Smart Home Technology – Bilingual English–Spanish Story, Audio & Grammar Practice (A1–C2)

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Vocabulary: smart home · voice · devices · lights

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A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 Buy me a coffee

Grammar focus: los verbos del texto inglés aparecen destacados en azul. Debajo de cada lectura puedes abrir Past tense version para comparar la misma historia en presente y en pasado, y Grammar point para estudiar una estructura útil del nivel.

A1 | BEGINNER

Laura has a virtual assistant at home. She uses her voice to turn on the lights and play music. It also adjusts the temperature. She likes how technology makes her life easier. Before going to sleep, she asks the assistant to turn off the lights.

A1 | PRINCIPIANTE

Laura tiene un asistente virtual en casa. Usa su voz para encender las luces y poner música. El asistente también ajusta la temperatura. A Laura le gusta que la tecnología haga su vida más fácil. Antes de dormir, le pide que apague las luces.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ A1 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura had a virtual assistant at home. She used her voice to turn on the lights and play music. It also adjusted the temperature. She liked how technology made her life easier. Before going to sleep, she asked the assistant to turn off the lights.

Main changes

has→had uses→used adjusts→adjusted likes→liked makes→made asks→asked

🧠 A1 | Grammar point ask + person + to + verb

La historia dice: she asks the assistant to turn off the lights. Cuando pedimos a una persona —o a un asistente— que haga algo, usamos ask + person + to + verb.

Regla fácil: ask someone to do something = pedir a alguien que haga algo.

ask him to wait ask her to help ask the assistant to turn off the lights

Recuerda: después de la persona usamos to + verbo.

🔊 AUDIO A1

🇬🇧 English

Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

A1 | Practice

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Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• virtual assistant — asistente virtual
• at home — en casa
• uses her voice — usa su voz
• turn on the lights — encender las luces
• play music — poner música

• adjusts the temperature — ajusta la temperatura
• makes her life easier — hace su vida más fácil
• before going to sleep — antes de dormir
• asks the assistant — le pide al asistente
• turn off the lights — apagar las luces

Complete the sentence

Laura has a virtual She uses her It also adjusts the Before going to sleep, she asks it to turn off the

Choose the correct answer

What does Laura have at home? Choose A virtual assistant A robot dog A camera How does she turn on the lights? Choose With her phone With her voice With her hand What does she ask the assistant before bed? Choose To play music To turn off the lights To open the window

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

She uses her voice

Reading comprehension

1. What does Laura use to control things at home?
2. What can the assistant do?
3. What does Laura do before going to sleep?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura has a virtual assistant at home.
• She uses her voice to turn on the lights and play music.
• Before going to sleep, she asks the assistant to turn off the lights.

Translate into English:

• Laura tiene un asistente virtual en su casa.
• También ajusta la temperatura.
• Antes de dormir, le pide al asistente que apague las luces.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.

A2 | ELEMENTARY

Laura enjoys her smart home. With her phone, she controls the lights and heating. She also uses a security camera to see who is at the door. When she leaves home, the system turns off the lights automatically. She loves how technology improves her comfort and security.

A2 | BÁSICO

Laura disfruta de su casa inteligente. Con su teléfono, controla las luces y la calefacción. También usa una cámara de seguridad para ver quién está en la puerta. Cuando sale de casa, el sistema apaga las luces automáticamente. Le encanta que la tecnología mejore su comodidad y seguridad.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ A2 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura enjoyed her smart home. With her phone, she controlled the lights and heating. She also used a security camera to see who was at the door. When she left home, the system turned off the lights automatically. She loved how technology improved her comfort and security.

Main changes

enjoys→enjoyed controls→controlled uses→used is→was leaves→left turns off→turned off loves→loved improves→improved

🧠 A2 | Grammar point with + tool

La historia dice: With her phone, she controls the lights and heating. Aquí with indica la herramienta que Laura usa para hacer algo.

Regla fácil: with + objeto puede significar «usando ese objeto».

with her phone with a key with a remote control

Ejemplo: I open the door with a key. = Abro la puerta con una llave.

