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Файл:Разговорный английский актуальные темы для свободного общения. Учебное пособие
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MASS MEDIA. TELEVISION 331
I hate television. Ihate itas much aspeanuts. But Ican’t
stop eating peanuts. (Orson Welles)—
Я ненавижу телевидение. Столь жеяненавижу иарахис.
Нояне могу неесть его. (Орсон Уэллс)
I must say that I nd television very educational. e
minute somebody turns iton, Igo tothe other room and read
agood book. (Groucho Marx)—
Должен сказать, что телевидение вомногом способствует образованию. Втот момент, как кто-либо включает телевизор, я ухожу в другую комнату и читаю хорошую книгу.
(Гручо Маркс)
We owe alot toomas Edison— ifit wasn’t for him, we’d
bewatching television bycandlelight. (Milton Berle)—
Мы многим обязаны Томасу Эдисону— если быне он,
мыбы смотрели телевизор при свечах. (Милтон Берл)
And Ibelieve that good journalism, as well asgood television can make our world abetter place. (Christiane Amanpour)—
И я верю, что хорошая журналистика, как и добротное телевидение, могут сделать наш мир лучше. (Кристиан
Аманпур)
Do you agree with all negative characteristics ascribed tomass media and television? Which ofthem doyou think fair?
Do you nd television educational bythe same reason asGroucho
Marx?
How could you interpret the meaning ofthe quotation “We owe alot
toomas Edison etc.”?
THE MAIN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
OFTHE CENTURY
THE COMPUTER ISAREAL TECHNOLOGICAL
BREAKTHROUGH
In the course oftime some changes happen from time totime
inany society. But they take place gradually, sometimes even unnoticed, and could becalled evolutionary rather than revolutionary. is character ofchanges allows people toeasily adapt tothe
novelty inall spheres oflife though ittakes them some time toadjust tonew technological advances.
But atthe very end ofthe 20th century wewitnessed animmense breakthrough in science and technology that radically
changed our life. e introduction ofcomputers, mobile phones
and other useful gadgets was so swi that many people lagged
behind the progress. is caused aninconvenient situation when
acertain group ofpeople (mostly the elderly) turned out tobe incapable touse new technologies and they experience some social
and psychological discomfort ineveryday life.
As to the younger and middle-aged generations who are
adaptable toany technological change, they enjoy every new high
tech communication system. Nowadays itis impossible toimagine our life without computers. ey have become indispensable everywhere. at iswhy computer skills are necessary inevery profession, bethat aworker, adoctor, ateacher, adriver oran
THE COMPUTER ISAREAL TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH 333
economist. For example, inmedicine computers are successfully
used in surgery, inultrasonic investigation, and for diagnosing
some diseases. Market economy cannot do without them when
itis necessary toforecast new economic trends ofdevelopment.
Computers are ofgreat help for those who are involved inadistant
learning. Itis absolutely impossible how books could beprinted
without them now. What ismore, scientists cannot imagine space
research without using computers.
Despite the fact that computarisation has caused some employment problems, ithas apositive eect ingeneral. Many new
occupations and professions have appeared due tocomputers:
computer engineering, programming, avideo game industry,
computer and information systems management— these are
toname but afew. Computer hardware engineers and soware
developers, computer operators and computer systems analysts
are ingreat demand inevery scientic and industrial sphere,
and these work positions are prestigious and well-paid. Nowadays, computer technology isevolving faster than ever before,
sothe demand for computer professionals with the right qualications ishigh.
It is the computer that affected our life tremendously. Almost every office, shop, school, and home isequipped
with computers these days. The time that can besaved using
a computer is one of its main advantages. Stored information oncomputer disks can befound atthe touch ofabutton,
whereas searching for itmanually takes much longer. Inaddition tothis, our everyday life ismade easier— from going
tothe bank todoing the shopping. It is especially beneficial
inthe workplace, where the employees can dotheir work much
faster than they could doin the past. Computers can beused
byadults and children, bypeople ofdifferent professions and
334 THE MAIN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OFTHE CENTURY
interests. They are areliable tool for fun and communication,
for learning, teaching and work. Aseach computer has anaccess tothe Internet, its possibilities become much wider. With
the help ofthe Internet people from the farthest corners ofthe
world can communicate easily bywriting e-mails orusing the
Skype. The Internet can instantly connect you toother computers allowing you to“chat” with people all over the world.
Besides, people can read books online. Some specialists even
predict that infuture traditional books will become obsolete
and will bereplaced bytheir electronic version. Films, concerts, operas and other performances are also available onthe
Internet. Besides, the Internet users can enjoy online media.
