Hand book Computer Engineering Students

English for Specific Purpose

First year , second term

2024
Designed by: Arlindo Domingos Simão Nihawe, senior Lecturer B.A. in ELT&P

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 UNIVERSIDADE LÚRIO
FACULDADE DE ENGENHARIAS
CURSO DE ENGENHARIA INFORMATICA

PLANO ANALÍTICO DE INGLES ESPECIFICO

Disciplina: Inglês Especifico Código:

Nível: 1º ano Semestre: 2º Período: Laboral Tipo de aula: Teórico-
Prática
Carácter: Nº de Aulas Teóricas: 10 Créditos: 4 Carga Horária:
Semestral Nº de Aulas Práticas: 54  Semanal: 4
 Semestral:64
Precedências: Ingles Geral Língua de Ensino: Inglês
Regente: dr. Arlindo Domingos Simao Nihawe; contacto:840512079; e-mail:
[email protected]
Assistente:

I. Rationale behind the Syllabus

English as a language it is essential for education in general and higher education in particular,
because it is a key to Access knowledge. Bearing in mind that most of literature is written in
English, especially in such areas as science and technology.

This subject aims to equip the undergraduates with primary general English Language. Enable them
to manipulate the language both in the written and oral forms in their everyday life to talk about a
variety of things.

Typically, the rationale behind integrating (ESP) English for e specific purpose in ELT (English
Language Teaching) is to help language learners cope with features of language or develop the
competencies needed to function in a discipline, professional practices, or work place.

II. OBJECTIVES
Empower undergraduate with the language and literature at the Faculty of Engineering,
skills they need to carry out their career goals.

Specific Objectives:
Equip the undergraduates with Science and Engineering English Language terminology.
Develop the language of engineering skills learners will encounter in the job market
Read and comprehend articles about Science and Engineering.
Perform an oral presentation about Science and Engineering matters in English.

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 Write about specific Science and Engineering topics in English.

III. PLANO ANALÍTICO /DOSEFICAÇÃO /CONTEÚDO PROGRAMÁTICO

Scheme of work
Week Lesson Topic Faciliteis

1. Reading comprehension - computers

Decide whether the following statements are

true or false (t/ f) by referring to the information
in the text. Hand out

Choose the correct answer for the following

questions.
Contextual references: find out in the passage
what the underlined words refer to.

Vocabulary: synonyms. Find in the passage a

synonym for each of the following words. Hand out
Describe what you can see in the text
 Discussion
1 Oral presentation

Comprehension:
Choose the correct ending for the sentences
Develop your reading skills. Hand out
1 Oral presentation

Information technology.
Read the text and do the comprehension Hand out
question

1 Oral presentation

Read the text and decide is the statements are

true or false
The first computer programmer
1 Oral presentation
Hand out
Test 1

Reading comprehension Hand out

Global call communications

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 Gap filling
True [t] or false [f]. Exercises

1 Oral presentation

Reading comprehension

Electrifying communications

Task i: circle the correct alternative a, b, c or d. Hand out

True [t] or false [f]. Exercises

1 Oral presentation

Reading comprehension Hand out

Internet safety
Gap filling

Computer addicts
Discussion

Give me back my life Hand out

Gap filling

1 Oral presentation

 Writing an analytical essay Hand out

Procedures and vocabulary
1 Oral presentation

Computer added software

Gap filling
Complete the text with the missing words
The digital divide
Hand out

Final Exam preparation Hand out

IV. Teaching Strategies

Discussions

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 Oral presentations
Checking grammar points
Spotting mistakes
Putting words in correct order
Completing sentences
Gap filling
Asking and answering questions
Analyzing texts
Writing

V. E VALUATION
Evaluation during semester running classes period
o Two tests
o Two assignments, one individual and other in group

The average mark is calculated under the following formula: Tests (80%) + assignments (20%)
Final exam evaluation
The criteria of admission and passing the exams, both for normal and re-sit exams will fall under
the current evaluation regulation of Lurio University. All material covered throughout the term will
be assessed.

