Job qualifications
In our society work is almost a must for a person. So – unless you are very rich – you have to work if you want to be accepted by your friends, acquaintances and neighbours. That is the reason why some unemployed persons make believe that they still have a job, they cannot admit even to their family that they are out of work.
An unemployed person often feels unwanted and useless.
If I could choose my job freely this job would have to meet some of the following qualifications:
The most important condition would be that I liked my work, that it gave satisfaction; and not only for the moment but in the long run.
This job should pay well enough. I don’t really want to become a millionaire but I would not reject a certain luxury.
In this job I would like to work with other people and not just things. That does not mean that a job in research or production was excluded from my list – but I would not want to be isolated from other people.
To put it in a nutshell, a job that satisfies, that pays fairly well, and one that lets me work together with people.
Notes:
1. qualifications – требования, предъявляемые человеком к своей работе
2. in a nutshell – кратко, короче говоря
1. Why does a person have to work?
2. What problems does an unemployed person have?
3. What are the most important job qualifications for this person?
4. What is the most important job qualifications for you?
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Key Vocabulary
Nouns
computer screen компьютерный экран
current event текущее событие
keyboard клавиатура
button кнопка
laptop портативный компьютер
electronic devices электронные устройства
X-ray рентген
technology техника, технология
science наука
invention изобретение
satellite спутник
radioactivity радиоактивность
Verbs
connect соединять
store information хранить информацию
surf the net «лазить» в интернете
investigate расследовать
come to the conclusion прийти к заключению
emit излучать
discover обнаруживать
switch on/off включать/выключать
link связывать
appear появляться
underline подчеркивать
exchange information обмениваться информацией
Ex.1. Read the dialogue of two friends about computers. Choose the right answer to the questions below:
1. Why has friend B come over?
a) to visit
b) to help
c) to work
2. What is the cause of the problem?
a) the screen isn’t working
b) the computer won’t save
c) something has overheated
3. What does friend B have?
a) his own laptop
b) his own shop
c) his own office
4. What is friend A going to do?
a) go to the office
b) make notes
c) print some pages
A: Hi! Thanks for coming round.
B: Hi. Tell me what happened exactly.
A: Well, I switched on the computer, started working and about five minutes later the screen went blank.
B: OK, let’s have a look. The screen seems to be working so I’ll take a look at the inside of the laptop.
A: I’ve been working on the computer a lot lately.
B: Did you save your work?
A: No, but I didn’t know that the computer would stop working. Please don’t tell me I’ve lost my work. It’s due in the editor’s office tomorrow!
B: Don’t panic yet. Here’s the problem, something has overheated inside the laptop.
A: Can you fix it quickly?
B: I’ll try; it may take a couple of hours. I’ll have to take it back to my shop. If you haven’t saved your work, it might not be in the memory.
A: Oh no! I printed four pages of my work two days ago but I’ve done a lot more since then. What am I doing to do?
B: Have you still got your notes from your work? If you have, you can take the printed pages and your notes, go to the office and work from there.
A: Great idea! I’ve put my notes somewhere; ah, here they are on top of the ones I printed. You’re a real friend! Thanks a lot.
B: No problem. I’ll take the laptop to my shop and fix it. I’ll test it before I phone you. Can I contact you on your mobile at the office?
A: Of course, no problem. I’ve learnt a lesson today…
B: What’s that?
A: Always save your work on the computer!
Ex.2. Read the article and answer the questions.
Advertisements for the Internet promise you a world of information, entertainment, on-line shopping and e-mail services. However, the real world of the Internet may not be as perfect as the advertisements suggest.
Using the Internet offers many advantages. For example, all of the latest information is available to you, in your home, at any hour of the day or night. It is much faster and easier to surf the net in search of information from all over the world than to travel to libraries in dozens of countries. Also, on-line shopping makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps make friends all over the world. Finally, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and cheaper than a telephone conversation. On the other hand, the Internet has several disadvantages. Firstly, with so much information available, finding what you want can take you hours. Multimedia web pages with photographs, music and video are attractive, but they make downloading slow and boring. What is more, there is too much advertising instead of real information. As for Internet friendships, sitting at home in front of a computer making ‘chat friends’ is not the same as actually meeting people.
In conclusion, the Internet obviously has both good and bad points. Fortunately, the system is improving all the time, and any problems which still exist can be solved. Whether we like it or not, the Internet is here to stay, so we have to make the best possible use of it.
Do you use the Internet? If not, would you like to? Which of the things described in the article do you (or would you like to) use the Internet for? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet? Is the article for or against using the Internet?
Ex. 3. How do you print something from the net? Put the instructions in the correct order.
a. Wait for the document to be downloaded and the page to appear on your screen.
b. Decide which part of the document you want to copy.
c. Click on the print symbol to print your selection.
d. Enter the address of the web site.
e. Wait for the computer to be connected to the web site.
Ex. 4. Complete the text with the words from the box.