Does it mean that television will soon disappear losing the
competition with the Internet?
A wonderful invention is a laptop computer! It enables
usto perform our work wherever wego. Wecan work onaplane
ortrain, inabus station, even inthe park over lunch. Wecan remain incontact with our workplace and colleagues atall times
and access the net whenever weneed to.
us wecan see that computarisation has tremendously improved our life. All points enumerated above are indisputable
benets. However, there are some negative aspects— the results
ofusing computers. Economically, many jobs have been lost due
tothe fact that computers can doalot oftasks faster and more
eciently than people. is has led tohigh unemployment rate
in some countries. What ismore, there is too much violence
online, too many aggressive pictures and alot ofirrelevant information which can add problems tothe existing issues ofthe
society. Another serious problem ishackers. en, computers
can actually cause health problems. Endless hours infront ofthe
monitor can lead toeye strain, headaches, and some side eects.
THE COMPUTER ISAREAL TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH 335
Children’s addiction tothe Internet has also turned into abig
problem nowadays.
Summing up, the computer is a great benet, auseful tool
for wise and balanced persons who have asensible and reasonable
attitude towards life.
Words and Expressions
an advance [Ad´vC:ns]— прогресс
immense [I´mens]— огромный, значительный
a gadget [´gBdZIt] — небольшое электронное устройство,
являющееся носителем информации
swi— стремительный
the elderly [´eldAli]— пожилые
incapable [In´keIpAbl]— неспособный
adaptable— [A´dBptAbl]— легко приспосабливающийся
to enjoy ahigh tech communication system [In´dZDI A´haI ,tek
kA,mju:nI´keISn ,sIstAm]— пользоваться высокотехноло-
гичными системами коммуникации
ultrasonic investigation [,EltrA´sOnIk In,vestI´geISn]— ультраз-
вуковое исследование
to forecast (forecast) [´f D:kC:st] — прогнозировать, пред-
видеть
to print— печатать
computer engineering [kAm´pju:tA ,endZI´nIArIN] — компью-
терная технология
programming [´prAU,grBmIN]— программирование
336 THE MAIN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OFTHE CENTURY
a video game industry [´vIdiAU ,geIm , IndAstri] — индустрия
видеоигр
management [´mBnIdZmAnt]— управление
hardware [´hC:d,weA]— аппаратное обеспечение
soware [´sOft,weA]— программное обеспечение
an analyst [´BnAlIst]— аналитик
to evolve [I´vOlv]— эволюционировать, развиваться
demand [dI´mC:nd]— спрос
tremendously [trA´mendAsli]— значительно
to beequipped with smth. […I´kwIpt…]— быть оснащенным
чем-л.
stored information [´stD:d ,InfA´meISn]— сохраняемая инфор-
мация
at the touch ofabutton […´tEtS Av A,bEtn]— одним прикосно-
вением ккнопке
manually [´mBnUAli]— вручную
to dothe shopping […SOpIN]— делать покупки
benecial [,benI´fISl]— выгодный
a workplace [´wQ:k,pleIs]— рабочее место
a tool [tu:l]— инструмент
an e-mail [´i:meIl]— электронное сообщение
obsolete [´ObsA,li:t]— устаревший
a performance [pA´fD:mAns]— представление (сценическое)
to enjoy online media [In´dZDI ´OnlaIn ,mi:diA]— иметь доступ
ксредствам массовой информации онлайн
to lose acompetition [´lu:z A ,kOmpA´tISn]— проигрывать со-
ревнование
THE COMPUTER ISAREAL TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH 337
a laptop (computer) [´lBp,tOp]— ноутбук
to enable [In´eIbl]— давать возможность
in the park over lunch […´pC:k ´AUvA,lEntS] — перекусывая
впарке
a point [pDInt]— зд. функция компьютера
to enumerate [I´nju:mAreIt]— перечислять
an unemployment rate [,EnIm´plDImAnt ,reIt]— уровень без-
работицы
irrelevant information [I´relAvAnt ,InfA´meISn]— неимеющая
отношения кделу информация
an existing issue [Ig´zIstIN ,ISu:; ,Isju:]— существующая про-
блема
endless [´endlAs]— бесконечный
an eye strain [´aI ,streIn]— напряжение глаза
a headache [´hedeIk ]— головная боль
addiction [A´dIkSn]— пристрастие, зависимость
wise [waIz]— мудрый
balanced [,bBlAnst]— уравновешенный
a sensible and reasonable attitude [´sensAbl And´ri:znAbl
´BtI,tju:d]— разумное отношение
Answer the questions:
1. Why were introduction ofcomputers and other means ofcommu-
nication atthe end of the 20th century considered to be agreat
breakthrough intechnology? Did you have any difficulties inadapt-
ing tothe new technological advance? Ifso, what problems? Where
did you learn basic computer skills? Are you a regular compu-
teruser?
