Text 4. CRAZY ABOUT COMPUTER GAMES

Computer Games and Youngster is a research done by Kevin Durkin and Kate Aisbett. The following are some findings and research data indicating young people’s attitudes to computers and the games they are plying.

Research findings:

- Game playing can be a sociable activity. Games can be focus of shared father-child activities and valued as such by young people.

- The reactions associated with aggressive content were that it was amusing and not to be taken seriously.

- Players say that they use computer games as a way of venting pent up tensions. Frustration arising from games was short-lived.

- Aggressive content in computer games is perceived differently, because they offer a degree of autonomy and control which makes them less scary than other media.

- Parents may not be monitoring computer game play as much as other media use.

Children’s comments:

- “I’ve played the Mortal Kombat game - you know it’s violent but it’s sort of funny … the way they chop their heads off. You just laugh because it’s so funny as you know it’s not real.”

- “I don’t get addicted. Perhaps I play it a lot for a day and then not for a week.”

- “It’s fun to watch how the enemies run away.”

- “A movie can put ideas into your mind… but not computer games, they are not realistic.”

- “Basically I’m just impressed with the graphics behind it and things like that. I don’t really concentrate on someone getting killed - it’s just impressive graphics.”

Task 1. Определите, какие из приведенных утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (true), какие не соответствуют (false) и о чем в тексте не сказано (not stated).

1. Parents always monitor what children watch on television and play on computers.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

2. Young people prefer playing computer games with parents than watching movies.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

3. Most game players find the aggression in computer games humorous.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

4. Computer games are more enjoyable because the graphics are better than movies.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

Text 5. Electronic products

Cell phones, digital cameras and computers have lots of very small electronic parts inside them. Circuits carry electricity around a product. Microchips are parts with thousands of small circuits inside them. They make a product work.

To make a cell phone, people put computer programs on a microchip. Then they fix the microchip and other electronic parts on a circuit board.

Putting a cell phone together

People make the phone case from plastic. They fix the circuit board and parts like the screen and camera inside the case. Then they put the front and back of the case together.

Cell phones were very big before there were small electronic parts like microchips.

Task 1. Complete the sentences:

Plastic cameras circuit electronic electricity

1. Circuits carry _____________ around a product.

2. There are lots of _____________ parts inside cell phones.

3. Microchips have small __________ inside them.

4. People make cell phone cases from ____________ .

5. A lot of cell phones have _____________ .

Task 2. Write true or false:

1. Electronic products have microchips. __

2. Electronic parts are usually big. __

3. People make phone cases from metal. __

4. The first cell phones had microchips. __

Task 3. What electronic products do you use every day? What do you use it for?

__________________________________________________________________

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Text 6. IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS AT THE COMPUTER CENTRE

Two courses are available - come in and see us now!

Typing course

Our college offers an annual keyboard skill course for all students. The course is designed to teach touch typing to people at the beginners level, though experienced typist wishing to improve their skills may also benefit from the program. The course is computer based to help you learn at your own place. The method encourages the use of all ten fingers for maximum speed and accuracy and focuses on establishing good typing habits from the start.

The typing course is three courses in one. It teaches the alphabetic/ numeric keyboard in eight structured lessons. Then the speed and accuracy lessons build your speed to whatever goals you choose. Finally the program teaches the numeric keypad in three simple lessons.

Participants each work at their own computer and are free to undertake the course in whatever order they choose. A qualified teacher who is familiar with the program will be available at all times to explain the method and assist with any personal learning difficulties.

How to enroll

Typing courses are held at the Computer Centre. Tuition is free but there is a nominal charge for the accompanying book which you will need to buy. Intensive courses begin every morning.