VI. Bibliography:
1. GLENDINNING, E & McEWAN, J. (2006), Oxford English for Information Technology.
2. MURPHY, R. (2000), English Grammar In Use, Cambridge University Press.
COE, N. (2006), Oxford Practice Grammar, Basic, Oxford.
3. OXENDEN, C. & LATHAMK-KOEING, C (1997), Cambridge University Press.
New English File, Intermediate Students' Book
4. WILLIAMS, I. (2007),Oxford. English for Science and Engineering, Thompson ELT.
5. TOUCHÉ, Antônio Carlos, ARMAGANIJAN, Maria Cristina. Match Point. São Paulo:
Longman,
2003.
6. HOLLET, Vicki. Quick Work. Intermediate - Student's Book. Oxford University
Press, 2011
Dicionário Português-Inglês.

Hand-outs,

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 In groups of five students discuss the questions

1. What is Computer engineering?

2. Why do you study Computer engineering?
3. How do you think will help the country by studying Computer Engineering?

Group work

a) Find an interesting topic (make sure the topic is from your own studying field/ your course).
b) Write with full details about the topic (examples, arguments, demonstrations, and so on ).
c) Follow the basic principles to write an academic paper
d) Finally the work should be presented in the class, if it’s necessary using data show.

Reading Comprehension - Computers

The basic job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason, computers can be
defined as devices which accept information in the form of instructions called a program and
characters called data, perform mathematical and logical operations on the information, and
then supply results of these operations. The program which tells the computers what to do and
the data, which provide the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside the
computer in a place called memory.

Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, most computers, whether
large or small have three basic capabilities. First, computers have circuits for performing
arithmetic operations, such as: addition, subtraction, a division, multiplication and
exponentiation. Second, computers have a means of communicating with the user. After all, if
we couldn't feed information in and get results back, these machines wouldn't be of much use.
Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds of decisions which computer
circuits can make are not of the type: "Who would win a war between two countries?"

A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even thousands, of logical
decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the solution to a problem in a fraction of
the time. A computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it has no originality; it works
according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise any value judgments. There are
times when a computer seems to operate like a mechanical `brain', but its achievements are
limited by the minds of human beings. A computer cannot do anything unless a person tells it
what to do and gives it the appropriate information; but because electric pulses can move at
the speed of light, a computer can carry out vast numbers of arithmetic-logical operations
almost instantaneously.

TASK I

Decide whether the following statements are true or false (T/ F) by referring
to the information in the text.
1. A computer can store or handle any data even if it hasn't received information to do so. ………
2. All computers accept and process information in the form of instructions and characters. …….
3. The information necessary for solving problems is found in the memory of the computer. ……..
4. There are many different devices used for feeding information into a computer. …….
5. Human beings cannot be replaced by computers. ……

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 TASK II
Choose the correct answer for the following questions.
1. Why can computers make decisions? Because they have…
A. memory B. special circuits which can do that C. devices D. no information

2. How long does it take a computer to solve a problem?

A. one second B. a fraction of the time C. a long time D. an hour

3. What kind of tasks can a computer do?

A. all tasks B. decisions C. dull and routine D. none

4. Why can't a computer replace people? Because...

A. It is expensive B. it is light C. it has no originality D. it has electric pulses

5. What is the basic job of computers?

A. programming B. calculating C. moving faster than the speed of light D. processing information

TASK III
Contextual References: Find out in the passage what the underlined words
refer to.
1. as devices which accept information (line 2) …………………………………..
2. which tells the computer what to do (line 5) …………………………………..
3. but its achievements are limited (line 22) ……………………………………...

TASK IV
Vocabulary: Synonyms. Find in the passage a synonym for each of the
following words.
1. information (paragraph 1)…………………………………
2 . fundamental (paragraph 1) …………………………………
3. doing (paragraph 2) ……………………………………..
4. a small part of (paragraph 3) ……………………………….
5. accomplishments (paragraph 3) …………………………….

Task
Describe what you can see in the picture.

