Vocabulary work
Find in the text the words which have the following meaning:
1) to ponder, to consider; 2) venturesome decision; 3) component in a computer network; 4) gossip; 5) person, hiring a telephone line; 6) to connect; 7) zealous; 8) momentous tool; 9) highly developed and complex; 10) equal; 11) disorder, especially political; 12) withstand.
Translate the following sentences from the text into Russian:
1. Each packet would wind its way through the network on an individual basis. 2. Discussing science fiction on the network was not work-related and was frowned upon by many ARPANET computer administrators. 3. Many very different social groups found themselves in possession of powerful computers. 4. Since the basic technology was decentralized and rather anarchic by its very nature, it was difficult to stop people from barging and linking up somewhere-or-other. 5. Much the same goes for the Internet. 6. It's an institution that resists institutionalization.
Answer the questions:
1) How did the idea about setting up an entirely new network arise?
2) Who were the first users of ARPANET?
3) What was the first big mailing-list?
4) What happened in the ‘70s and ‘80s?
5) How can one explain what different domains stand for?
6) How can the intense attractiveness of the Internet be explained?
7) Is it possible to draw a parallel between the Internet and the English language?
Prepare a short summary of the text (1/3 of the original text)
Watch and Research
Do you know the difference between a browser and a search engine?
Check the meaning of the notions:
Firefox, Google, Chrome, Explorer, Yahoo
R ecord 7a
“What is a browser?”
“What is a browser?” was the question the interviewers asked over 50 passers-by of different ages and backgrounds in the Times Square in New York.
Watch the many responses people came up with.
Reproduce the right response. Count up how many correct responses were among them!
Fix the main misconceptions of a browser and try to explain why people have them.
Count up the percentage of right answers among 50 respondents in the video.
Ask 8-10 people out of your class to answer the same question on the spot. Summarize the results in your group. Count up the percentage of right answers among your respondents.
Are people around you more aware of these Internet technologies?
Read and Talk
Picking an Internet Service Provider
Practice the conversation.
− I need to have an Internet connection set up in my new home. Which is a good ISP to sign up with? − Do you want one that’s world-wide like Compuserve or a local one? − A local one’s OK. − Use Cyber-net. They have very good support. − Do they provide DSL, dial-up or broadband wireless access? − They have all and even more, and they will host your web page for free and email box as well. − I don’t think I need a web page or email. I think what I need is an unlimited broadband cable connection. − Humm, I know they have traffic quotas in Cyber-net… I suppose you need to call them and find out for yourself about their services. Meanwhile you can use my Wi-Fi. I had it installed in all the rooms of my house.