338 THE MAIN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OFTHE CENTURY
2. What isthe role ofcomputers inmedicine? Inwhat other fundamen-
tal spheres can computers beindispensable? How can they beused
inadistant learning? Doyou prefer toread “paper” books orto read
books online? Does awide use ofcomputers mean that inthe course
oftime other means ofmass media such astelevision and radio will
become unnecessary?
3. How can computers behelpful inour everyday life? What services are
available bycomputer? What part inthe educational process isgiven
tothe Internet? What sites doyou have tovisit regularly? Inwhat case
doyou have towrite orreceive e-mails? Doyou have your own blog
onawebsite? Onwhat occasions doyou have tocontact other blog-
gers?
4. Iscomputer acurse orablessing? What are the negative sides ofcom-
puters? What can you recommend toavoid computer addiction? What
advice should be given for avoiding a negative inuence on users’
health? What should bedone in the way of teaching the elderly the
basic computer skills?
Here are some quotations about computers:
e digital revolution isfar more signicant than the in-
vention ofwriting oreven printing. (Douglas Engelbart)—
Цифровая революция намного значительнее, чем изо-
бретение письменности идаже книгопечатания. (Дуглас Эн-
гельбарт)
Soware comes from heaven when you have good hard-
ware. (Ken Olsen)—
Программное обеспечение снисходит снебес, когда есть
походящее техническое устройство. (Кен Олсен)
THE COMPUTER ISAREAL TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH 339
Computers themselves and soware, yet tobe developed,
will revolutionize the way welearn. (Steve Jobs)—
Сам посебе компьютер ипрограммное обеспечение, которое, однако, нуждается вусовершенствовании, вомногом
преобразуют способ нашего познания. (Стив Джобс)
Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy about telescopes. (Edsger Dijkstra)—
Компьютерная наука имеет отношение к компьютеру
неболее, чем астрономия ктелескопу. (Эдсгер Дейкстра)
Computers make iteasier todo alot ofthings, but most
ofthe things they make iteasier todo don’t need tobe done.
(Andy Rooney)—
С помощью компьютера мы легче и быстрее делаем
многое, однако многое изтого, что мы так делаем, вообще
ненужно было быделать. (Энди Руни)
Computers are useless. ey can only give you answers.
(Pablo Picasso)—
Польза от компьютеров небольшая. Все, что они могут,— это отвечать навопросы. (Пабло Пикассо)
People think computers will keep them from making mistakes. ey are wrong. With computers they make mistakes
faster. (Adam Osborne)—
Многие полагают, что компьютеры избавят нас отошибок. Это нетак. Скомпьютерами мыбудем тоже ошибаться,
нобыстрее. (Адам Осборне)
e real danger isnot that computers will begin tothink
like men, but that men will begin tothink like computers. (Syd-
ney J. Harris)—
Настоящей угрозой является не то, что компьютер научится думать, как человек, ато, что человек станет думать,
как компьютер. (Сидни Дж. Харрис)
340 THE MAIN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OFTHE CENTURY
I amthankful the most important key in history was invented. It’s not the key toyour house, your car, your boat, your
safety deposit box, your bike lock oryour private community.
It’s the key toorder, sanity, and peace ofmind. e key is“Del et e”. (Elayne Boosler)—
Я благодарен за то, что был изобретен самый важный
ключ вистории. Это неключ отвашего дома, машины, катера, сейфа, велосипедного замка или ключ, обеспечивающий
доступ вваше личное общество. Это ключ купорядочению,
здравомыслию и умиротворению. Ключ этот называется
“Delete”. (Элейн Буслер)
Man isstill the most extraordinary computer ofall. (John
F. Kennedy)—
Человек все женеизмеримо выше любого компьютера.
(Джон Ф. Кеннеди)
Can you share the famous people’s opinion oncomputers?
Which ofthe quotations doyou think the most interesting?
How could you interpret the meaning ofthe last quotation “Man
isstill the most extraordinary computer ofall”?
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
With the current technological development, computers
become more and more powerful and multifaceted, with their
functions being practically unlimited. ey can monitor manufacturing processes, run machinery and databases, and perform
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