Reading Comprehension -
Information Technology

Develop your reading skills. Read the following text and

do the comprehension question

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 Information Technology

If you want a brief history of information technology, here is one. Humans were the first
"computers". Then machines were invented to carry out the computational tasks. Now these
machines have given way to new form of information technology. Information has become
accessible from anywhere.

Information technology deals with the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal,
pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing
and telecommunications. Thanks to the continuous development of computers, the original
computing systems became minicomputers and later personal computers took the lead. Nowadays,
mobile phones are dethroning the personal computer and computing is evolving faster to become
disembodied more like a cloud, becoming accessible more easily whenever needed. Information
technology in this sense has transformed people and companies and has allowed digital technology
to influence society and economy alike.

Comprehension:

Choose the correct ending for the sentences

1. Information technology is changing principally because of:

a. the changing needs
b. new technological advances
2. According to the author the first computers were:
a. calculators
b. humans
3. Development of information technology is the result of:
a. advances in computing systems
b. development of machinery in general
4. Computing systems are taking the form of clouds means:
a. computers have become smaller
b. computing power will be disembodied.

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 Read the text and decide if the statements are true or false

The First Computer Programmer

Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. She was taught by Mary Somerville, a
well-known researcher and scientific author, who introduced her to Charles Babbage in June 1833.
Babbage was an English mathematician, who first had the idea for a programmable computer.

In 1842 and 1843, Ada translated the work of an Italian mathematician, Luigi Menabrea, on
Babbage's Analytical Engine. Though mechanical, this machine was an important step in the history
of computers; it was the design of a mechanical general-purpose computer. Babbage worked on it
for many years until his death in 1871. However, because of financial, political, and legal issues, the
engine was never built. The design of the machine was very modern; it anticipated the first
completed general-purpose computers by about 100 years.

When Ada translated the article, she added a set of notes which specified in complete detail a
method for calculating certain numbers with the Analytical Engine, which have since been
recognized by historians as the world's first computer program. She also saw possibilities in it that
Babbage hadn't: she realised that the machine could compose pieces of music. The computer
programming language 'Ada', used in some aviation and military programs, is named after her.

1. Ada Lovelace's teacher introduced her to Charles

2. Babbage programmed the first computer.

3. Ada translated the article in 1842.

4. The Luigi Menabrea designed the first computer.

5. Analytical Engine was electronic.

6. Babbage finished the machine before he died.

7. Babbage's design was ahead of its time.

8. Ada's work was instantly recognised as being the first computer program.

9. Ada wrote military and aviation computer programs.

10. Babbage saw that his machine could write music.

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 READING COMPREHENSION

Global call Communications

Globalcall Communications has grown from a telecommunications solutions …………….. (1) for
local businesses in the greater Seattle metropolitan area to a truly global corporation providing
telecommunications solutions for clients both large and small. Established to fill a
significant ...................(2) gap for simple communication solutions, the company first ………..(3)
to most major North American cities before becoming a major multinational player.

Presently, the company is …………….(4) operations to include voice over IP, as well as high-
speed cable Internet access. Globalcall Communications' team …………… (5) more than 40,000
specialists worldwide in more than 20 countries on three continents. Next year will see the
deployment of a third generation wireless communications network in Asian …………(6).

The future looks bright for Globalcall Communications. By 2005 the company will be ………(7)
more than 15 million households and businesses globally. Globalcall Communications will have
become a household word. We look forward to serving clients and are planning to do everything in
our power to make sure that your communication future is …………...(8) and simple.
Lúrio University // Degree in Computer Engineering English I
E-mail: [email protected] // Cell: (+258) 82 80 81 960

Fill in the passages with the missing words. Choose A, B, C or D.

1. A. provide B. provision C. provider D. providing

2. A. company B. people C. Clients D. market
3. A. Expanded B. Expansion C. Expand D. expansive
4. A. Extended B. Extending C. extension D. extend
5. A. includes B. include C. including D. included
6. A. countries B. continents C. world D. land
7. A. service B. serviced C. servicing D. served
8. A. limitation B. limited C. limits D. unlimited

TASK II
Say whether the statements are True [T] or False [F].
1. The company began by offering computer software solutions to local businesses in the greater
Seattle metropolitan area.
2. The company was founded on an approach to providing simple communication solutions.
3. The company is expanding operations at the moment.

