Vιι. Listening and comprehension.

Exercise 21. Listen to Text C.

Advantages of Computer Communications

Computer communications is playing an increasingly important role not only in offices but also in schools, libraries, and homes. People are realizing that sending and receiving information electronically offers several advantages:

1. Fast, accurate, and direst exchange of information. Sending and receiving data electronically takes only a fraction of the time needed to send it by mall or messenger. And since the information goes directly to the receiver, the sender doesn't have to worry about lost packages or incorrectly addressed envelops.

2. Rapid information processing. Computers can sort or search through huge amounts of information in a flash. Suppose you were a lawyer who needed a history of all court cases involving the theft of government’s secrets. How could you get the information? Well, you could go to a law library and search through the reference books. That might take you five hours. You could, instead, use a computer that is electronically linked to a special data bank of legal information. Using that method, you could obtain the information in less that an hour – and never leave your law office!

Exercise 22. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. People understand that sending and receiving information electronically offers only difficulties.

2. Sending and receiving data electronically takes only a fraction of time.

3. Computers can sort information in a flash.

4. Computers are electronically linked to a special data bank of information.

8. Reading and writing.

Exercise 23. Read the text «Electronics Helps Man» and translate it in writing.

Notes:

1. Cycle production – цикл виробництва

2. Rolled stock production – виробництво прокату

3. Thermal and hydropower plants – теплова гідростанція

4. To find broad complication – знайти широке застосування

5. Electronic data processing system – електронна система

6. Computer technology – електронно-обчислювальна техніка.

Electronics Helps Man

Our age has been called a variety of things: the Space Age, the Electronic Age, the Atomic Age, etc. One of them, however, is very exact and that is the Age of Automation.

Automation is considered to be the highest stage in the development of technology. It has made the development of rocket production and nuclear industry possible. Automation is known to be very effective in continuous cycle production rolled stock production and operation of thermal and hydropower plants. Automation of production processes is impossible without automatic control; the required machines based on electronic computation. Electronic computing techniques find broad applications in many spheres and are a basis for the development of modern programme-controlled machine tools and the controlling of spaceship flights. The following can be given as examples of how electronics helps man.

The letters at the General Post Office are now handled by electronic automats. Not long ago hundreds of women sorted letters arriving from all the world by hand. Now, one girl sits at a control panel watching a screen which is like that of a television set. The address appears on the screen and the girl having read the number o the post office to which the letter is addressed presses the necessary button and the envelope is conveyed to the mail bag which is then taken to the post office indicated on the envelope.

A number of higher learning establishments are installing electronic data processing systems for the counting of educational data. Automatic control machines, computer-based teaching devices and other different applications of computer technology are the things which help people in their life, work and study.

Unit 4