VOCABULARY PRACTICE SECTION 1

1. Match the things people do on the computer, their occupations and what they say about the use of computers in their lives.

A publication A business graph Web pages and email Searching the web Data sorting and searching Photo editing

A university professor A police officer A home user A publisher A bank manager A secretary

7. 'I use computers to do the usual office things like write letters and faxes, but what I find really useful is email. We are an international company and I send emails to our offices all over the world.'

8. 'We use PCs to produce all sorts of texts in digital format. We publish e-books (electronic books) and interactive e-learning programs on CD, and we help a local company to design an online newspaper, displayed on the Web.'

9. 'We use financial software to make calculations and then generate graphs or charts. We also use a database to store information so that it can be easily searched.'

10. 'I like to retouch photos on my computer; I improve them by making a few touches and then save them on a CD. I also enjoy looking at music portals on the Web. I surf the Web every day and I often download files, I copy music files from the Net to my PC.'

11. 'Having databases of names and fingerprints is useful for us.'

12. 'Our students can connect to the Internet to download software and also to find information for different research projects they are working on.'

2. What negative effect of computerization do these sentences refer to?

1. We are sorry to announce that most flights are delayed or cancelled. 2. He should go to a psychologist. He spends hours surfing the Web. 3. Technology changes so quickly that we have to scrap computers when they become obsolete. 4. I've been getting emails about offers for lots of different products. 5. My computer system has been broken into and some useful information has been destroyed

3. Fill in the gaps choosing the appropriate word.

1. The basic function of a computer is ………. information. a) to switch; b) to keep; c) to process. 2. A computer can carry out arithmetic-logical operations …… a) quickly; b) instantaneously; c) during some minutes. 3. Computers have become ………. in homes, offices, research institutes. a) commonwealth; b) commonplace; c) common room. 4. Space ………. uses computers widely.

a) information; b) production; c) exploration.

5. Computers are used for image ………..

a) processing; b) operating; c) producing.

6. Computers help in ………of economy.

a) environment; b) management; c) government.

7. Air traffic control depends on computer - ……… information.

a) generated; b) instructed; c) combined.

4. Which of the terms in the box are defined below?

Complete these sentences with words from the box above (there are some extra terms).

1. The ……. is a piece of software that interfaces with your PC and allows you, via keyboard commands, to get any text information read to you in synthetic speech. 2. A ……. , as popularized by virtual reality, lets the user immerse him/herself in a synthetically generated environment. 3. An ……. is a touch-sensitive device where a special pen or your finger can act as a mouse.

4. Tony Adams is now the proud owner of a dark silver Vogue, complete with leather interior, …. navigation, and a ……. with LCD TV screens.

5. The upgraded ……. at my university is great: we can connect our laptops, PDAs and Wi-Fi cell phones to the network anywhere in the campus. Communication is becoming easier and easier.

5. Put the proper words into sentences.
computer networks info computer literate routine boring repetitive tasks accuracy come to terms with (2) quantative

1. Society is heading in the direction of ... majority.

2. Computer programs now can integrate text, ... data and graphs.

3. The source of ... is the computer.

4. It is difficult for some people to ... the speed of change in the modern world.

5. Any ... which people find ... and tiring can now be carried out by machines.

6. Computers give us speed, ..., scope, quality, flexibility, large ca­pacity, elimination of the ... and increased efficiency.

7. We need to ... with expanding computer technology and adjust our vision to a whole new world.

8. As more and more people are linked by ..., how soon will it be before the paperless office becomes a reality?

6. Complete the text with the nouns in the box to form appropriate noun phrases. There are two nouns that you do not need to use.

With the development of (1) ……. in recent years, the way of (2) ……. for a great number of people has changed beyond recognition. Because of increased speed in the transfer of (3) ……., news and ideas travel around the world in seconds. Whatever we want to know is available at the touch of a (4) ……. Not long after the turn of the (5) ……., scientists expect us to have computers which are so small and powerful that they

will fit into our pockets. Because of this, some believe that newspapers and books will become a waste of (6) ……., as we will have all the information we need through our personal computers.