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 4. Worldwide communications employs more than 40,000 specialists.
5. The company expects to be servicing more than 50 million customers worldwide by 2005.

READING COMPREHENSION

ELECTRIFYING COMMUNICATIONS

The age of mass communication began with the invention of the printing press, but electricity is
what made rapid mass communication possible. In the 1830s, Samuel Morse invented the
telegraph. The telegraph was an invention that enabled someone to send messages quickly
across great distances.

The telegraph was a network of electromagnets. Each electromagnet had a beeper. A person
in one place could use a telegraph to send electrical impulses over wires to a person that was
far away. A different electromagnet at the destination of the message would receive the
impulses and sound its beeper. The person could then interpret the sounds to decode the
message. Morse developed a code of long and short beeps, called Morse Code. This is how
people would decode the messages they received. Morse code used a code of long and short
beeps to indicate different letters or words.

Since electrical impulses could be sent in a relatively short period of time and decoded quickly,
communication became quicker. By 1861, a network of telegraph lines connected the Atlantic
and the Pacific coasts. In 1866, the first successful telegraph cable was laid across the Atlantic
Ocean. This meant that people could now send a message across the ocean in a matter of
seconds. Before, it could take days or weeks for a person to travel with a message.
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell successfully demonstrated the first telephone. Telephones work
on the principle of transforming mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. When a person
speaks into the transmitter of a telephone, their voice causes the air to vibrate. These vibrations
cause a metal disk in the phone’s mouthpiece to vibrate in response to different vocal sounds.
The metal disk in the mouthpiece is called a diaphragm.

The vibrations in the diaphragm are turned into an electrical current. This current varies based on
the sound waves striking the diaphragm. These differing electrical signals then travel through an
array of wires and switches until they reach another telephone. The telephone receiving these
signals also has a receiver with a diaphragm in the earpiece. The diaphragm in the earpiece
vibrates, which produces sound waves that someone hears as the voice of the person who
made the call.

By 1915, telephone service was available between New York City and San Francisco. Today, you
can use a telephone to speak to someone down the block or on the other side of the world. As
a result, rapid communications have become possible. Electricity has also revolutionized
communications because electricity is used for radio, television, computers, audio and video
recording, satellites, and a host of other communication networks. Before electricity, most
messages were carried by hand from one destination to another. Think of how long it would
have taken to get a message from Japan to New York. Now, an e-mail can be sent that is
received almost instantly thank to electricity and computers.

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 TASK I: Circle the correct alternative A, B, C or D.

1. This made rapid mass communication possible:

A. the printing press B. electricity C. vibrations D. Networks

2. In 1876, this man successfully demonstrated the first telephone.

A. Samuel Morse B. Johan Gutenberg C. Alexander Graham Bell D. Thomas Edison

3. A telegraph is a network of:

A. electromagnets B. people C. wires D. telephones

4. The metal piece inside the mouthpiece of a phone is called the:

A. handset B. transmitter C. beeper D. Diaphragm

TASK II: Say whether the statements are true or false. Write T or F. ____

1. By 1915, telephone service was available between New York City and San Francisco. ____

2. In the 1830s, Edward Bell invented the telegraph. ____

3. Telephones work on the principle of transforming mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.__

4. Telephone Code used a code of long and short beeps to indicate different letters or words. __

Reading Comprehension - The Internet

Read the following text and do the comprehension questions

What is internet?

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet
protocol suite, a set of communications protocols, to serve billions of users worldwide. The internet
has reshaped and redefined most traditional communications media including telephone, music,
film, and television. This has given birth to new services. Newspaper, book and other print
publishing are adapting to Web site technology, or are reshaped into blogging and web feeds.

The Internet has enabled or accelerated new forms of human interactions through instant
messaging, Internet forums, and social networking. Online shopping has boomed both for major
retail outlets and small artisans and traders. Business-to-business and financial services on the
Internet affect supply chains across entire industries.

