Exercise 3. Read the text and put 10 questions to it.
Lorrain Weller from "Modern English International" warns us. However hard the manufacturers and advertisers of personal computers try to convince1 us of friendliness of their product, it is still a fact that if you want to programme your own computer, you have to learn its language. It doesn't understand yours. This simple fact is the reason why so many home computers are underused2 It also prevents3 lots of people from buying their own computer. Rather than licking4 your hand the computer quite often bites5.
Imagine yourself having a conversation with an English person. You make one small grammar mistake, maybe you say have instead of has. It doesn't matter. The person understands your meaning and the conversation continues. This doesn't happen with a computer. If you make even the smallest mistake n its language, the conversation breaks down completely and you have to go back to the beginning. It can be very frustrating6.
In the United States, in Japan, in Britain, computer specialists are all trying to develop a computer that will understand human language.
1to convince убеждать
2to underuse использовать не на полнуюмощность
3to prevent (зд.)останавливать, предотвращать
4tо lick лизать
4to bite кусать
6frustrating изнурительный
Exercise 4. Translate into English.
1. Некоторые компании не производят и не продают компьютеры, а сдают их в прокат.
2. Программист закладывает данные в компьютер.
3. В бизнесе компьютер используется для обработки данных.
4. Программное обеспечение очень дорого.
5. Компьютер помогает принимать решения на высшем административном уровне.
6. Компьютер используется для осуществления многих административных функций, подготовки ведомостей, инвентаризационного контроля.
Exercise 5.
a) Make a speech in favour of modern electronic equipment (personal computers, electronic printing aids). Why can't a modern enterprise do without them?
b) You are the Head of a firm producing computers. Advertise your product.
Grammar Exercise. Transform the sentences from Future Indefinite into Future-in-the-Past.
Model: The accountant says that she will prepare the financial statement very soon. The accountant said that she would prepare the financial statement very soon.
1. He confesses that their business will fail.
2. The government says that they will increase the taxes.
3. The secretary says that she will get credit reference letter in two days.
4. The lawyer states that the company won't be eligible for a loan.
5. He is sure that he will get a credit.
6. They suppose that the new product will be not so expensive.
7. He thinks he will buy the stove in the discount house.
8. He is happy that he will go on this business trip.
LESSON 15
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Text
The international corporation or global company has its origin. Usually it is thr outgrown of the great trading companies of the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1811 a New York statute said corporations could be created by the filing of documents. After that it became a matter of bureaucratic operations to become a corporation. By 1850 it was a very common thing in the United States and was under general statute in European countries as well. Since-that time the corporate movement began. As the jet plane, satellite communications and computers began, it became possible for a company to control business in all the world.
The growth of international corporates operations is faster than the economic growth of the industrialized nations. There are some projects which predict that within a generation almost a half of the free words production will be internationalized.
This trend for internationalism presupposes some benefits such as new jobs, higher living standards and the closing of the gaps between people - economic, educational and technological. At the same serious questions can be asked. Is it the most efficient way to use world researches? Can the international corporation be the best force for a better world? Is it politically stronger than government? Can it take care of the self interest and competitiveness on behalf of the greatest good? And in what way |can the global company work toward easing the worlds crises - monetary, political, energy and food?
Active Vocabulary
multinational corporation международная корпорация
global company международная компания
outgrowth продукт, результат
statute законодательный акт
satellite communication спутниковая связь
closing of the gaps сближение границ
jet plane реактивный самолет
bureaucratic бюрократический
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the origin of the multinational company?
2. When did the corporate movement begin?
3. Why did it become possible for a company to control enterprises on the other side of the globe?
4. How quickly is internationalism growing?
5. What can internationalism bring?
6. What problems can arise with internationalism?
7. What are your own answers and explanations to these problems?
Vocabulary Practice