An Integrated English Course

Book 1

Unit 9

Learning objectives

By the end of this unit, you are supposed to

1. grasp the author’s purpose of writing and make clear the structure of the whole passage through an intensive reading of Text I World Wide Web Technology: What’s Hot and What’s Not?.

2. comprehend the topic sentences in Text 1 thoroughly and be able to paraphrase them.

3. get a list of new words and structures and use them freely in conversation and writing.

4. comprehend Text II Computer Technology Keeps People Worlds Apart and discuss related questions about the text.

Teaching procedures

1. Pre-reading Questions2. Text I. World Wide Web Technology: What’s Hot

and What’s Not?● Reading comprehension● Structure analysis ● Main idea of text I ● Language points

3. Text II. Computer Technology Keeps People Worlds Apart

● Main idea of text II● Discuss questions● Memorable quotes

Text I

Pre-leading Questions Text I: passage

Pre-reading questions

1. You must be surfing on the Internet now and then. How do you feel about the world when surfing at the web sites?

2. How many hours do you surf on a daily base? What role does the Internet play in your life?

Text I: World Wide Web Technology: What’s Hot and What’s Not?

1. Whether you need to get information on Rush Limbaugh’s famous and colorful, “power” ties or access the Quran, you can find it on the World Wide Web. As someone once said, the Web is like one great big, wonderful library. You enter the front door, and there are all the book…piled in the middle of the floor!2. It is not that bad. The other day a colleague and I needed some words to a song by a French singer, unknown in this country. I found them on a site in France and gave them to my friend. When we went to practice, he couldn’t find them in his office. Not remembering where I had found them on the Web, I did a NetSearch, clicked the mouse four times, and Viola? With a quick cut and paste to my word processor and a slight font change, our printer was able to serve up the new version. No matter how you figure it, it is pretty amazing to get music from France faster than my friend could find it in his office next door!3. On another occasion, I was having a challenging problem with a hard drive. I got the manufacturer’s 800 number and then couldn’t get through over a couple of days. It then occurred to me: http://www.conner.com. I had never seen the address and didn’t know for sure if they had a web site, but it seemed like a good guess… A couple of minutes later, I had the solution to my problem from their frequently-asked-questions page.4. There is other evidence that something intriguing is underway. For example, I marvel each time I see Web addresses go flashing by as part of an increasing number of TV commercials. Just this evening, before I sat down to write, a national radio news broadcast mentioned how an organization was planning to do a web page to help locate missing children. It’s obvious that commercial action on the Internet is growing at an ever-increasing rate. It’s going through the roof—just like Netscape’s stock price!

5. Not so fast: This might well be the current state of affairs, but just how the Internet phenomenon will continue to unfold is open to question. The potential is certainly there for things to proceed on an exciting course, as evidenced by the current wave of interest. Yet, there are problems—some simple and some complex; some with short-term solutions and some requiring time to be resolved.

6. So, we have excitement and even some evidence of value, but where are we now? “What’s Hot” and “What’s Not” with the Internet and the Web?

7. Lack of bandwidth, evolving standards, low interactivity, the current economic model, growing pains, passwords are just a short list of the things that I see wrong with the Internet as it currently exists. But the good news is that efforts to increase bandwidth (fiber networks and other exciting technologies), Java, and Real Soon Now are all well under way.

8. So, “What’s Hot?” The answer remains, “the Web,” and anything associated with it.9. Going back to my French song example, I am anxious to be able to do the same sort of

thing with all of my junk mail, catalogs, magazines, and newsletters that now fill my office. With so much less stuff hanging around, I could more easily find the things that aren’t on the Web. Now, where was that student’s request for a letter of recommendation?

577 wordsReading ComprehensionStructural analysisMain ideaLanguage points

Reading Comprehension1. What type of writing is this text?

This is an expositive text.2. What is the text about?

The text points out, illustrates and exemplifies the remarkable advantages of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Meanwhile it states clearly their imperfections.

3. How many parts can this text be divided into?It can be divided into three parts:Part 1 (paragraph 1)Part 2 (paragraphs 2-8)Part 3 (paragraph 9)

back to Text I

Structural analysis: Part 1 (paragraph 1) This paragraph epitomizes the advantages or

benefits of the World Wide Web. Topic sentence: the Web is like one great big

library (with all the books or various kinds of information available to you.)

back to Text I

Comprehensive questions to part I1. Does the Web contain different kinds of books?