The origins of the Internet reach back to research of the 1960s, commissioned by the United States
government in collaboration with private commercial interests to build robust, fault-tolerant, and

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 distributed computer networks. The commercialization of what was by the 1990s an international
network resulted in its popularization and incorporation into virtually every aspect of modern
human life. As of 2011, more than 2.1 billion people — nearly a third of Earth's population — use
the services of the Internet

1. The internet has completely dethroned traditional media.

2. The internet has had an impact on commerce.

3. The internet was first introduced in the 1990s.

4. More than a quarter of the Earth’s populations are internet users.

TASK:
In small groups discuss ‘The advantages and disadvantages of Internet’, and write a
paragraph about it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Internet Safety

Task
Use the words from the box to complete the text

Network, internet, shared, years, information, research, believe

Twenty _________ago, kids in school had never even heard of the internet. Now, I'll bet you can't
find a single person in your school who hasn't at least heard of it. In fact, many of us use it on a
regular basis and even have access to it from our homes! The 'net' in ________ really stands for
network. A __________is two or more computers connected together so that information can be
_________, or sent from one computer to another. The internet is a vast resource for all types of
information. You may enjoy using it to do research for a school project, downloading your favorite
songs or communicating with friends and family. Information is accessed through web pages that
companies, organizations and individuals create and post. It's kind of like a giant bulletin board that
the whole world uses! But since anyone can put anything on the internet, you also have to be careful
and use your best judgment and a little common sense.

Just because you read something on a piece of paper someone sticks on a bulletin board doesn't
mean it's good information, or even correct, for that matter. So you have to be sure that whoever
posted the _____________ knows what they're talking about, especially if you're doing
__________! But what if you're just emailing people? You still have to be very careful. If you've
never met the person that you're communicating with online, you could be on dangerous ground!
You should never give out any personal information to someone you don't know, not even your
name! And just like you can't ________________ the information on every website out there, you
can't rely on what strangers you 'meet' on the internet tell you either. Just like you could make up
things about yourself to tell someone, someone else could do the same to you!

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 Computer addicts
Warm-up
o What do you think of playing games on the computer?
Read the article that Pete wrote. Which is the nest summary?

1. Pete is a computer addict. He plays video games so much that he doesn’t have time to exercise or
make friends.
He is shy because computer games have made him antisocial. He thinks they can make people
violent too, but the real problem is that they are too much fun.

2. Pete is computer addict. He plays video games so much that he doesn’t have time to exercise or
make friends. He is shy but he doesn’t think that computer games have made him antisocial. He
doesn’t think that games make people violent either, he just thinks they are too much fun.

Complete the article with the words and phrases below.

However (x2) but (x2) According to because (x3)

Give me back my life

What will you be doing this evening? Will you be playing a computer game? I will. (1) _________,
I think I would be better off if I weren’t, because of the many dangers it can lead to.

I have been a computer addict since I was ten. I am now fifteen and I can’t get rid of my habit. My
father constantly tells me to do something with my life and stay away from the computer. I try (2)
_____________ the games are too addictive. These days I play for about twenty-five hours a week.
Playing video games stops me from exercising and playing basketball. I have no time for friends.
My school work also suffers (3) _____________ I always do my homework as quick as possible.

(4) ____________an article I read, these games can make you antisocial. I’m not sure if that’s true.
I know that I find it difficult to talk to people but is that because of the games or (5) __________ I
have always been shy?
Many of the games are very violent (6) ____________ nobody takes them seriously. They are just
fun. (7) ____________, some experts say research shows that games can make you violent and

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 aggressive. I find that difficult to
believe (8) _____________ I’ve always been one of the most gentle boys in

Writing an Analytical Essay

E-ma

Improve your writing. Writing an article

a. Start by introducing the topic. Use a question or a surprising fact to attract the reader’s attention.
Examples
What will you be doing this evening?
Did you know that 96% of game addict are male?

b. Use different paragraphs for each aspect of the subject. Make sure you end with an overall
comment or remark.

