The Speaking Module

II. Speaking exercises:

Exercise 1. Ask questions to the given answers:

1. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Systems whose behavior is determined exclusively by physical inputs.

2. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Systems whose behavior depends not only on physical inputs, but also on information received.

3. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Systems whose behavior depends on physical inputs, information received and the goal of the system.

4. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Classifying systems according to these criteria is in certain extent arbitrary.

Exercise 2. Give the headings to each paragraph.

Exercise 3. Retell the paragraph “Systems with conditioned reflexes are….”

The Writing Module

III. Writing exercises:

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the correct articles if it is necessary:

______ system with ______ program of this type has even _______ looser connection between _____ original program and ______ actual decision. In _____ preceding case _____ information from ______ environment determined directly _____ decision of ______ system according to _____ fixed algorithm. Here ______ algorithm itself is created through _____ influence of _____ environment.

Exercise 2. Explain the expressions in your mother tongue:

certain groups ______________________

the same object _____________________

the concept of information ____________

describe the motion __________________

as a result __________________________

It could happen _____________________

small probability ____________________

Lesson 6

The Reading Module

Read the text: Economic Cybernetics

The principle of natural selection is so important for the progress of human society. Social progress means the introduction of new technologies of production, new economic relationships, new forms of management and organization, better than the preceding ones. Their novelty lies in the fact that they were unknown before they were introduced. There was no information about them and therefore

they could not have been consciously introduced with guaranteed success simultaneously throughout the whole society. Mutations in society are also of a fortuitous nature. No experts can guarantee correct filtration of unfavorable mutations so that only favorable remain. Just recall the gallery of scientists and

inventors of genius who were not recognized by their contemporaries. Only when the emergence of random mutations is not prevented can advantages of some new forms be demonstrated in practice and thus be extended to all of society. Every society that wishes to speed up its evolution must make random mutations possible. The new forms must have the possibility of showing their advantages or their shortcomings in practice to be compared with previous forms. This is, of course, not easy because society should also prevent survival of unfavorable mutations that could act as cancer on the organism.

We can divide the systems with goal-seeking behavior into regulating, controlling or organizing systems. If we define system in such a way that regulated, controlling or organizing system are a part of it, then we speak of automatic regulation, control or organization.

Economic cybernetics – a very important branch of cybernetics – has elaborated and founded concepts, models, techniques and methods for the investigation both qualitatively and quantitatively of the laws of optimal balanced and proportional growth of the components of the national economy system. At the same time, economic cybernetics performs the role of a “Dialog” between Microsystems and Macrosystems, thus allowing a better understanding and management of the economic mechanism as a whole. The economic approach of economic phenomena and processes of organising and managing economic systems, of achieving the unity between micro- and macro-economics is an obvious reality, confirmed by the results obtained in economic practice. The application of the methods proper to economic cybernetics, in order to find solutions to problems concerning organisation and management of the economy, the design of economic growth trajectories, the achievement of a permanent dialogue between decision and its component of the management of society, is discussed.

I. Reading exercises:

Exercise1. Read and memorize using the dictionary:

natural selection, technologies, economic relationships, management, a fortuitous nature, contemporaries, cancer, organism, automatic regulation, investigation, microsystems, macrosystems, economic approach, trajectories, achievement

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. What principle is so important for the progress of human society?

2. What does social progress mean?

3. Are mutations in society also for a fortuitous nature?

4. What must the new forms have?

5. Is economic cybernetics a very important branch of cybernetics or not?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. Economic cybernetics – a very important branch of cybernetics	a. proper to economic cybernetics.
2. The applications of the method	b. to speed up its evolution must take random mutations possible.
3. Every society that wishes	c. of showing their advantages or their shortcomings in practice to be compared with previous forms.
4. The new forms must have the possibility	d. has elaborated and founded concepts, models, techniques and methods.

Exercise 4. Open the brackets using the right words:

Social (regress/progress) means the introduction of new technologies of (production/input), new economic relationships, new forms of (controlling/management) and organization, (worse/better) than the preceding ones.