Yes, the World Wide Web stores many different kinds of books.

2. Summarize the benefits the World Wide Web offers.The World Wide Web, which is like a very large library, keeps all kinds of books and various kinds of other information, which are really available to you.

Structural analysis: Part 2 (paragraphs 2-8)

This is the body of the text, which illustrates and exemplifies the advantages and undesirable aspects of the Internet and the Web.

Paragraph 2: telling us the fact that the writer quickly obtained the words to a song by doing a Netsearch and having the words printed out.

Paragraph 3: stating how he rapidly found the solution to his problem with the hard drive.

Paragraph 4: illustrating the rapid growth of commercial action on the Internet.Paragraph 5: Pointing out that how the Internet phenomenon will continue to unfol

d is open to question.Paragraph 6: listing good points of the Internet and the Web; raising the question c

ontained in the title.Paragraph 7: listing some undesirable aspects of the Internet, with reference to th

e good news that efforts are being made to improve those weak points.Paragraph 8: giving the answer to the question “What’s hot?”

back to Text I

Comprehensive questions to part 21. Which of these paragraphs illustrate the benefits of the Internet and the

Web?Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the benefits.

2. What undesirable things are seen wrong with the Internet?The undesirable things that are regarded as wrong with the Internet are as follows: Lack of bandwidth, evolving standards, low interactivity, the current economic model, growing pains, passwords, etc.

3. What is the writer’s opinion about the Internet phenomenon?The writer’s opinion about the Internet phenomenon goes as follows: “Just how the Internet phenomenon will continue to unfold is open to question. The potential is certainly there for things to proceed on an exciting course, as evidenced by the current wave of interest. Yet, there are problems—some simple and some complex; some with short-term solutions some requiring time to be resolved.”

Structural analysis: Part 3 (paragraph 9) This is the conclusion of the text, which draws

attention to the writer’s eagerness to be able to dispose of all of his junk mail, catalogues, etc. by locating them in his computer so that he can easily find the things by accessing the Web. Actually, this paragraph mentions another application of the Web.

back to Text I

Comprehensive questions to part 31. What is the writer anxious to be able to do?

The writer is eager to be able to be rid of all of his junk mail, catalogues, magazines, and newsletters that now fill his office by making fuller use of the Web so that he may easily find the things by accessing the Web.

2. What does the last paragraph imply?

It implies the indirect mention of another application of the Web: As the Web contains millions of books, magazines, etc. which are easily available to us, we can rid ourselves of all the junk mail, catalogs, magazines, etc. that fill our offices by storing them in our computers.

Main Idea of Text I

The text points out, illustrates and exemplifies the remarkable advantages of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Meanwhile it states clearly their imperfections.

back to Text I

Language points

Language Points

Vocabulary and Sentences in Text I

access:

1) v. succeed in finding or obtaining information from a computer’s memory

In modern times it is easy and convenient to ~ various kinds of information from a

computer’s memory.2) n. means, right, or opportunity to use, reach, or enter

It is quite important for students to have easy ~ to books in their studies.

back to Text

Pile:

Make a pile of; load, fill, or cover plentifully

He ~ed the boxes one on top of another.

The little boy was ~ing up his building blocks.

He ~ed the spaghetti onto his plate.

The cart was ~ed high with fruit and vegetables.

back to Text

I did a Net Search…

I searched a network of interconnected computers… I looked through or went over thoroughly a network of interconnected computers in order to find the words to a song by a French

singer.

back to Text

Paste:

Paste in this text means an action of pasting. Normally, it is as an noun meaning a soft sticky mixture of powder and liquid that is easily shaped or spread, or a thin mixture of flour and water used for sticking paper together or onto other surfaces.

back to Text

word processor:

A purpose-built computer system for electronically storing texts entered from a keyboard, incorporating corrections, and providing a printout.

back to Text

font:

A set of types of one face or size

back to Text

serve:

1) do work for; give service to

Membership is restricted to ~ing officers in the armed forces.

2) offer (food, drinks, a meal, etc.) for eating or drinking

Could you all come to the table? We are ready to ~.

3) be good enough or suitable for a purpose

One room had to ~ for both bedroom and living room.

back to Text

version:

A slightly different form, copy, or style of an article; a form of written or musical work that exists in more than one form

This dress is a cheaper ~ of the one we saw in that shop.

back to Text

figure:

1) appear; take an esp. important or noticeable part

His name did not ~ in the list of those who had received awards.

