Exercises

1. Find the English equivalents of the following Russian words and word-combinations

Свободный доступ к ресурсам интернета; значительное неравенство возможностей; обеспечивать возможностями электронной почты; графические, звуковые и цветовые возможности; извлечение материалов; отсталый; техническая возможность; почасовая оплата; программное обеспечение для соединения; посылать, получать, сохранять, распечатывать и удалять электронное сообщение; приобщаться к.

2. Find pairs of synonyms among the following words. Translate them.

To vary; computed; possibility; fee; difference; opportunity; to differ;

cost; variation; costly; calculated; expensive.

3. Find pairs of antonyms among the following words. Translate them.

To delete; to be alike; modern; expensive; to vary; to save; inequality; to receive; out-of-date; equality; cheap; to send.

4. Answer the questions.

1) Do traditionally teachers in the field of Math and Science or Humanities have

Priority in access to the Internet resources?

2) What machines does the World Wide Web require to be used?

3) Why is Internet access from home becoming a necessary teaching tool?

4) No access to the Internet can make a school uncompetitive and out-of-date, can/t it?

5) What operations do teachers and students need to learn?

5. Speak about the problems arising with institutional Internet access.

TEXT 8

Internet: how it affects us

We live in a multi-media society. How does the Internet affect our lives? It can be very helpful to people who carefully choose websites that they visit. The Internet can increase our knowledge of the outside world; there is much high-quality information that can help us understand many fields of study: science, medicine, the arts and so on. In this global network you can find any information in a few minutes. Otherwise you would have to search for the necessary information in directories, libraries or on the phone for a long time.

The Internet has already revolutionised the way we live and work. But these are still early days for the Internet. We don’t know how much it is still changing the world. The Internet era is yet to come. The Internet is an up-to-date wonder. As the proverb says: “nothing is wonderful when you get used to it”, that is why the Internet fails to astonish us any more.

One of the most valuable functions of the Internet is its information function. The Internet keeps people informed about current events, as well as the latest achievements in science and culture.

Recently a system of distance learning became popular. You can study foreign languages and even study in universities. Individual educational programs can be developed especially for you.

The Internet is also widely used in business. Thanks to the Internet we have rapid connections with partners from all corners of the world. You can even conduct negotiations, hear and see your contacts, and exchange graphic and textual information.

On the other hand, there are several serious disadvantages to the Internet. Of course, it provides us with a pleasant way to relax and spend our free time, but some people spend an average of 6 hours or more a day on the network. Many children look at a screen for more hours each day than they do anything else, including studying and sleeping. It is clear that the network has a powerful influence on their lives, and that its influence if often negative.

Another disadvantage is that for many people the internet becomes more “real” than reality, and their own lives seem boring. Also, many people get upset or depressed when they can’t solve problems in real life as quickly as they can do in Internet games. In real life they can not simply press “escape”.

The most negative effect of the Internet might be people’s addiction to it. People often feel a strange and powerful need to spend time on the network. Addiction to a computer screen is similar to drug or alcohol addiction: people almost never believe they are addicted.

One more disadvantage of the Internet is the absence of information control. Children receive wide access to porno sites and sites with violence and promoting hate.

From that, how much we know about the Internet depends on the choices we make and how effectively we use the opportunities of the Internet in our time.