c. Where possible give specific examples or refer to things you have read. Here are some useful
expressions.
According to an article…
Some experts say…
I’ve read that…
I’ve heard that…
Research shows that…

d. Show that you do not agree with something by using expressions like:
I’m not sure if that’s true.
I find it difficult to believe…

: [email protected] // Cell: (+258) 82 80 81 960

Practice
I. Complete the sentences with the expressions: According to and Research shows that
1. ___ a recent television programme, boys who were computer addict have done well at university.
2. ______________ computer addicts are the inventors of tomorrow.
3. ______________ the people who make the games, violence is part of society.
4. ______________ addiction to games disappears when kids get older.
5. ______________ some experts, the games improve computer skills.

II. Complete the sentences with however, because or but

1. Knowing about computers can improve your social life ________ other children ask for help.
2. Computer addicts are shy ___________they are not antisocial.
3. Some games appeared almost twenty years ago. __________, they are still popular.
4. Games are important for a child’s development _____ they give a child problem they can solve.
5. Children can learn a lot from computer games. ____________, parents should control the amount

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 of time they spend on them.
6. Girls do not learn as much about computers _________ they do not play as much games as boys.

Computer-aided software engineering

Complete the blank spaces with the words from the box

Such as, share, Language, phase, innovations, the 1920s and '30s, deploy, information, affects,
simulations, interactions.

Computer-aided software engineering is the use of computers in designing sophisticated tools to aid
the software engineer and to automate the software development process as _____ possible. It is
particularly useful where major software products are designed by teams of engineers who may not
_______the same physical space. CASE tools can be used for simple operations such as routine
coding from an appropriately detailed design in a specific programming__________, or for more
complex tasks such as incorporating an expert system to enforce design rules and eliminate
software defects and redundancies before the coding________.

Systems engineering is the technique of using knowledge from various branches of engineering and
science to introduce technological ________into the planning and development stages of a system.
Systems engineering was first applied to the organization of commercial telephone systems in
_________. Many systems-engineering techniques were developed during World War II in an effort
to _________military equipment more efficiently.

Postwar growth in the field was spurred by advances in electronic systems and by the development
of computers and ________ theory. Systems engineering usually involves incorporating new
technology into complex, man-made systems, in which a change in one part _______many others.
One tool used by systems engineers is the flowchart, which shows the system in graphic form, with
geometric figures representing various subsystems and arrows representing their_________. Other
tools include mathematical models, probability theory, statistical analysis, and computer_________.

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 Task
Describe the illustration

Do the exercise the vocabulary related to science and technology

Choose the right words:

Experiments, addiction, tools, information, digital, age

1. The ethical implications of laboratory scientific _________ on animals are an issue

discussed worldwide.
2. The dependency to computers displayed in the behavior of certain people is called
computer ____________ .
3. Technological and scientific_________ such as computers, cell phones,satellites ... may
boost the development of the third world countries.
4. The less people have access to _____ technology the larger the _________ divide is.
5. Computer __________ is the era in which computer technology has transformed our lives. .

Task : Find the nouns connected with the following verbs:

Discover, invent, analyze and observe

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 Complete the text with the missing words

Including, instructs, computers, than, internal functioning, associated with, programmers, act
on.

Hardware is computer machinery and equipment,(1) __________ memory, cabling, power supply,
peripheral devices, and circuit boards. Computer operation requires both hardware and software.
Hardware design specifies a computer's capability; software (2) ___________ the computer on what
to do. The advent of microprocessors in the late 1970s led to much smaller hardware assemblies and
accelerated the proliferation of(3)_________. Today's personal computers are as powerful as the
early mainframes, while mainframes are now smaller and have vastly more computing power
(4)_____ the early models.

Software is a term for instructions that tell a computer what to do. Software is the entire set of
programs, procedures, and routines (5) _________the operation of a computer system, including the
operating system. The term differentiates these features from hardware, the physical components of
a computer system. Two main types of software are system software, which controls a computer’s
(6) ___________, and application software, which directs the computer to execute commands that
solve practical problems. A third category is network software, which coordinates communication
between computers linked in a network. Software is written by (7) ______________ in any number
of programming languages. This information, the source code, must then be translated by means of
a compiler into machine language, which the computer can understand and (8)__________.

