Unit 4 Computer Networks

I. Language

Vocabulary

To switch	Перемикати
A pay raise report	Звіт про підвищення зарплатні
Current salary	Теперішня заробітна плата
Employees	Працівники
Payroll record	Платіжна відомість
To incorporate	Включати
Updated job description	Опис останньої роботи
To retrieve information	Шукати інформацію
A browser	Вікно перегляду, програма перегляду
To browse	Переглядати
Provider	Провайдер (компанія, що надає доступ до WWW через місцеву телефонну мережу)
Graphical interface	Графічний інтерфейс
To click	Натиснути та відпустити клавішу
Hyperlink	Гіперпосилання
Access	Доступ
Available	Наявний, доступний
To share	Розділяти
To broadcast	Транслювати

II. Reading and understanding

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text “Computer Networks”.

Computer Networks

1. Network is the term that is used to describe at least two but usually more communication devices connected to each other. There are two common categories of networks with which everyone is familiar. The first category is a network that broadcasts information from a single source. Radio and televi­sion networks are an example: a group of stations are linked together so that the same programs can be carried to a wider audience.

2. The second category is a network that transfers information among many sources. A telephone system is the prime example: the focus is input oriented -that is - switching messages from one location to another. In a computer ex­ample, the manager of a department is preparing a pay raise report by using the personal computer on her desk. The manager needs to know the start date and current salary of all employees in the department. By using a decentralized net­work, she communicates to a mainframe computer in which payroll records are kept and incorporates those data into the report. Then, she sends electronic messages to each employee in the department, asking for updated job de­scriptions to incorporate into the report. By using a network of computers, the manager is able to produce and distribute a more effective and accurate report, and do it much faster than if it had been done manually.

3. 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 commercial and business transactions. All this activity is possible because tens of thousands of networks are connected to the Internet and exchange information in the same basic ways.

4. The World Wide Web (WWW) is a part of the Internet. But it's not a collection of networks. Rather, it is information that is connected or linked together like a web. You access this information through one interface , or tool called a Web browser. The number of resources and services that are part of the World Wide Web is growing extremely fast. In 1996 there were more than 20 million users of the WWW, and more than half the information that is transferred across the Internet is accessed through the WWW. By using a computer terminal (hardware) connected to a network that is a part of the Internet, and by using a program (software) to browse or retrieve information that is a part of the World Wide Web, the people connected to the Internet and World Wide Web through the local providers have access to a variety of information. Each browser provides a graphical interface. You move from place to place, from site to site on the Web by using a mouse to click on a portion of text, icon or region of a map. These items are called hyperlinks or links. Each link you select represents a document, an image, a video clip or an audio file somewhere on the Internet. The user doesn't need to know where it is, the browser follows the link.

5. All sorts of things are available on the WWW. One can use Internet for recreational purposes. Many TV and radio stations broadcast live on the WWW. Essentially, if something can be put into digital format and stored in a computer, then it's available on the WWW. You can even visit museums, gardens, cities throughout the world, learn foreign languages and meet new friends. And of course you can play computer games through WWW, competing with partners from other countries and continents. Just a little bit of exploring the World Wide Web will show you what a much of use and fun it is.

Exercise 2. Find where in the text it is said about the points given below. Put down the number of the paragraph.

1. two categories of a network

2. a network of computers

3. the use of the Internet

4. accessing information through the Internet

5. the function of a browser

Exercise 3. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations.

1. мережа

2. пристрої зв’язку

3. передавати інформацію

4. передавати повідомлення

5. заробітна платня працівників

6. децентралізована мережа

7. платіжна відомість

8. робити вручну

9. широке різноманіття областей

10. розвага

11. інформаційний обмін

12. комерційні операції

13. ресурси та послуги

14. локальні провайдери

15. забезпечувати

Exercise 4. Find in the text definitions to the following terms. Put down the number of the paragraph.

1. Internet

2. World Wide Web

3. Web browser

4. Internet provider

5. Hyperlinks

6. Networks

Exercise 5. State whether the statements listed below are true or false.

1. There are two common categories of networks.

2. To prepare a pay raise report by using a personal computer the manager of a department needs to know the start date and current salary of all employees.

3. A wide variety of activities is possible because tens of thousands of networks are connected to the Internet.

4. WWW is a collection of networks.

5. All sorts of things are available on the WWW.

6. The user moves from place to place on the Web using a keyboard to click on a portion of text, icon or region of a map.

Exercise 6. Find the answers to the following questions in the text. Put down the number of the paragraph.

1. What is a network?

2. How does the manager of a department prepare a pay raise report?

3. What do people use the Internet for?

4. What is the World Wide Web?

5. How do people have access to a variety of information?

7. What sorts of things are available on the WWW?