B2 – Upper Intermediate
Wikipedia began as a risky experiment: an online encyclopedia that anyone could edit. Yet over time, it grew into one of the world’s most trusted information sources. This transformation was made possible by a unique culture of trust — trust in volunteers to contribute honestly, trust in the community to correct mistakes, and trust in transparent processes that ensure accuracy. Understanding how this trust was built helps explain why Wikipedia became surprisingly reliable despite its open-door design.
Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow.
Vocabulary Questions:
- Define “open source“. “It wasn’t long ago when people considered Wikipedia a joke. After all, how can you trust an open source?” Use the term in a sentence.
- What is the meaning of the word “guardrail” here, “
Wikipedia’s greatest value to students is helping them get started. Wikipedia can be extremely useful in giving students some guardrails.”? Make your own sentence using the word. - What does the word “dogged” mean in this sentence, “Launched in 2001 by founder Jimmy Wales, credibility and trust issues have dogged the website over the years.“? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think an open sources like Wikipedia can stay reliable in the long run, or will trust eventually break down as more people edit it?
- In your opinion, is community-driven fact-checking more effective than traditional expert-only editing? Why or why not?
- Do you believe Wikipedia’s transparency — such as edit histories and discussion pages — plays a bigger role in its reliability than the expertise of its contributors? Share your thoughts.
- Do you think other online platforms could become more trustworthy if they adopted Wikipedia’s model of shared responsibility and open collaboration? Share your insights.