The Digital Divide

A recent survey has shown that the number of people in the United Kingdom who do not intend to
get internet access has risen. These people, who are know as 'net refuseniks', make up 44% of UK
households, or 11.2 million people in total.

The research also showed that more than 70 percent of these people said that they were not
interested in getting connected to the internet. This number has risen from just over 50% in 2005,
with most giving lack of computer skills as a reason for not getting internet access, though some
also said it was because of the cost.

More and more people are getting broadband and high speed net is available almost everywhere in
the UK, but there are still a significant number of people who refuse to take the first step.

The cost of getting online is going down and internet speeds are increasing, so many see the main
challenge to be explaining the relevance of the internet to this group. This would encourage them to
get connected before they are left too far behind. The gap between those who have access to and use
the internet is the digital divide, and if the gap continues to widen, those without access will get left
behind and miss out on many opportunities, especially in their careers.

Decide if the statements are True or False

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 1. More people in the U.K. don’t intend to get internet access than before.
2. The majority of people in the U.K. are “netrefuseniks”

3. Most of those without internet access want to get it.

4. The majority of people surveyed in 2005 were not interested in having internet access.

5. The main reason for not getting internet access is the cost.

6. High speed internet is not available in the U.K.

7. Both costs and speeds are increasing.

8. Many people think that getting the costs down is the key to this problem.

9. The digital divide is widening in the U.K.

10. Not having access to the internet will only affect people’s careers.

TASK II:

Look at the sentences below from the text. The sentences are in present perfect, put
them in past simple.

1. A recent survey has shown that the number of people in the United Kingdom who do not intend
to get internet access has risen.
2. This number has risen from just over 50% in 2005.
1. ..............................................................................................................................................

2. ..............................................................................................................................................

READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT:

WEB TV UNVEILED4

Redmond, Washington.

Microsoft Corp's WebTV Networks unit unveiled technology that increases the system's speed
and improves the combination of TV programming and Web sites customers can view.

Web TV, acquired by the Redmond, Washington-based software maker for 425 million dollars in
August, makes set-top box systems that let users browse the Internet on conventional television
sets. The new system, to be available this fall, is expected to retail for less than 300 dollars. The

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 company still plans to offer its old product, and is dropping the price to 199 dollars, plus a rebate of
100 dollars.

WebTV is gearing up for holiday sales, as other Internet-TV sellers prepare to release competing
products. The updated system offers improved video, connection speeds to the Internet and closer
tie-ins between Web sites and the television shows.

"This looks pretty good, but we'll have to see what the competition comes up with", said Noah
Yasskin, an analyst at Jupiter Communications.

Competitors are preparing to unveil their products this fall too. Thomson SA's RCA is working
with Oracle Corp.'s NCI unit to unveil a consumer network computer this week that uses a set-top
box to run an Internet connection through TVs. NCI is also working with Zenith Electronics Corp.

Another rival, San Francisco-based NetChannel Inc., acquired View-Call America, which offers a
Web service called On-TV. NetChannel's service is designed to work with a set-top box that RCA is
developing. WebTV's new system uses Rockwell International Corp.'s 56K modems and Seagate
Technology Inc.'s disk drives. The drives store data copied from the Internet during the night to cut
down on information the TV has to look up during the day.

Users of the system hook up to the Internet through phone lines and pay a $20 monthly fee for
WebTV's service. WebTV has 150,000 subscribers.

On the TV side, Web publishers and TV shows can add an icon that links subscribers to the Web,
where they can find more information, such as a wider variety of sports scores or listings of local
car dealerships.

Microsoft bought WebTV to expand the use of its software beyond the home PC market. WebTV
next will use the Windows CE operating software, designed for hand-held computers.

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 Now tick the correct response
1. WebTV is .............................................
a. still a secret b. only a project c. a new development

2. With WebTV, you can ...........................

a. browse in the Internet through your TV.
b. watch TV on your computer.
c. programme a site on your TV.

