The internet and its future

I. Study the words and word-combinations.

search — искать

retrieve — получать

recreation — отдых

transactions — сделки

mankind — человечество

miraculous — поразительный

profound — глубокий, важный

wired — компьютеризированный

environment — окружающая среда

instant — мгновенный

source — источник

independent — независимый

replace — заменять

penetrate — проникать

cure — лечить

addiction — пристрастие

threaten — угрожать

violence — насилие

predict — предсказывать

do harm — наносить вред

sophisticated — зд. сложный

alarming — тревожный

complex — сложный

individual — зд. человек

benefit — выгода, польза

increase — увеличивать

potential — возможность

chaos — хаос

providing — при условии, если

disaster — катастрофа, бедствие

certain — некий

inevitability — неизбежность

ensure — гарантировать

suspicious — подозрительный

make sure — убедиться

completely — совершенно

II. Match the synonyms.

search rest

retrieve computerized

recreation possibility

mankind humanity

wired look for

do harm get

sophisticated complex

individual damage

potential human

disaster catastrophe

III. Read and translate the text. The internet and its future

Millions of people around the world use the Internet to search for and retrieve information on all sorts of topics in a wide variety of areas including the arts, business, government, humanities, news, politics and recreation. People communicate through electronic mail (e-mail), discussion groups, chat channels and other means of informational exchange. They share information and make business transactions.

Computers and the Internet open before the humankind miraculous possibilities. The Internet and its technology continue to have a profound effect in the exchange of information. Today’s students are going to graduate in a wired world. They are going to have to collect and analyze information and do business in an environment where there will be instant multimedia access. People will have a variety of information and knowledge sources in a manner that is simple and easy; independent of time and place or subject. Books, magazines and newspapers will be replaced by the Internet and computers. They are penetrating into every sphere of human activities. Computers will drive cars and trains, fly planes, cure the sick, design buildings, vehicles and spaceships. Even at present you can watch films, visit museums and play games on computers. So it’s high time to think about the dangers that computers may bring about along with all the possibilities listed above that computers and the Internet can give us.

Psychologists and parents are greatly worried about children’s computer addiction. The computer is not only a source of knowledge, it threatens a child’s health. Another problem is that some Internet sites are absolutely immoral, they deal with violence, sadism, children’s pornography. So, nobody can predict now, whether the Internet will do more harm than good in the future.

Computers are a relatively new invention. The first computers were built fifty years ago and it is only in the last 30 or so years, that their influence has affected our everyday life. In this short period of time they have made a tremendous impact on our lives. We are now so dependent on computers, that it is hard to go into a bank, when their main computer is broken. Just try to appreciate the chaos that would occur if computers were suddenly removed world-wide.

In the future computers will be used to create bigger and even more sophisticated computers. The prospects for this are quite alarming. They will be so complex, that no individual could hope to understand how they work. They will bring a lot of benefits, but they will also increase the potential for chaos. Providing all the computers are working correctly, nothing can go wrong. If one small program fails, it will end in disaster.

There is a certain inevitability that technology will progress and become increasingly complex. We should, however, ensure that we are still in a position where we are able to control technology. So, it's very important to be suspicious of the benefits that computers will bring and to make sure that we never become totally dependent on a completely technological world.

IV. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following phrases.

• получать информацию

• электронная почта

• обмен информацией

• источник знаний

• новое изобретение

• компьютерная зависимость

• полностью зависеть

VI. Detect which sentences are false. Correct them.

• People use the Internet only search for and retrieve scientific information.

• Computers can’t help us rest and entertain.

• The Internet has no disadvantages.

• There is no need to be suspicious of the benefits that computers will bring.

• All the computers are working correctly, nothing can go wrong.

VII. Answer the questions to the text.

• Name the possibilities that computers open before mankind.

• Why are psychologists and parents greatly worried ?

• What will computers be used in the future for ?

• Should we ensure that we are still in a position to control computer technology ?

VIII. Make up a plan. Retell the text.