Lesson 1.Computer systems to suit any taste

 

I. Read and memorize the following words and word combinations:

impetuously —  стремительно

competition — конкуренция

to give rise to — порождать

to get used to — привыкать

exchange — биржа

entrepreneur — предприниматель

requirements — требования

reliable — надежный

communication — средство связи, коммуникации

transmission — передача

access — доступ

production — производство

to be short of — испытывать недостаток в чем-либо

subscriber — абонент, подписчик

to provide — запасать, снабжать, обеспечивать

 

II. Read and translate the text.

There are many telecommunication networks in Russia. Which one to choose?

The information and telecommunications market in Russia developed impetuously and gave rise to a sharp competition among domestic and foreign firms which offered a great number of services in computer communications and the transmission of information.

Most users have already discovered the world of telecommunications. This is proved by the number of subscribers to Relcom, the leading telecommunication network in Russia — about 150000.

Firms and individuals for whom a computer has long become a part of their life make the bulk of the “army” of users. Now they have been joined by many banks, exchanges, commercial organizations, news agencies.

Nevertheless, such an approach to practical life proved unexpected and new for many managers, entrepreneurs, organizers of production, who have got used to sending letters in envelopes in the old manner; to choose business and juridical information from heaps of publications; to keep a bulky teletype operating staff for sending telex messages and faxes with the help of a secretary.

What the global computer systems are like and what useful operations can be done with their help? It depends on your information requirements and financial possibilities. If you are ready to spend thousands of dollars, the problem of a reliable and fast communication will be solved for you, with branches and partners at home and abroad, and an access to the remote data banks. The allotted lines will provide an opportunity for a permanent round-the-clock exchange of information in the on-line regime (i.e. in the regime of an “instant” reply). You’ll be supplied with a complete communication system, the local (office) networks in various cities will be linked and a private sub-network will be arranged for your firm, agreements will be concluded with firms-owners of data bases.

But if you are short of major financial resources or for the time being cannot make up your mind on investing them in such global projects for you, too, there are possibilities (certainly, more modest) to get linked with the outside world of computers.

Spending money only on the analog and having paid a few dozen dollars for connection, one may become a subscriber to the electronic mail and commercial conferences in off-line regime (there is no permanent connection, and the data are transmitted less promptly than in on-line regime). Having obtained the address in the electronic mail, you get an opportunity to enter from your computer into correspondence with other users of this electronic mail throughout the world. It will take a few hours for your electronic mail to be delivered to you in off-line regime. The cost of transmitting data depends on the distance and constitutes a few cents for a kilobyte (a page of a text occupies approximately 2 kilobytes).

Notes

The bulk of the “army” of users – основная масса “армии” пользователей: a bulky teletype operating staff – огромный штат по обслуживанию телетайпа; for the time being cannot make up your mind on – в настоящее время не можете решиться

 

III. Give the Russian equivalents.

Telecommunication networks; domestic and foreign firms; information market; entrepreneurs; organizers of production; heaps of information; a reliable and fast communication; an access to the remote data banks; a permanent round-the-clock exchange of information; local network; owners of the data bases; to get linked with; to get an opportunity; throughout the world; the cost of transmitting data; approximately.

IV. Give the English equivalents.

Получить возможность; требования к информации; финансовые ресурсы; проблема надежной связи; доступ к базе данных; острая конкуренция; стремительно развиваться; множество услуг; передача данных; стоимость зависит от расстояния; ведущая телекоммуникационная сеть; всемирная компьютерная система; соглашение; агентства новостей; предприниматель.

 

 

V. Change the following sentences into the passive.

1. Domestic and foreign firms offered a great number of services in communication and the transmission of information. 2. Most users have already discovered the world of telecommunications. 3. Computer systems can do a lot of useful operations. 4. Firms and individuals make the bulk of the “army” of users. 5. The global computer systems have to solve the problem of a reliable and fast communication. 6. The allotted lines will provide an opportunity for a permanent round-the-clock exchange of information. 7. Many managers had sent letters in envelopes in old manners before new ways of sending massages were developed. 8. We are transmitting data in on-line regime at the moment.

 

VI. Insert the missing words or word combination.

1. It will ___ a few hours for your e-mail to be delivered to you in ___ regime. 2. A lot of useful operation ___ with the help of the global computer ___. 3. The information and telecommunications market in Russia gave rise to ___ among domestic and ___ firms.4. In off-line regime the data are transmitted less ___ than in on-line ___. 5. Many managers, entrepreneurs, organizers of production have got ___ to choose business and ___ information from heaps of ___. 6. Many firms in Russia have offered a great number of ____ in computer communication and the ___ of information. 7. The cost of ___ data depends on the distance. 8. The information and ___ market in Russia ___ impetuously. 9. The cost of transmitting data ___ a few cents for a kilobyte.

 

VII. Answer the following questions.

1. What services did domestic and foreign firms offer? 2. Why did a sharp competition appear among these firms? 3. What telecommunication network is the leading one in Russia? 4. How did people send letters and choose business and juridical information in the past? 5. What can help you to solve the problem of a reliable and fast communication? 6. What will the allotted lines provide? 7. What is the difference between on-line and off-line regimes? 8. How can you use your address in the electronic mail? 8. What opportunity gives you the address in the electronic mail? 9. How much time does it take for your electronic mail to be delivered in off-line regimes?

 

VIII. Give a brief summary of the above text.

 

IX. Read the text and translate it without a dictionary. Write a short summary of it.