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Unit 4

Text Study. Online Services

Additional Text. Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Grammar: Non-finnite forms of the verb. Revision

 

Text Study

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

Particular, entirely, subjective,judgments, to judge, advantages, elsewhere, to be interlinked, circuit, multiplexor, incompatible.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Files, absolute, individual, product, electrical, signal, code, telephone, microphone, modem, channel, control, protocols.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) Still users tend to be loyal to their ‘home’ online service - which is usually the first online service they ever used. 2) Keep an open mind when checking out an online service. 3) It takes a couple of sessions to shake preconceived notions of what an online service ‘should’ be.

 

II. Reading

Read the text and be ready to find in the text the answers to the following questions:

  • What is the best online service?
  • What online services do you know?

 Online Services

Many people ask which online is ‘best’, but the answer is there is no best. Rating of a particular service over another is entirely subjective. Price is important to some people, while the number of files available for download is important to others. Because of these and so many other different judgments, there can be no absolute. It all comes down to individual needs and preferences.

Still users tend to be loyal to their ‘home’ online service - which is usually the first online service they ever used. They tend to judge all other online services based on this first service - often preventing themselves from seeing the advantages of a specific service. There are many online services. Each offers one or more products or features that either do not exist elsewhere or are superior to the same features on other services.

So the real answer to the question is simple: the best online service is the service that has what you want and is easy for you to use. Keep an open mind when checking out an online service. Judge is based on what it offers and how it meets your needs - not in comparison to what you are used to using. It takes a couple of sessions to shake preconceived notions of what an online service ‘should’ be. Eventually, we are all going to be interlinked, no matter which service we use. Until then, most of us have to go to more than one service to find everything we need.

Data Transmission

An acoustic coupler converts the electrical signals from the computer into a coded sound signal which is picked up by the telephone microphone. It then works as a modem.

A modem can covert a digital bit stream into an analog signal over an analog communication channel (telephone circuit). It then converts incoming analog signals back into digital signals.

A cluster controller may control several terminals in one location, connecting each of them to a modem. This connection is made on a shared line basis.

A multiplexor receives multiple signals from various terminals and combines them in dataframes for transmission on a single high-speed line to the computer. In the computer the dataframes are then separated again.

A gateway interconnects two or more networks, enabling data transfers to be made. It may act as a translator between incompatible networks, protocols, or software.

 

Vocabulary Notes

rating ['reItIN] оцінка

subjective [sqb'GekIv] — суб’єктивний

judgment ['GAGmqnt] — судження

to come down — зводити(сь), доходити до

preferences ['prqfqrqnsIz]— вподобання

to tend to — схилятися, мати тенденцію

loyal ['lOIql] — вірний, відданий

to prevent [prI'vent] — запобігати

elsewhere ['els'wFq] — (десь) в іншому місті

superior to [sjH'pIqrIq] — перевершувати (щось)

in comparison to [kqm'pxrIsn] порівняно з

preconceived ['prJkqn'sJvd] — складений заздалегідь

eventually [I'venCqlI] — в результаті, в кінцевому рахунку, зрештою

acoustic coupler [q'kHstIk 'kAplq] — акустичний з’єднувач

modem — модем

telephone circuit ['sWkIt] — телефонна мережа

cluster controller ['klAstq 'kqn'trqulq] — контролер кластера

multiplexor ['mAltI"plFksq] мультиплексор (multiplexor, multiplexer, MUX) - прилад, який об’єднує кілька вузькосмугових (низькошвидкісних) комунікаційних каналів у широкосмуговий або високошвидкісний канал.

dataframe   широкосмуговий канал

gateway ['geItweI] міжмережевий шлюз (програмно-апаратний засіб, який реалізує трансляцію одного мережного протоколу в інший, що дозволяє об'єднати мережі з різними протоколами, і завдяки чому між ними стає можливий обмін даними).

incompatible ["Inkqm'pxtqbl] несумісний

 

Comprehension

1. Tell what sentences are true and what are false.

1) Rating of a particular service over another is quite objective. 2) Users want to change their ‘home’ online service to more convenient one. 3) Very often users don’t want to see the advantages of another service. 4) The service that has what you want and is easy for you to use, is considered to be the best one. 5) We needn’t use more than one service to find everything we need. 6) A modem can convert incoming analog signals back into digital signals. 7) A cluster controller may act as a translator between incompatible networks, protocols, or software.

2. Choose the right answer:

1) What is the attitude of users to their ‘home’ online service?

a) they tend to change the best one;

b) they tend to be loyal;

c) they don’t care.

2) What should be taken into consideration while choosing a service?

a) you should know what the service offers and how it meets your needs;

b) you should know which online is ‘best’;

c) you should know the advantages of a specific service.