🔊 AUDIO A2

🇬🇧 English

Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

A2 | Practice

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Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• smart home — casa inteligente
• with her phone — con su teléfono
• controls the lights — controla las luces
• heating — calefacción
• security camera — cámara de seguridad
• at the door — en la puerta

• leaves home — sale de casa
• turns off the lights — apaga las luces
• automatically — automáticamente
• improves her comfort — mejora su comodidad
• comfort and security — comodidad y seguridad

Complete the sentence

Laura enjoys her smart With her phone, she controls the She also uses a security The system turns off the lights

Choose the correct answer

What does Laura use to control the lights and heating? Choose Her phone A remote control A tablet What does the security camera help her do? Choose Play music See who is at the door Check the temperature What happens when Laura leaves home? Choose The door opens The lights turn off The music starts

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

Laura controls the lights

Reading comprehension

1. How does Laura control the lights and heating?
2. Why does she use a security camera?
3. What does the system do when she leaves home?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura enjoys her smart home.
• She also uses a security camera to see who is at the door.
• When she leaves home, the system turns off the lights automatically.

Translate into English:

• Laura disfruta de su casa inteligente.
• Con su teléfono, controla las luces y la calefacción.
• Le encanta cómo la tecnología mejora su comodidad y seguridad.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.

B1 | INTERMEDIATE

Laura has installed several smart devices in her home. She programs her thermostat to adjust the temperature before she arrives. Her smart refrigerator sends her an alert when food is running low. She also uses voice commands to turn on the TV. With this technology, she saves energy and simplifies her daily routine, making her home more efficient and comfortable.

B1 | INTERMEDIO

Laura ha instalado varios dispositivos inteligentes en su hogar. Programa el termostato para que ajuste la temperatura antes de que ella llegue. Su refrigerador inteligente le envía una alerta cuando queda poca comida. También usa comandos de voz para encender la televisión. Con esta tecnología, ahorra energía y simplifica su rutina diaria, lo que hace que su casa sea más eficiente y cómoda.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ B1 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura had installed several smart devices in her home. She programmed her thermostat to adjust the temperature before she arrived. Her smart refrigerator sent her an alert when food was running low. She also used voice commands to turn on the TV. With this technology, she saved energy and simplified her daily routine, making her home more efficient and comfortable.

Main changes

has installed→had installed programs→programmed arrives→arrived sends→sent is running low→was running low uses→used saves→saved simplifies→simplified

🧠 B1 | Grammar point Present perfect: has installed

El texto empieza con Laura has installed several smart devices. Has installed es present perfect: habla de una acción anterior cuyo resultado sigue siendo importante ahora.

Estructura: have / has + past participle.

she has installed they have changed I have finished

Pista: si dices exactamente cuándo ocurrió algo terminado —por ejemplo, yesterday— normalmente usamos past simple: She installed it yesterday.

🔊 AUDIO B1

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Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

B1 | Practice

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Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• smart devices — dispositivos inteligentes
• in her home — en su hogar
• programs her thermostat — programa su termostato
• adjust the temperature — ajustar la temperatura
• before she arrives — antes de llegar
• smart refrigerator — refrigerador inteligente
• sends her an alert — le envía una alerta

• food is running low — queda poca comida
• voice commands — comandos de voz
• turn on the TV — encender la televisión
• saves energy — ahorra energía
• daily routine — rutina diaria
• more efficient and comfortable — más eficiente y cómodo

Complete the sentence

Laura has installed several smart She programs her Her smart refrigerator sends her an She also uses voice

Choose the correct answer

What does Laura program to adjust the temperature? Choose Her thermostat Her camera Her doorbell When does her refrigerator send an alert? Choose When music stops When food is running low When the lights turn on What does this technology help Laura do? Choose Save energy Sleep longer Drive faster

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

Laura uses voice commands

Reading comprehension

1. What smart devices does Laura use at home?
2. How does her smart refrigerator help her?
3. Why does this technology make her home better?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura has installed several smart devices in her home.
• Her smart refrigerator sends her an alert when food is running low.
• With this technology, she saves energy and simplifies her daily routine.