2) consider or believe; calculate; come to understand

I ~ed that you would want to see me about it.

I still cannot ~ it—it is a mystery.

back to Text

amazing:

Causing great surprise or wonder, esp. because of quantity or quality

That new car goes at an ~ speed.

back to Text

occasion:

1) a time when sth. Happens; a suitable or favorable time

This is hardly the ~ for a family argument.

2) a special event or ceremony

The opening of a new school is always a great ~.

3) a direct cause or reason

His remark was the ~ of a bitter quarrel.

back to Text

challenging:

Needing the full use of one’s abilities and effort; difficult and interesting

We must be ready to cope with ~ problems.

back to Text

get through:

1) cause to pass; pass through, or come successfully to the end of

We were all delighted when we heard that you’d got through your exam.2) complete or use up the whole of

We got through a whole chicken at one sitting.3) (esp. in AmE) finish

When you get through with your work, let’s go out.

back to Text

for sure:

(informal) certainly; surely; without any doubt

She won’t lend you any money, and that’s for sure.

back to Text

intriguing:

Fascinating; very interesting esp. because of some strange quality

What an ~ story!

She is such an ~ woman!

back to Text

underway:

Moving forward

The great ship got ~.

back to Text

marvel:

Be filled with great wonder, surprise, admiration, etc. We all ~ ed at his remarkable achievements.

back to Text

commercial:

An advertisement on television or radio

back to Text

locate:

1) find the position of

We have ~ed the source of the signals.

2) situate; fix or set in a certain place

The village is ~ed in the valley.

back to Text

It’s obvious that commercial… It is quite evident that commercial advertising is ever increasing

and growing at a top speed on the Internet. It is growing fantastically fast, just as fast as Netscape’s stock price!

back to Text

… but just how the Internet… …but just how the Internet phenomenon will spread is likely to

cause doubt.

Unfold:1) open from a folded position

She ~ed the map and spread it on the table.2) (cause to) become clear, better known, etc.

The story ~s as the film goes on.

back to Text

potential:

(the degree of) possibility for developing or being favorably developed

This new invention has enormous sales ~.

back to Text

proceed:

1) begin or continue in a course of action or set of actions

The project is ~ing according to the plan.

2) advance; move in a particular direction

According to the policeman’s report, the stolen car was ~ing in the southern direction.

back to Text

course:

1) the path along which sth. Happens; direction of movement taken by sb. Or sth.

The plane changed its ~ to avoid the storm.

2) continuous movement from one point to another in space or time

The enemy should be defeated in the ~ of one year.

3) the usual, natural, or established pattern or process by which sth. Happens or is done

He has committed a crime, and now the law must take its ~.

back to Text

resolve:

1) settle; find a satisfactory way of dealing with a difficultyIt is hoped that the UN can ~ all international disputes by

means of peace talks.

2) Decide firmly; make a determined decision

Once she has ~ed on doing it, no one can get her to change her mind.

back to Text

Lack of bandwidth…

Lack of fiber networks and other exciting technologies, gradually developing standards, low interactivity, the current economic model, growing pains, and passwords are just a number of the things that I see wrong with the Internet as it exists at the present time. But the good news is that efforts to increase bandwidth, Java, and Real Soon Now are all going on vigorously.

back to Text

associate:

1) join in a relationship based on friendship, business, or a shared purpose; combine as friends or partners

The military regime dealt ruthlessly with anyone who was ~ed with the former government.

2) connect in thought, memory or imagination

The scientist decided that he did not want to be ~ed with the project.

back to Text

junk mail:

Mail usually for advertising that is sent to people even though they have not asked for it.

back to Text

hang around:

1) hang about; wait or stay near a place without doing anything or with no clear purpose

I hung around the station for an hour, but he did not come.

2) Delay or move slowly; dawdle

Don’t hang around. We have a train to catch!

back to Text

request:

1) an act or instance of asking for sth., esp. politely

They have made an urgent ~ for international aid.

2) the fact of being asked for, esp. politely

The name of the murder victim was not published in the newspapers at the ~ of the judge.

back to Text

After-reading Question

What is Hot according to the text?

The “World Wide Web”, and anything associated with it.