3) Can one online service satisfy all our needs?

a) most of us have to be loyal to our ‘home’ online service;

b) most of us have to prevent ourselves from seeing the advantages of a specific service;

c) we should go to more than one service to find everything we need.

4) How does an acoustic coupler operate?

a) it combines the electrical signals in dataframes for transmission on a single high-speed line;

b) it converts the electrical signals from the computer into a coded sound signal;

c) it coverts a digital bit stream into an analog signal.

5) How does a cluster controller operate?

a) it converts incoming analog signals back into digital signals.

b) it operates as a translator between incompatible networks;

c) it controls several terminals in one location, connecting each of them to a modem.

6) How does a gateway operate?

a) it separates dataframes;

b) it interconnects two or more networks;

c) it works as a modem.

3. Complete the sentences:

1) The users tend to judge … . 2) Each online service offers … . 3) The best online service is … . 4) Keep an open mind when … . 5) Most of us have to go to more than one service to … . 6) A modem can … . 7) A multiplexor receives … .

4. Answer the questions:

1) Why is the question about the ‘best’ online service rather debatable? 2) Why do users tend to be loyal to their ‘home’ online service? 3) What must you take into account when checking out an online service? 4) Why should we go to more than one service? 5) What devices of data transmission do you know? 6) How does a modem operate? 7) How does a multiplexor operate? What device may act as a translator between incompatible networks?

5. Find as quickly as possible and read out the sentences containing the following important information:

  • the best online service;
  • Data Transmission.

*6. Try to tell the gist of the text.

 

Word Study

1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following.

available for download, online service, to be superior, a couple of sessions, to convert electrical signals, to work as a modem, a digital bit stream, telephone circuit, a cluster controller, terminals in one location, a shared line basis, multiple signals, to combine in dataframes , to enable data transfers.

2. Give English equivalents of the following.

Змінити на більш зручну (послугу), переваги послуги, особисті потреби і вподобання, різні судження, бути легким у використанні, бути взаємопов’язаним, передача даних, перетворювати електросигнали на закодовані звукові (сигнали), мікрофон телефону, аналоговий сигнал, перетворювати вхідні сигнали, отримувати множинні сигнали, високошвидкісна лінія, несумісне програмне забезпечення.

3. Match the words in A with their synonyms in B:

A                                                        B

many                                                  every

people                                                personal

particular                                            interconnected

number                                                           a lot of

individual                                           men

usually                                                certain

to see                                                  to desire

each                                                    quantity

to offer                                                           to watch

to want                                               as a rule

interlinked                                          to suggest

4. Make up sentences from the following words and word-groups:

Model: steps, manufacturing, development, several, had, in, automated, its. - Automated manufacturing had several steps in its development.

1) ‘home’, to be, users, their, to, loyal, online, tend, service. 2) services, are, online, there, many. 3) what, the, is, service, you, the, service, online, that, has, want, best. 4) be, we, to, are, all, going, interlinked. 5) we, of, one, us, go, to, than, more, service, have to, to, most, find, need, everything. 6) a, digital,modem, incoming, analog, into, signals, converts, back, signals. 7) the, in, the are, dataframes, then, again, separated, computer. 8) or, may, networks, act, translator, a, between, incompatible, gateway, protocols, software.

 

 

 

5. Translate sentences into English using words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.

1) Існує багато суджень щодо того, яка онлайн послуга є найкращою. 2) Люди часто не бачать переваг інших онлайн послуг. 3) Завжди пильнуйте, що пропонує вам певна онлайн послуга і як це відповідає вашим потребам. 4) більшість людей користується більш ніж однією онлайн послугою. 5) Прилад, який може об’єднувати кілька вузькосмугових комунікаційних каналів у широкосмуговий канал називається мультиплексором. 6) Міжмережевий шлюз – це засіб, який реалізує трансляцію одного мережного протоколу в інший, і дозволяє об'єднати мережі з різними протоколами.

 

Grammar in Use

1. Find in the next sentences Gerund, Participle, Infinitive:

1) Networks, hardware and software that allow various processors to share and exchange data, are moving into the factory. 2) These networks are connecting whole processors together, allowing more flexibility and control of manufacturing. 3) Now, getting a computer to perform a function is as easy as pointing your finger to the graphic representation of the function you want performed and pressing a button on the mouse. 4) And programs exist for all types of business needs including teaching someone unfamiliar with computers how to run one. 5) This method of entering data is faster and more accurate than using a keyboard to enter information.

2. Find non-finite forms of the verb in the sentences and name them:

A. a) Gerund; b) Present Participle Active; с) Present Participle Passive; d) Past Participle Passive; e) Perfect Participle Active; f) Perfect Participle Passive.