Virus software restarting error downloading data crashed |
My computer ………. yesterday. I think I got a ………. when I was ………. music files from the Internet .First there was an ………. message, and then it stopped responding. I tried ………. it, but it didn’t help. I lost a lot of important ………. . I’ve got to buy myself better anti-virus ………. .
Ex. 5. Complete the dialogues with appropriate words.
1. A: Hi! Did you have a good weekend?
B: It was OK. I spent five hours surfing the ………. on Saturday.
2. A: Excuse me. How do I switch ………. this machine?
B: Just ………. this button.
A: I have, but nothing’s happened. Maybe it’s out of ………. .
B: Let me see…gosh, yes it is. Again!
It breaks ………. every two or three days!
Ex.6. Read the information about the Internet.
The Internet: FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
The Internet is without doubt one of the most important inventions in history. It was started in 1968 by the US government, but at first it was used mainly by scientist. Since 1990, when the World Wide Web was created, it has changed the world, and its uses are growing every day.
What exactly is the Internet?
The Internet is a network (several networks, in fact) of millions of computers around the world, connected by phone lines, satellite or cable,
so that all the computers on the net can exchange information with each other.
That’s the same thing as the Web, isn’t it?
Not quite. The Internet links computers, and the World Wide Web is a system which links the information stored inside these computers.
What is a web site, and how do I visit one?
A company or organization stores its information in electronic documents on one of the internet computers, somewhere in the world. This computer space – the company’s web site – has an address, in the same way that every telephone has a number. To visit a web site, you simply enter the address. Your computer is connected to the web site, a document is downloaded, and a page appears on your computer screen.
How do I “surf the net”?
When you visit a web site looking for information, some words on the page may be underlined, showing that there is more information about the subject in another document. If you click on one of these words, the Web automatically connects your computer to a new document or web site, even if this is stored thousands of kilometers away. You’re surfing the net!
What can I use the Internet for?
The main use of the Internet is to find information – for your schoolwork or job, or just to find out more about your hobbies, sports or current events. You can also use the Internet to read newspapers and magazines, play games, plan your holiday or buy things from your favourite shop. E-mail makes it possible to send electronic messages anywhere in the world in seconds, and you can use the Internet to ‘chat’ with people and make new friends.
What do I need in order to use the Internet?
If you don’t already use the Internet, all you need to get started is a computer, a modem and a phone line. Using the Internet id getting cheaper and easier all the time.
Are you ready to surf the net? There’s a whole exciting Internet world out there waiting for you!
Ex.7. Fill in the words from the list, then make sentences using the completed phrases.
web, surf, exchange, computer, change, get, electronic, enter, current, phone, important
1
.
………………. inventions 7. to …………the address
2. to …………….. the world 8. a ……………. screen
3. ……………………...lines 9. to …………... the net
4. to ……………………….. 10. …………….. events
information 11. to …………. started
5. ………………..documents
6. a …………………….. site
Ex.8. Fill in the correct prepositions, then make sentences using the completed phrases.
1. …………. doubt
2. exchange information…….each other
3. ……………. the world
4. appear ……….. the screen
5. ………… the page
6. information ………. sth
7. to click ………. sth
8. waiting …….. sb
9. stored ………. a computer
10. find out …………… sth
Ex. 9. Complete the table below with the ideas from the box. Then add three more ideas in each category.
online dictionaries game consoles mobile phones Internet communicators MP3 players
educational software data storage Internet banking
Education
Communication
Entertainment
Work
Discuss with your partner:
1. What electronic devices do people use in these areas of life? Why?
2. What possible problems can be connected with using electronic devices?
3. What electronic devices do you find the most useful? Which of them do you use every day?
4. Do you think people rely too much on technology nowadays?
Ex.10. Read the text about the discovery of radioactivity. For gaps 1-9 choose the correct answer A-D.
THE DISCOVERY OF RADIOACTIVITY
In 1896 the French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel 1________ investigating uranium salts. He accidentally left a bit of uranium lying on some photographic plates – glass plates which were used in photography before film was 2________.
3________ the plates were wrapped in thick black paper to protect them from light, after some time Becquerel found out that they had been exposed, just as if they had been lying in the sun. He asked himself how this 4_________ happened. He repeated the experiment and finally 5________ to the conclusion that the uranium salt emitted unknown rays, similar 6________ X-rays, which could pass through thick black paper. In this way radioactivity 7________ discovered.
The story shows some important qualities of a scientist’s mind: the desire to understand why something happens the way it does, and the imagination which made Becquerel 8________ of a won the Nobel 9________ in Physics for his discovery.
1. A was B had C been D had been
2. A discovered B invented C observed D found
3. A Because B When C Although D However
4. A been B was C had D has
5. A came B went C made D did
6. A than B like C to D with
7. A - B was C had D been
8. A thought B thinking C to think D think
9. A Award B Prize C Reward D Price