Translate into English:

• Laura ha instalado varios dispositivos inteligentes en su hogar.
• Programa su termostato para ajustar la temperatura antes de llegar a casa.
• También usa comandos de voz para encender la televisión.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.

B2 | UPPER-INTERMEDIATE

Laura has integrated artificial intelligence into her smart home. Her system analyzes her habits and automatically adjusts the lighting and heating. She also receives maintenance notifications when an appliance needs repair. Her smart lock allows her to open the door with her fingerprint. While traveling, she monitors her home through an app. She reflects on how technology has changed the way people interact with their environment.

B2 | INTERMEDIO ALTO

Laura ha integrado la inteligencia artificial en su hogar inteligente. Su sistema analiza sus hábitos y ajusta automáticamente la iluminación y la calefacción. También recibe avisos de mantenimiento cuando algún electrodoméstico necesita reparación. Su cerradura inteligente le permite abrir la puerta con la huella dactilar. Mientras viaja, vigila su hogar mediante una aplicación. Reflexiona sobre cómo la tecnología ha cambiado la manera en que las personas interactúan con su entorno.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ B2 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura had integrated artificial intelligence into her smart home. Her system analyzed her habits and automatically adjusted the lighting and heating. She also received maintenance notifications when an appliance needed repair. Her smart lock allowed her to open the door with her fingerprint. While traveling, she monitored her home through an app. She reflected on how technology had changed the way people interacted with their environment.

Main changes

has integrated→had integrated analyzes→analyzed adjusts→adjusted receives→received needs→needed allows→allowed monitors→monitored reflects→reflected has changed→had changed interact→interacted

🧠 B2 | Grammar point need + noun

La historia dice que Laura recibe una notificación cuando an appliance needs repair. Aquí repair funciona como sustantivo: el aparato «necesita reparación».

Dos formas útiles: the appliance needs repair y the appliance needs to be repaired.

needs repair needs attention needs to be repaired

Idea clave: después de need puede venir directamente un sustantivo: needs repair, needs help, needs attention.

🔊 AUDIO B2

🇬🇧 English

Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

B2 | Practice

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Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• artificial intelligence — inteligencia artificial
• smart home — hogar inteligente
• analyzes her habits — analiza sus hábitos
• automatically adjusts — ajusta automáticamente
• the lighting and heating — la iluminación y la calefacción
• maintenance notifications — notificaciones de mantenimiento
• an appliance needs repair — un electrodoméstico necesita reparación

• smart lock — cerradura inteligente
• with her fingerprint — con su huella dactilar
• while traveling — mientras viaja
• monitors her home — monitoriza su hogar
• through an app — a través de una aplicación
• has changed the way — ha cambiado la forma
• interact with their environment — interactúan con su entorno

Complete the sentence

Laura has integrated artificial into her smart home Her system analyzes her She receives maintenance notifications when an appliance needs Her smart lock allows her to open the door with her

Choose the correct answer

What does Laura’s system do automatically? Choose It plays music It adjusts the lighting and heating It orders food When does she receive maintenance notifications? Choose When guests arrive When an appliance needs repair When she is traveling How does Laura open the door? Choose With a key With a card With her fingerprint

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

Laura monitors her home

Reading comprehension

1. How does Laura’s smart home use artificial intelligence?
2. What does her smart lock allow her to do?
3. How has technology changed the way people interact with their environment, according to the text?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura has integrated artificial intelligence into her smart home.
• She also receives maintenance notifications when an appliance needs repair.
• While traveling, she monitors her home through an app.

Translate into English:

• Laura ha integrado la inteligencia artificial en su hogar inteligente.
• Su cerradura inteligente le permite abrir la puerta con su huella dactilar.
• Reflexiona sobre cómo la tecnología ha cambiado la forma en que las personas interactúan con su entorno.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.