1. When keyed the data are held in a small memory called buffer. 2. Data keyed into the memory of a computer by typing on a keyboard are readable by humans. 3. Keyboard enables inputting numerical and text data. 4. The mouse provides the cursor control simplifying user's orientation on the display. 5. Having been constructed recently a new electronic device has important applications in space exploration. 6. Being supplied with a special appliance a television set may have a remote control. 7. The control unit operates by reading one instruction at a time. 8. Improved methods of obtaining three-dimensional television pictures have been worked on the basis of holography.

 

B.a) Indefinite Infinitive Active; b) Indefinite Infinitive Passive; c) Continuous Infinitive Active; d) Perfect Infinitive Active; e) Perfect Infinitive Passive.

 

1. Input devices are used to enter data into primary storage. 2. These data appeared to have been investigated long ago. 3. We are glad to have obtained such valuable results. 4. You should have known wonderful features of computers long ago. 5. The problem to be solved is of great importance to the development of this branch of industry. 6. The first amplifying semiconductor devices (transistors) are known to have been developed in the USA in 1948. 7. He ordered these deyices to be repaired as soon as possible.

Additional Text

(for individual work)

Read and translate the text.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Microsoft is well known for its ability to create attractive, eye-pleasing applications. Moreover, such products are designed for easy use to allow even the most intimidated individual to grasp the basic concepts within a few hours. In this respect, Microsoft has evolved much in the same way as Apple Computer.  Consider, for example, the incredible standardization of design that is imposed on products for use in the Microsoft environment. In the Microsoft world, menus must be at least somewhat consistent with general Windows design. Thus, almost any application designed for Microsoft Windows will have a list of menus that can across the top of the program.  Three menu choices that you will invariably see are File, Edit and Help (other menu choices that are still very popular but appear less frequently include View, Tools, Format, and so forth).  In other words, if you know one Microsoft program, you know them all.

Microsoft has thus created its own standards in a market.  Microsoft has revolutionized the PC computing world. Furthermore, because Microsoft products are so popular worldwide, programmers   rush to complete applications for use on the Microsoft platform.   Moreover, Microsoft has put much effort in to application integration and interoperability. That means an Excel spreadsheet will drop into a Word document, an Access database will interface with a Visual basic program, and so on. All Microsoft products work in an integrated fashion. Microsoft designed its products with components that meet certain criteria.  Each of these applications contain building blocks that are recognizable by the remaining applications. Each can call its sister applications through a language that is common to them all. This system gives the user an enormous  amount of power.

Unfortunately, however, it also makes for poor security. Internet Explorer was designed with this interoperability in mind. For example, Internet Explorer was more integrated with the Windows operating system than, say, Netscape’s Navigator. Mr. Gates undoubtedly envisioned a browser that would bring the Internet to the user’s desktop in the same manner as it would a local application. In other words, Internet Explorer was designed to bring the Internet to the user in a form that is easy to understand, navigate, control.

In a period of less than two weeks in early 1997, Internet Explorer was discovered to have three serious security bugs:

·         Students at a university in Maryland found that they could embed an icon on a Web page that would launch programs on the client user’s computer.  Microsoft posted a public advisory on its WWW site. In it, the company explained: If a hacker took advantage of this security problem, you could see an icon or a graphic in a Web page, which is, in fact, within a regular Window 95 folder of the Web site server or your computer.  The hacker could shrink the frame around the icon or graphic so that you would think it was harmless, when in fact it allows you or anyone else to open, copy, or delete the file, or run a program that could, if the author has malicious intent, damage your computer.  You can launch the program because the folder bypasses the Internet Explorer security mechanism.

·         Several sources determined that one could launch programs on the client’s machine by pointing to either a URL or an LNK file.

·         Folks at A.L. Digital, a London-based firm, determined that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer contained a bug that would allow a malicious Java applet to steal, corrupt, or otherwise alter files on the client’s machine.

            Dirk Balfanz and Edward Felten of Princeton University wrote in August 1996: “We have discovered a security flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser running under Windows 95. An attacker could exploit the flaw to run any DOS command on the machine of an Explorer user who visits the attacker’s page. For example, the attacker could read, modify, or delete the victim’s files, or insert a virus or backdoor entrance into the victim’s machine”.

The risk represented here is tremendous.

It is clear that, for the moment, Microsoft Internet Explorer is still cutting its teeth in terms of Internet security.  What makes the problem especially serious that only those users who are truly security aware receive such information as breaking news. The majority receive such information from third parties, long after holes have been discovered. This is of major concern because nearly all of the holes found in Internet Explorer have been Class A.

1. Divide the text into the logical parts and give a title to each one.

2. Put questions to the text.

3. Discuss it with your groupmates.