tim Cook's last big product?
- 04
Name three big problems that the new boss of Apple must deal with.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe John Ternus. Use facts from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How old is John Ternus?
- 02
Why do the new US taxes hurt Apple?
- 03
What was Tim Cook's last big product?
- 04
Name three big problems that the new boss of Apple must deal with.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe John Ternus. Use facts from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words