The Value of Friction
A three-page C1 longer-reading lesson about the value of friction. Includes vocabulary matching, a numbered article, comprehension questions, discussion and an opinion-writing task.
What’s in the worksheet?
- Vocabulary matching before reading
- Numbered reading text with key vocabulary in bold
- Comprehension, discussion and homework writing
- Teacher answer key on page 3
Read and evaluate productive difficulty, digital convenience and the value of a pause. This C1 lesson develops text-based comprehension before a qualified argument of the learner's own.
Worksheet preview
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Page 1 of 3 · A4 printable PDF
Page 2 of 3 · A4 printable PDF
Page 3 of 3 · Answer key · A4 printable PDF
A simple way to teach it
Before the lesson
Use pages 1–2 and reserve page 3 for feedback. Begin with the printed warm-up and six vocabulary matches, focusing on friction, deliberate and impulsive.
- Compare vocabulary answers, then read for the central claim and reread the numbered paragraphs for supporting reasons and qualifications.
- Compare navigation, learning and purchase confirmation to distinguish useful effort from pointless obstacles.
- Discuss systems needing more or less friction, then plan the 180–220-word response to the claim that convenience makes people less capable, with a counterargument and conclusion.
Support and extension
Support with a helpful / unhelpful difficulty chart. Accept accurate comprehension paraphrases; discussion and writing need reasoned individual responses. Extend by asking learners to test the argument against a case where easier access is essential.
Suggested approach. Adjust the pace and number of questions to suit your class.