C1 | ADVANCED

Laura is involved in designing advanced home automation systems. Her team develops algorithms that optimize appliance energy consumption based on weather and usage. She also experiments with voice assistants that learn from user routines. At a technology conference, she presents a study on cybersecurity in smart homes and how to prevent vulnerabilities. She reflects on the future of automation in daily life.

C1 | AVANZADO

Laura participa en el diseño de sistemas avanzados de domótica. Su equipo desarrolla algoritmos que optimizan el consumo energético de los electrodomésticos según el clima y el uso. También experimenta con asistentes de voz que aprenden de las rutinas de los usuarios. En una conferencia tecnológica, presenta un estudio sobre la ciberseguridad en hogares inteligentes y sobre cómo prevenir vulnerabilidades. Reflexiona sobre el futuro de la automatización en la vida cotidiana.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ C1 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura was involved in designing advanced home automation systems. Her team developed algorithms that optimized appliance energy consumption based on weather and usage. She also experimented with voice assistants that learned from user routines. At a technology conference, she presented a study on cybersecurity in smart homes and how to prevent vulnerabilities. She reflected on the future of automation in daily life.

Main changes

is involved→was involved develops→developed optimize→optimized experiments→experimented learn→learned presents→presented reflects→reflected

🧠 C1 | Grammar point be involved in + -ing

El texto dice: Laura is involved in designing advanced home automation systems. Después de involved in, si aparece un verbo, usamos la forma -ing.

Estructura: be involved in + noun / verb-ing.

involved in designing involved in research involved in developing systems

Evita: involved in design puede ser correcto si design es sustantivo, pero si quieres expresar la acción «diseñar», usa involved in designing.

🔊 AUDIO C1

🇬🇧 English

Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

C1 | Practice

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Practice the Story — C1

Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• is involved in — participa en
• advanced home automation systems — sistemas avanzados de domótica
• her team develops — su equipo desarrolla
• optimize energy consumption — optimizar el consumo energético
• appliance energy consumption — consumo energético de electrodomésticos
• based on weather — según el clima
• and usage — y el uso
• experiments with — experimenta con

• voice assistants — asistentes de voz
• learn from user routines — aprenden de las rutinas de los usuarios
• technology conference — conferencia de tecnología
• presents a study — presenta un estudio
• cybersecurity in smart homes — ciberseguridad en hogares inteligentes
• prevent vulnerabilities — prevenir vulnerabilidades
• future of automation — futuro de la automatización
• daily life — vida cotidiana

Complete the sentence

Laura is involved in designing advanced home systems Her team develops She experiments with assistants She presents a study on in smart homes

Choose the correct answer

What do Laura’s team algorithms optimize? Choose Music quality Appliance energy consumption Door security only What do the voice assistants learn from? Choose The weather forecast User routines Cooking recipes What does Laura present at the conference? Choose A study on cybersecurity A new phone A video game

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

Voice assistants learn from routines

Reading comprehension

1. How do Laura’s systems improve energy efficiency?
2. What role do voice assistants play in her work?
3. Why is cybersecurity important in smart homes?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura is involved in designing advanced home automation systems.
• Her team develops algorithms that optimize appliance energy consumption based on weather and usage.
• At a technology conference, she presents a study on cybersecurity in smart homes and how to prevent vulnerabilities.

Translate into English:

• Laura participa en el diseño de sistemas avanzados de domótica.
• También experimenta con asistentes de voz que aprenden de las rutinas de los usuarios.
• Reflexiona sobre el futuro de la automatización en la vida cotidiana.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.

C2 | PROFICIENT

Laura, an expert in artificial intelligence and home automation, researches the interconnectivity of devices in smart homes. Her work focuses on implementing neural networks to predict energy consumption. At an international symposium, she discusses the ethical challenges of collecting personal data in automated environments. She reflects on how the convergence of AI and home automation is redefining privacy and users' control in their own homes.

