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a modem. They simply dial a telephone number to link their own computer
with the others, and then, using a password (a secrete word or phrase), enter a
company’s computer system (for example, in a bank or a government offi ce). In
1999 two American teenagers broke into a computer system and added rude
messages to some information and made other important data disappear. The
damage cost over two million dollars to correct. A 12-year old boy in Detroit
used his own computer to enter the computer system of a large company and
caused fi nancial chaos.
In Britain, computer crime costs companies about 400 million pounds a
year. Often, the computer criminals do not want to make money; they just want
to show the world how cleaver they are.
They also like creating computer viruses. They program a computer disc
with a special fault in it. When a computer copies the disc, the fault enters the
computer’s memory. That means it gets onto any other disc each time you put a
new disc into your computer. Some viruses are just silly messages. For example,
one puts the message «peace and love» on your computer screen while you are
working. Other viruses use all the ‘memory on the computer,” and the computer
is sick and unable to work. A hospital in Britain recently lost all of its records
about sick patients because of a computer virus.
Questions to the text
1. What kind of people do you think write computer viruses? Why do
they do it?
2. In what way should computer criminals be punished?
3. Have you ever faced the problem of computer viruses?
4. What infl uence can a virus have on your computer?
Text 3
The latest addiction to trap thousands of people is the Internet, which has
been blamed for broken relationships, job losses, fi nancial ruin and even one
suicide. Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction Syndrome (IAS) as
a new illness that could cause serious problems and ruin many lives. Special
help groups have been set up to offer sufferers help and support.
Psychologists have described many worrying examples, including one
man who took his own life after borrowing more than £14,000 to feed his
addiction, and a teenager who had to receive psychiatric treatment for his 12-
hour-
a-day habit. “This illness is not fake, and it must be taken seriously,” said an
expert in behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University. “These are
not sad people with serious personality defects, they are people who were fi ne
before they found the Internet.”
IAS is similar to other problems like gambling, smoking and drinking:
addicts have dreams about the Internet; they need to use it fi rst thing in the
morning; they lie to their partners about how much time they spend online;
they wish they could cut down, but are unable to do so. A recent study found
that many users spend up to 40 hours a week on the Internet; although they felt
guilty, they became depressed if they were made to stop using it.
Almost anyone can be at risk. Some of the addicts are teenagers who are
already hooked on computer games and who fi nd it very diffi cult to resist games
on the Internet. Surprisingly, however, psychologists say that most victims are
middle aged housewives who have never used a compute before.
Questions to the text
1. Why do people get Internet addicted in your opinion?
2. Is it possible to cope with the addiction on your own or do you need
professional help?
3. Do you use the Internet and what for?
4. What are the advantages of the Internet?
Text 4
Some years ago I was hired by an American bank. I received a letter
from the head of the Personnel Department that started, “Dear John, I am quite
pleased that you have decided to join us.” That “quite” depressed me. I thought
he was saying “we’re kinda pleased you decided to join us although I wish we
had hired someone else.” Then I discovered that in American English “quite”
sometimes means “very”, whereas in British English it means “fairly”. So
the fi rst lesson about working in other countries is to learn the language and
by that I don’t just mean the words people speak. It is body language, dress,
manners, ideas, the things that people do – their behavior. The way people
behave highlights many of the differences we see between cultures.
Some of these differences may be only on the surface – dress, food, and
hours of work – while others may be deeper and take longer to deal with. Some
of the differences may be an improvement. People are more polite, the service
is better, you ask for something to be done and it happens without having to
ask again. However, other differences can be annoying, like punctuality. If you
invite people to a party at 7 o’clock your guests will consider it polite to turn up
on the dot in Germany, fi ve minutes early in the American Midwest, an hour
early in Japan, 15 minutes afterwards in UK, up to an hour afterwards in Italy
a modem. They simply dial a telephone number to link their own computer not sad people with serious personality defects, they are people who were �ne
with the others, and then, using a password (a secrete word or phrase), enter a before they found the Internet.
companys computer system (for example, in a bank or a government of�ce). In IAS is similar to other problems like gambling, smoking and drinking:
1999 two American teenagers broke into a computer system and added rude addicts have dreams about the Internet; they need to use it �rst thing in the
messages to some information and made other important data disappear. The morning; they lie to their partners about how much time they spend online;
damage cost over two million dollars to correct. A 12-year old boy in Detroit they wish they could cut down, but are unable to do so. A recent study found
used his own computer to enter the computer system of a large company and that many users spend up to 40 hours a week on the Internet; although they felt
caused �nancial chaos. guilty, they became depressed if they were made to stop using it.
In Britain, computer crime costs companies about 400 million pounds a Almost anyone can be at risk. Some of the addicts are teenagers who are
year. Often, the computer criminals do not want to make money; they just want already hooked on computer games and who �nd it very dif�cult to resist games
to show the world how cleaver they are. on the Internet. Surprisingly, however, psychologists say that most victims are
They also like creating computer viruses. They program a computer disc middle aged housewives who have never used a compute before.
with a special fault in it. When a computer copies the disc, the fault enters the
computers memory. That means it gets onto any other disc each time you put a Questions to the text
new disc into your computer. Some viruses are just silly messages. For example, 1. Why do people get Internet addicted in your opinion?
one puts the message «peace and love» on your computer screen while you are 2. Is it possible to cope with the addiction on your own or do you need
working. Other viruses use all the memory on the computer, and the computer professional help?
is sick and unable to work. A hospital in Britain recently lost all of its records 3. Do you use the Internet and what for?
about sick patients because of a computer virus. 4. What are the advantages of the Internet?
Questions to the text Text 4
1. What kind of people do you think write computer viruses? Why do Some years ago I was hired by an American bank. I received a letter
they do it? from the head of the Personnel Department that started, Dear John, I am quite
2. In what way should computer criminals be punished? pleased that you have decided to join us. That quite depressed me. I thought
3. Have you ever faced the problem of computer viruses? he was saying were kinda pleased you decided to join us although I wish we
4. What in�uence can a virus have on your computer? had hired someone else. Then I discovered that in American English quite
sometimes means very, whereas in British English it means fairly. So
Text 3 the �rst lesson about working in other countries is to learn the language and
The latest addiction to trap thousands of people is the Internet, which has by that I dont just mean the words people speak. It is body language, dress,
been blamed for broken relationships, job losses, �nancial ruin and even one manners, ideas, the things that people do their behavior. The way people
suicide. Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction Syndrome (IAS) as behave highlights many of the differences we see between cultures.
a new illness that could cause serious problems and ruin many lives. Special Some of these differences may be only on the surface dress, food, and
help groups have been set up to offer sufferers help and support. hours of work while others may be deeper and take longer to deal with. Some
Psychologists have described many worrying examples, including one of the differences may be an improvement. People are more polite, the service
man who took his own life after borrowing more than £14,000 to feed his is better, you ask for something to be done and it happens without having to
addiction, and a teenager who had to receive psychiatric treatment for his 12-hour- ask again. However, other differences can be annoying, like punctuality. If you
a-day habit. This illness is not fake, and it must be taken seriously, said an invite people to a party at 7 oclock your guests will consider it polite to turn up
expert in behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University. These are on the dot in Germany, �ve minutes early in the American Midwest, an hour
early in Japan, 15 minutes afterwards in UK, up to an hour afterwards in Italy
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