computer is my friend
тест по английскому языку по теме

"Computer is my friend, but not the best".

Nowadays we live in information era, when information is the key and engine of progress. Future is speed and power. Our society needs to develop means of information. The Internet, phones, telegraph, cell phones, radio, TV are all the means of communication. They are no longer symbols of prestige but tools, which let to use working time more effectively.

60 years ago people didn't even heard of computers, and today we can't imagine our life without them. Let's remember some facts from the history of computer development.

The first computer was made in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania. It was Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer or ENIAC. Its program was wired into the processor and had to be manually altered. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today its job can be done by a chip the size of a pin head. And the computer revolution is still going on.

The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic "neutral networks". Of course, they will be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, identify criminals and control space travel.

Nowadays, practically everyone has a computer at home. Computers play a very important role in our life. They are used by people of all ages: from teens to professional businessmen. We can't imagine our modern school without using a computer. We can make projects, slide-shows and even films at our lessons with the help of computes. Pupils can use computes to prepare reports, to find information they need, to write compositions, to find new friends with the help of the Internet. The computer is also used as an electronic vocabulary. It is made for people who have no time to look up translations or explanation of words in the dictionary.

I think computers were invented as machines for business people not to waste their time. They save a lot of time. They seldom make mistakes. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.

On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money.

E-mail is a great invention, too. It's faster than sending a letter and cheaper than sending a telegram.

And now I want to tell some words about the Internet. To my mind, it's the greatest invention of humanity. The Internet is a global computer network. Nowadays million of people are already its active users.

The history of Internet began in the United States in 1969. It was a military experiment, designed to help to survive during a nuclear war to get some information to anywhere. Public Internet began in the late 70's.

Today the Internet is very popular all over the world. A global Net has covered almost the whole planet. It has filled lives of people with joy. Firstly, because of the easiest way of getting information about every part of men's occupation.        

Secondly, it is indispensable for people who communicate frequently with their relatives and friends from others counties. And also the Internet helps to make friends all over the world. You can virtually visit different countries, cities, museums. You can play games and take part in conferences together with people from different countries. The Internet can completely replace such communication facilities as telephony and mail.

But the Internet carries not only "pluses: There are some negative sides of the Web. First of all, it is connected with the health: The vision may decline, different measles of the back or joints may appear.

Some people may become nervous; lose their contacts with people surrounding them. They lose their conception of real life. Hackers arouse lots of troubles: the Internet hooligans are interfering in lots of programs, breaking computers, dilating viruses, breaking open even federal governmental sites.

The Internet and virtual reality on the whole will never be able to replace real relationships between people, to become a big part of people's life.

Many friends tell me that computer is their best friend. I can't understand how a nothing-feeling machine can be somebody's friend. As for me I enjoy reading books. I think by reading books we learn to think and to feel, we make our speech more eloquent.

I get pleasure in speaking to my friends, listening to what they say, looking into their eyes, following their impressions and feelings.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that computes and the Internet are splendid medium if getting information and communication but nobody and nothing is able to replace our devoted friends, family and other vital values.              

Задания к тексту "Computer is my friend, but not the best".

Task 1. Answer the questions.

1. What are the means of communication you read in this text?
2. What is the era we live? What is the key and engine of progress nowadays?
3. .When was the first computer made? What was its name?
4. How can pupils, students, and teachers use computer in their studying?
5. What is on-line shopping?
6. What is the Internet?
7. When did the history of Internet begin?
8. How does the Internet help people to communicate?
9. What are health troubles connected with the Internet?
10.  Can the computer the best friend? Why do you think so?

Task 2. Read the statements. TRUE or FALSE.

1. The first computer was very little.
2. The computer is the best friend of all people. There is no better friend than computer.
3. The Internet is indispensable for people who communicate frequently with their relatives and friends from others countries.
4. The computer saves a lot of time.
5. Public Internet began in the late 60's.
6. The computers are used by only  children, students and youth
7. . Internet carries has only "pluses”: There are no negative sides of the Web.
8. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.
9. We can imagine our modern school without using a computer.
10. Nobody and nothing is able to replace our devoted friends, family and other vital values.

Task 3. Complete the sentences according to the text.

1. Our society needs to …………...
2. The Internet can completely replace such communication facilities as ………….
3. . The Internet has covered …………………….
4. Nowadays ………………………….. are already its active users.
5. Computers and the Internet are splendid …………….

Task 4. Find these words in the text.

человечество, готовить доклад, делать ошибки, диагностировать болезни, выжить, объяснение, словарь, в ручную, инструменты, экономить, тратить время впустую, представление, болезнь спины и суставов, красноречивый, необходимый, государственные сайты, бесчувственная машина, вирусы, вмешиваться, искать в интернете, пользователи, ядерная войн.

Task 5. Write the advantages and disadvantages (недостатки) of the computer and the Internet.