C2 | COMPETENTE

Laura, experta en inteligencia artificial y domótica, investiga la interconectividad de los dispositivos en hogares inteligentes. Su trabajo se centra en la implementación de redes neuronales para predecir el consumo energético. En un simposio internacional, debate los retos éticos que plantea la recopilación de datos personales en entornos automatizados. Reflexiona sobre cómo la convergencia entre la IA y la domótica está redefiniendo la privacidad y el control que los usuarios ejercen en sus propios hogares.

🎵 She learned everything she knows at LecturaBilingue.com — the place where stories come alive. 🎵 Todo lo que sabe lo aprendió en LecturaBilingue.com, el lugar donde las historias cobran vida.

⏳ C2 | Past tense version Present → Past

La misma historia transformada al pasado. Los verbos que cambian aparecen destacados.

Laura, an expert in artificial intelligence and home automation, researched the interconnectivity of devices in smart homes. Her work focused on implementing neural networks to predict energy consumption. At an international symposium, she discussed the ethical challenges of collecting personal data in automated environments. She reflected on how the convergence of AI and home automation was redefining privacy and users' control in their own homes.

Main changes

researches→researched focuses→focused discusses→discussed reflects→reflected is redefining→was redefining

🧠 C2 | Grammar point head noun controls the verb

La historia dice: the convergence of AI and home automation is redefining.... Aunque aparecen dos ideas —AI y home automation— el núcleo del sujeto es convergence, que es singular.

Regla: en estructuras como the X of A and B, el verbo suele concordar con el sustantivo principal X, no con los nombres que aparecen después de of.

the convergence ... is the use of devices is the effects of technology are

Fíjate: en el último ejemplo el núcleo es plural, effects, por eso usamos are.

🔊 AUDIO C2

🇬🇧 English

Spoken

Song

🇪🇸 Español

Spoken

Song

C2 | Practice

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Practice the Story — C2

Smart Home Technology

Vocabulary

• an expert in — experta en
• artificial intelligence — inteligencia artificial
• home automation — domótica
• researches the interconnectivity — investiga la interconectividad
• devices in smart homes — dispositivos en hogares inteligentes
• her work focuses on — su trabajo se centra en
• implementing neural networks — implementar redes neuronales
• predict energy consumption — predecir el consumo de energía

• at an international symposium — en un simposio internacional
• ethical challenges — desafíos éticos
• collecting personal data — recopilar datos personales
• automated environments — entornos automatizados
• the convergence of AI and home automation — la convergencia entre la IA y la domótica
• redefining privacy — redefinir la privacidad
• users' control — control de los usuarios
• in their own homes — en sus propios hogares

Complete the sentence

Laura is an expert in artificial Her work focuses on implementing neural She discusses the ethical challenges of collecting personal The convergence of AI and home automation is redefining

Choose the correct answer

What does Laura research? Choose Cooking systems The interconnectivity of devices Medical robots What does her work focus on? Choose Implementing neural networks Installing alarms Painting lights What does she discuss at the symposium? Choose Travel plans Ethical challenges of personal data collection Sports technology

Build the sentence

Tap the words in the correct order:

Neural networks predict energy consumption

Reading comprehension

1. What is Laura’s area of expertise?
2. Why are neural networks important in her work?
3. How does the text say AI and home automation are changing life at home?

Translation practice

Translate into Spanish:

• Laura, an expert in artificial intelligence and home automation, researches the interconnectivity of devices in smart homes.
• Her work focuses on implementing neural networks to predict energy consumption.
• She reflects on how the convergence of AI and home automation is redefining privacy and users' control in their own homes.

Translate into English:

• Laura, experta en inteligencia artificial y domótica, investiga la interconectividad de dispositivos en hogares inteligentes.
• En un simposio internacional, discute los desafíos éticos de la recopilación de datos personales en entornos automatizados.
• Reflexiona sobre cómo la convergencia entre la IA y la domótica está redefiniendo la privacidad y el control de los usuarios en sus propios hogares.

Reading and translation are bonus practice and are not included in the score.