3. WebTV will cost ...........................................

a. 300 dollars b. 199 dollars c. almost 300 dollars

4. Old systems will cost .......................

a. 199 dollars b. 99 dollars c. less than 99 dollars

5. WebTV .......................................
a. faces strong competition b. is not competitive c. has no competition

6. WebTV's drives store data ................................

a. all the time the TV is on.
b. during the night, and simplify the work of the TV.
c. while the TV is on, but only at night.
;,
7. To use this system, you .......................... have a phone.
a. may b. should c. can

8. An icon links .................................

a. the phone to the TV
b. WebTV users to the Web.
c. Web subscribers to the information.

9. Microsoft want to .............................................

a. expand their market.
b. limit their market to PC users.
c. push every other company out of the market.

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 Information and Communication Technology Glossary

This is a list of vocabulary items related to information and communication

technology

Application

Applications software (also called end-user programs) include database programs, word
processors, spreadsheets, and multimedia programs.

Blog

Also called weblog. A website that displays in chronological order the postings by one or
more individuals and usually has links to comments on specific postings.

Boot

To start (a computer) by loading an operating system from a disk.

CPU

Abbreviation of Central Processing Unit. This is the brains of the computer. This unit directs
the computer’s activities. Every instruction given by the operator must first pass through the
CPU before it can be carried out.

Database

A collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval. Also called data
bank.

Desktop

It's a metaphor to denote file systems on the computer’s home screen. The background
image of a display screen, on which windows, icons, and other graphical items appear.

Hard drive

A hardware device that reads data stored on hard disks. It is also called hard disk drive.

Download

The process of transferring software/information from a server to a computer (the opposite is

upload)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions. A list of questions and answers that are often asked by
beginners to help them use a computer, an application or a website.

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 File
An aggregation of data on a storage device, identified by a name.

Firewall

An application used to keep unauthorized users from accessing parts of a network or

computer.

Folder
A virtual container in a computer's file system, in which files and other folders may be
stored. The files and subfolders in a folder are usually related.
Format

To prepare a mass storage medium for initial use, erasing any existing data in the process.

HTML

Abbreviation of Hypertext Markup Language. A computer language containing a set of

tags and rules used in developing hypertext documents to be presented on web browsers,
allowing incorporation of text, graphics, sound, video and hyperlinks.

Internet

Millions of computer networks that communicate together

Keyboard

A set of keys that allows you to type and enter information on the computer.

LAN

Local Area Network, as contrasted with a WAN, or Wide Area Network. An

interconnection of computers that are in relatively close proximity to each other, such as
within a building.

Monitor

A device similar to a television set used as to give a graphical display of the output from a
computer

Modem

A device that encodes digital computer signals into analog/analogue telephone signals and
vice versa and allows computers to communicate over a phone line.

Mouse
An input device that is moved over a pad or other flat surface to produce a corresponding
movement of a pointer on a graphical display.

RAM

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 Random Access Memory. Computer memory that dynamically stores and retrieve program
and data values during operation.

ROM

A computer memory chip that stores values but does not allow updates, in which the values
are nonvolatile in that they are retained even when the computer is unpowered.

Server
A computer or a program which provides services to other programs or users.

URL

A Uniform Resource Locator: the address of a web page, ftp site, audio stream or other
Internet resource

Virus
A program which can covertly transmit itself between computers via networks (especially
the Internet) or removable storage such as CDs, USB drives, floppy disks, etc., often causing
damage to systems and data.

WAN

Wide Area Network, as contrasted with a LAN, or Local Area Network. Used to describe a
computer network that covers a large geographic area, which can refer to several buildings
in a city, or several cities. Can refer to a group of LANs connected by dedicated long-
distance links.

Website

A set of interconnected web pages, usually including a homepage, generally located on the
same server, and prepared and maintained as a collection of information by a person, group,
or organization.

WWW

World Wide Web. Collectively, all of the web pages on the Internet which hyperlink to each
other and to other kinds of documents and media.

This is not the end of Learning but the springboard for the success

Use it or lose it.

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