6.32 Read & add your items. Advantages of Computers

1.Computers give access to a lot of informa­tion. 2.Computers let you communicate very quickly by e-mail or using the Internet. 3.Computers can do some tasks very quickly, for example, send off a large number of letters or bills. 4.Computers make it possible to work at home. 5.Word processors make it easier to write let­ters and reports, and to do work for school or col­lege. 6.Children enjoy using computers and multi­media; interactive software and virtual reality make learning more exciting. Many books are now available on CDs. 7.Large amounts of information can be stored in a database.

Disadvantages of Computers

1.Many people do not like using computers, and would prefer to deal with a person instead. 2.Computers can get viruses. 3.Software often has bugs, and sometimes computers fail and people lose all the work they had done. 4.Some children spend too much time playing computer games which can be very violent. 5.Anyone can put information or images on the Internet, so it can easily be used by criminals to communicate with each other. There are no laws to stop this yet, and it is extremely difficult to control the Internet. 6.Computers quickly become obsolete, so they soon need to be replaced or updated. 7.If a computer is not working properly, most people do not know how to fix it, and this can be very annoying.

obsolete устаревший to get viruses заражаться вирусами properly правильным образом

to fix ремонтировать to annoy раздражать annoying раздражающий

6.33 a) (AAAA framework) discuss the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology. Use the following phrases.

*I think *I believe *I disagree *However I have to admit *Although *Despite *Not only but also *In addition. * I beg to differ *I’m afraid

*On the other hand *One advantage is *Another advantage is *Moreover *Furthermore *Also *Both, etc.

computers will bring in¹ the future?

¹bring in вносить (вклад), приносить (доход).

Prompts for Dialogues

Aaaa framework

• Will computers bring in the future?

A1: Answer the first question

• Yes, sure, I can’t imagine the future without the advantages of modern technology.

A2: Add something

• I believe that computers are very useful in the educational process.

A3: Ask a similar question

• What do you think on the subject?

• I’d say without computers we could not manage now, but in the nearest future everything will be interconnected by means of them. On the other hand, people can have access to harmful information.

A4: Appraise the answer

• Yes, you are right, but you should admit that computers make your life easier.

• However, they can make you unsociable, etc.

b) Look at the notes and the useful expressions below then talk about the advantages and disadvantages of having a computer. You can use your own ideas as well.

Advantages - make life easier - learn a lot - gain work skills - fast, accurate work - helps keep accounts - access to a lot of information

Disadvantages - bad for your eyes - make you unsociable - access to offensive information - expensive to buy/maintain - invasion of privacy - games keep you from schoolwork

c) Write down some brief statements. The first should be someone saying how difficult computers are to use. The second should say how easy computers are to use.

d) You may take the parts of a pessimist /optimist; computer adherent /opponent; a cyberphobe /a computer addict; a novice /a cybernetist.

Dramatize Dialogue 6.34 & answer the questions underneath.

How can you join the Internet?

• Can I help you?

• Yes, tell me, please, what do I need for joining the Internet?

• In addition to your computer, you'll need a modem.

• What for?

• to link your computer to the telephone line. Modems come in many shapes and sizes with prices around £150.

• Where should I put it, inside or outside the system unit box?

• Some of the more sophisticated multimedia systems come equipped with built-in modem and fax.

• What is the difference between various kinds of modems?

• The speed of getting on-line and downloading information depends mainly on the modem. When you are buying a modem get the fastest you can afford - slow ones take ages to download information, and you are paying for every second of time.

• If i have bought a modem, I’ll be able to search information in the Internet, won’t I? Is a modem the only thing that I need for that?

• Not the only one. You should have an ISP Account.

• What does ISP mean?

• ISPs (Internet Service Providers) range from the huge, such as Demon and CompuServe, to small services that simply route your e-mail-messages you can send from one PC to another all over the world. If you want full access to the Net, expect to pay around £100 a year - more if the company charges by the minute for some of the services, as CompuServe does.

• Are all the services so expensive?

• E-mail services are cheaper, and they may even be free.

• Well, then i should have a modem, a telephone line and an ISP Account, shouldn’t I?

• Don’t forget about software.

• What kind of it do I need?

• Software comes in many forms. Some computers come with their own Net software, which is all you need to get on-line, apart from an ISP. Packages vary but they should offer you e-mail, news support (which gets you into a sort of global bulletin board, parts of which you then subscribe to according to your interests) and something called file transfer (FTP), which allows you to start pulling software off the Net.