Text II

Text II: Computer Technology Keeps People Worlds Apart

 1. My roommate has a very impressive list of “buddies” on his computer’s Instant Messenger program. There have been times when I’d walk into the room and see him simultaneously “chatting” with no less than six people.2. Some nights I find myself falling asleep to the chimes from his terminal that indicate an incoming message.3. But my roommate is a smart guy, and he understands the pitfalls associated with online conversations, which is why he makes it a habit to get out of the room and spend time with friends in person whenever possible.4. Too bad there aren’t more Web surfers like him.5. In the era of ethernet—in the days of DSL—students at the university are resorting to the privacy of their keyboards to relay deep thoughts, emotions and ideas.6. Whatever happened to telephone conversations or walks along the Mall? Has Generation X learned the art of prose?7. The only items I receive in the mail anymore are solicitations for credit cards, but not too long ago, there would have been letters from friends and relatives.8. Rather than write, people “chat,” if that’s even accurate. Rarely do I pick up the phone and call the face on the other end of the modem. The “send” button works better.9. Sure, the Web cuts down on phone bills. It also allows surfers the ability to filter their thoughts before communicating ideas.

10. But by hiding behind a monitor we become socially isolated from the one-on-one interaction that permeates everyday life. Generation Xers know each other not by face, but by screen name.11. And the problem is getting worse. More memory equals faster connections, which means it will be easier for computer gurus to stay glued to a PC for longer stretches of time.12. Society is ever-so-slowly losing the one thing that makes humanity special—personal contact.13. As one university administrator pointed out in an informal talk, student participation at school events continues to decline. Small turnouts show a lack of interest on the part of those who pay fees for services provided by the school.14. Where are these individuals? In all likelihood, they are in front of a computer screen.15. Here’s a scarier thought: University students today passed through adolescence without the protection of a computer when it came to socialization. Today’s middle schoolers will not, and real problems may only occur down the road when a whole generation knows nothing but ICQ.16. Teeny-boppers “go out” with friends to chat rooms. “Friends” remain faceless. And although personal interaction will never be completely abandoned, it will be difficult for people to look each other in the eye without the safety of a screen.17. Hundreds of students are enrolled in online courses this semester. There is no incentive for pupils to drag themselves out of bed in the morning for class when all they need to do is flip on their computer and read notes over the Web.

18. Will discussion forums at the university make their way to the Internet, too? What about entire lectures?19. We are isolating ourselves from the world in which we live. For all the conveniences the World Wide Web provides, nothing can match the dilemma our successors at the university will face.20. Residence halls have cable connections, high-speed Internet links, many have air conditioning and Christiana Towers residents even get kitchenettes and bathrooms. No wonder the halls on most floors are quiet at night—students barely need to leave their rooms.21. Binge drinking is a dominant issue at the university these days. Administrators should turn their focus to other addictions as well.22. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut solution for breaking technological habits. Organized programs can only do so much to grab students’ attention. What the university should consider is a pause in the growth of its online capabilities. Discourage isolation by taking away its convenience.23. I believe my roommate is an exception to the trend described above. He prefers to hang out with friends rather than “chat” with them. But when I look at all the names on his “Buddy List,” I hate to imagine how many of those friends are staring at a computer screen, hiding behind the protection it secures.

696 wordsMain IdeaDiscussion Questions

Main Idea

The main value of personal interaction is that contact makes it possible for people to live and word together. However, with the computer technology developed, people become socially isolated and some may spend a lot of time in front of a PC. There will be less personal interaction. People will be less aware of society and children will not learn how they are expected to behave.

Discussion questionsback to Text II

Discussion on Text II1. What does the author discover about his roommate?

His roommate often goes online to chat with other computer users.2. Why does the author call his roommate a smart guy?

He often chats with his friends in person whenever possible because he understands the drawbacks of online conversations.

3. Why do many people prefer online conversations to telephone conversations?They think that chatting online provides them with much privacy they can’t get from telephone conversations and it is more accurate.

4. What are the author’s arguments against the Web?

People become socially isolated and some may spend a lot of time in front of a PC.

back to Text II

Discussion on Text II5. What does the author regard as the main value of personal contact?

Personal contact makes it possible for people to live and work together.6. What problem is the school confronting?

Student participation at school events continue to decline because they are more interested in what they can do with a PC.

7. According to the author, what real problems may occur in the modern society?There will be less personal interaction. People will be less aware of society and children will not learn how they are expected to behave.

8. Do you agree that computer technology keeps people worlds apart? (open to discuss)

Memorable quotesBack to Text II

The End