Ex. VI. Here are the answers. Work out questions
1. In the 12th century.
2. Approximately 48 million people.
3. Fertile steppeland with a forest-steppe area.
4. Yes, climatic conditions are favourable for agriculture.
5. In the north-west.
6. The Crimea in the south.
7. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
8. The way of manufacturing artificial diamonds.
9. Methods of electric welding.
10. In December.
Ex. VII. Tense and voice review.
Open the brackets and put the verb in the correct tense and voice form.
1. The first Constituent Assembly of the Academy of Sciences …… (to hold) on November 27, 1918 in Kyiv.
2. Today the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences …… (to rank) among the leading scientific centres of Eastern Europe.
3. The Day of Independence …… (to celebrate) on 24 of August.
4. The first of September …… (to call) the Day of Knowledge and it’s a great holiday for those who …… (to teach) and who …… (to learn).
5. For hundreds of years Easter Eggs …… (to use) to stand for the awakening of life in spring.
6. Easter always …… (to come) in spring on Sunday, but without a calendar we cannot tell what Sunday Easter …… (to be).
7. The Dnipro …… (to flow) very fast today, much faster than usual.
8. The name “Ukraine” …… (to mention) first in the chronicles of the 12th century.
Ex. VIII. Suppose you are a tour guide and describe the most interesting regions in Ukraine. Which places in Ukraine will you recommend the tourists to visit and why?
Ex. IX. You work for a travel agency. Write a short prospect giving the main information about Ukraine.
Audition: The Day I Saw Five Loch Ness Monsters
Ex. I. Pre-listening task:
1. What do you know about Loch Ness Monsters?
2. Do you believe in their existence?
Ex. II. Look up the following words in your dictionary and find the translation:
| evidence (n) | hump (n) | occur (v) |
| inhabit (v) | harbour (v) | allegedly (adv.) |
| surface (v) | witness (n) | faith (n) |
Ex. III. Listen to the tape recording and answer the following questions:
1. What does Michael Thompson-Noel examine?
2. What was he doing when one of the Nessies surfaced in front of him?
3. What does it look like?
4. Why doesn’t he have any evidence that he saw them?
5. How many lakes and rivers are reputed to harbour Loch Ness-type monsters?
6. When did the first recorded surfacing of a Loch Ness monster occur?
7. What can you see at the audio-visual presentation at the visitors’ centre?
8. How long does the presentation last?
Ex. IV. Listen again and check your answers.
Unit III
Part I
Ex. I. Think and answer:
1. How is computer technology changing your world?
2. Where are information systems used?
Ex. II. Read the following text:
What Is an Information System?
Two tools that are used to convert data into information and communicate it to the people who need it are computers and information systems. A system is any set of components that work together to perform a task. An information system is a set of components that work together to manage the acquisition, storage, manipulation and distribution of information.
Information systems designed to be used by many users are called multiuser information systems. These are found in most businesses and organizations, and are vital to their successful operation. Information systems that are designed for use by an individual user are called personal information systems. You might set up a personal information system on your home computer to manage your financial portfolio.
An information system has three basic functions: (1) to accept data (input), (2) to convert data to information (process), and (3) to produce and communicate information in a timely fashion to users for decision making (output). For example, many banks and other financial institutions use information systems to help determine whether a customer applying for a loan is a good risk. Data about the customer, lending policies, and interest rates are input into the information system. The data is then processed using previously defined procedures for determining credit worthiness. Finally, information is communicated to the loan officer (the user in this case) in the form of a recommendation to grant or deny the loan. It is important to note, however, that no matter what the output indicates, the user of an information system makes the actual decision.
Many of today’s products could not be produced without the effective use of information systems on the factory floor. Aerospace, automotive, and industrial manufacturers use information systems to automate production and streamline engineering, speed developing time, reduce costs, and keep up with the competition. These industries need strong commitment to and investment in information systems to compete successfully in cost, quality, and delivery.
We are in the midst of a revolution where the possession and dissemination of information has replaced industrialization as the driving force. Computers and information systems are the tools that allow you to transform data efficiently and effectively into information and distribute it to where it is needed. If used properly they can also improve your productivity. Productivity refers to the amount of time and resources required to gain a desired result. Ideally, you’d like to use less time and fewer resources to get the same or better results. In recent years, the growing use of microcomputers has brought the benefits of these tools to almost anyone who wants to take advantage of them.
As you examine potential career choices, you will find that many require — or will soon require — knowledge and understanding of computers and information systems as well as the ability to use them. Possessing knowledge and understanding of computers and information systems in combination with the ability to use them effectively is called computer literacy. Judging the value of information and using the information generated wisely is called information literacy. You will need both to compete for many jobs. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll have to be a technical wizard, because there are many levels of ability. These range from users who only need to know how to turn the computer on and off and use the software required by their job to generate or gain access to needed information; to those who must decide what data should be gathered and how that data should be processed; to those who repair, install, or design computers and information systems.
Active Words and Phrases:
| acquisition | набуття; оволодіння | possession | володіння |
| vital | життєво важливий | dissemination | розповсюдження |
| convert | перетворювати | distribution | розподіл |
| determine | визначати | productivity | ефективність роботи; продуктивність |
| interest rate | процентна ставка | literacy | грамотність |
| credit worthiness | кредитоздатність | wizard | чародій; майстер |
| streamline | удосконалити | access | доступ; приступ; прохід |
| reduce costs | зменшити витрати | apply for a loan | подавати заяву на позику |
| competition | конкуренція | keep up with the competition | не відставати, йти в ногу з конкурентами |
| delivery | поставка, постачання | to take advantage | скористатися перевагою |
Ex. III. Answer the following questions:
1. Where are multiuser information systems usually found?
2. What are personal information systems designed for?
3. What are the three basic functions of an information system?
4. In what way can information systems be useful on the factory floor?
5. Why is it important to possess a basic level of knowledge, understanding and skill in using computers and information systems?
6. What do you understand by “information and computer literacy”?
Ex. IV. Are the following statements true or false?
1. Information systems are used to convert data into information.
2. Personal information systems can be found in most businesses and organizations.
3. Basic tasks performed by information systems are (1) arithmetic functions on numeric data, (2) logical comparison of values, and (3) storage and retrieval of data.
4. Many financial institutions use an information system to determine credit worthiness of a customer.
5. It is the information system that makes a decision whether to give a loan to a customer or deny it.
6. Computer literacy involves judging the value of information and ability to use the information generated wisely.
7. You have to be a computer wizard to know how to turn the computer on and off.
Ex. V. Complete the following sentences from the words in the box:
productivity, ability, delivery, communicate, requirements, accurately, decisions, information, goals
1. Effective information systems can enable organizations to make better …… and reach their ……
2. Because of the move to an economy based on information, your …… to perform on a job depends on how well you receive and use it.
3. If you have ever used a computer, then you have realized its impact on your efficiency and ……
4. A major consumer goods company decided to speed up its customer …… by opening many new warehouses.
5. One of the three basic functions of …… systems is to produce and …… information to users.
6. Information systems can work faster, more ……, and more reliable than people.
7. The new type of this equipment meets our …
Ex. VI. Insert the necessary prepositions:
1. Information systems help banks determine credit worthiness …… a client applying …… a loan.
2. You will need both computer and information literacy to compete …… many jobs.
3. Information systems are vital …… the successful operation …… most businesses and organizations.
4. Almost anyone who takes advantage …… microcomputers, improves his/her productivity.
5. To gain access …… needed information you must know how to use software required …… your job.