Text 7: TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION

Good, old-fashioned conversation has enormous social and psychological benefits. But today certain
technologies are eliminating the leisurely, face-to-face chat, even among friends and family. If people are
not careful, this ‘de-voicing’ may cause us to become more isolated, distrustful, and unhappy, warns
communications expert John L. Locke in his new book.

Face-to-face conversations are richer experiences than computer chats, traditional letters, or even
talking on the telephone, according to Locke. Human voice and gesture provide feedback about
speakers’ feelings, background, and trustworthiness. “With no access to our species’ social feedback and
control mechanisms, there will be nothing to keep misunderstandings, rudeness, and dishonesty from
creeping into our daily life at unusual levels,” he writes.

More importantly, when you are face-to-face with another human being, you have the opportunity for
intimacy which builds trusting relationships and enhances well-being. But voice mail, answering
machines, automatic tellers, and e-mail get in the way of all that. “Now when the answering machine
kicks in, we can do something that previously would have been unthinkable as well as socially
unacceptable: decide whether to respond to the voice of our closest friends,” says Locke.

While many tout the Internet as a means of bringing people together, it actually may reduce real human
contact. “Computer-assisted communication is coming on like a steamroller,” Locke writes, “flattening
intimate forms of self-expression.” Online shopping, virtual conferences, and telecommunicating limit
human contact in the business world. The Internet and television reduce human contact in another way:
by keeping people in their homes for hours instead of out in the world where they could make new
friends, maintain old ones, and involve themselves in the community.

There is no going back to a pre-technological time when neighborliness and social responsibility were
widely practiced, Locke admits, but society can regain its voice. For instance, people could make an
effort to spend more time with friends and family, perhaps inviting others over to watch and discuss
television together instead of watching so much alone. “If you begin to feel vaguely disconnected, lonely,
or isolated,” Locke says, “it might be beneficial to ask yourself how much time you’ve spent lately talking
and laughing with close friends.”
1. What’s the main idea of the text?

a) Face-to-face communication has social and psychological benefits in terms of business life.

b) Sincerity and traditional conversations among people are reduced by developing technology.

c) Developing technology and the means of communication have advantages.

d) Communicating through devices such as computers and telephones affects humans psychologically.

2. Which of the following is not an advantage of face-to-face conversations?

a) It rarely results in misunderstandings.

b) It provides feedback about feelings.

c) It may lead to a trusting relationship.

d) It is open to spoken mistakes.

3. Which of the following is true according to the text?

a) The developing technology brings people close to each other.

b) Through written language we get access to people’s social feedback.

c) We immediately respond to our friends’ voice on the answering machine.

d) Conversation between people provides emotional closeness.

4. Which of the following is not true according to the text?

a) It is advisable for people to spend time together.

b) Computer-assisted communication is spreading rapidly.

c) Technological devices help people to improve their relations.

d) Rather than going outside, people prefer dealing with things at home.
5. The writer believes that society _____.

a) still has a chance to make communication better

b) has done what they could to improve relationships

c) has lost its chance to improve communication

d) has already become rude, dishonest and unfriendly

6. What does “de-voicing” in paragraph 1 mean?

a) being isolated, distrustful, unhappy b) communicating with friends and family

c) not being involved in face-to-face communication d) talking on the phone

7. What does “enhances” in paragraph 3 mean?

a) integrates b) improves c) eliminates d) enjoys

8. What does “tout” in paragraph 4 mean?

a) criticize b) disagree c) boast d) shout

9. What does “maintain” in paragraph 4 mean?

a) break up b) prevent c) diminish d) preserve

10. What does “its” in paragraph 5 mean?

a) social responsibility b) neighborliness

c) society d) time
Text 8: ONLINE EDUCATION

A few years ago, when a handful of colleges began offering online courses; the whole idea was considered offbeat.
Now many mainstream colleges and universities around the U.S. and throughout the world are offering courses
online, some leading to a Bachelor’s or even a Master’s degree. Both private and state-run colleges are offering
courses through the Internet culminating in degrees ranging from Information Technology to Accounting,
Psychology, and Business Management. In addition, private, for-profit businesses offer courses in specialized
subjects. Even Donald Trump has gotten into the game; in the summer of 2005 he announced the creation of
Trump University, teaching online courses including “How to Buy a House” and various real estate development and
management courses, led by instructors with pretty substantial credentials.

Online education can be defined as an approach to teaching and learning that utilizes Internet technologies to
communicate and collaborate in an educational context. This includes technology that supplements traditional
classroom training with web-based components and learning environments where the educational process is
experienced online.

Online education tools provide many ways to increase communication between class members and faculty,
including discussion boards, chats, and e-mails. Researchers have found that adding these elements to a course
increases student motivation and participation in class discussions and projects. Students are more willing to
participate due to a measure of anonymity, which serves as a motivator and they feel more empowered. They are
daring and confrontational regarding the expression of ideas.

Online communication also benefits students by providing additional layer of instructor accessibility. Students in
courses that are supplemented by products like a Blackboard no longer have to worry if they cannot make an
instructor's regular office hours, as they still have the ability to submit inquiries via e-mail at any time. This is good
for the instructor too, as they can respond at his or her convenience instead of being tied to a desk or office. This is
particularly helpful when a student’s schedule conflicts with office hours or if a question arises at the spur of the
moment.

In addition to the pedagogical benefits of web-based learning, there are also several time and money saving
advantages. Students can save and print items as needed when provided with handouts and readings online. The
direct result is a reduced institutional expense for both the cost and time associated with copying, collating, and
distributing these materials. Instructors can also use E-mail to send messages directly to students or the
Announcements feature to communicate with the entire class. Not only does this insure that students receive the
materials, but it is also environmentally appealing, as it drastically reduces paper waste.

In a constantly changing world, it’s becoming essential that people keep up to date on the demands of both the
academic and business life, and even expand their knowledge base as a hedge against outsourcing. Thus, online
courses are an easy way to keep abreast of information from current computer software and hardware to the latest
academic and business practices.
1. What is the text about?

a) the current educational practices of colleges

b) the drawbacks of online education

c) online communication and its benefits

d) web-based education and its advantages

2. Which of the following is not mentioned as a benefit of on-line education?

a) Online education enhances student motivation.

b) It is much easier to reach instructors online.

c) Online communication is environmentally friendly.

d) Online education is a profit-making business.

3. Online education _____.

a) facilitates communication between instructors and students

b) has been launched by Donald Trump

c) makes students become more instructor-dependent

d) hardly lessens the use of printed materials

4. Which of the following is not true according to the text?

a) Anonymity makes students feel comfortable about expressing their ideas.

b) Online education provides people with upcoming information.

c) Online education is quite troublesome in terms of instructors’ availability.

d) There are also good instructors in on-line education.

5. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?

a) Students who want to be daring need to attend online courses.

b) Online education gives a kind of freedom to both students and instructors.

c) Web-based learning seems to be a temporary fad.

d) Students prefer online education simply because of its reduced expenses.

6. What does “offbeat” in paragraph 1 mean?

a) useful b) offensive c) permanent d) inapplicable

7. What does “utilizes” in paragraph 2 mean?

a) uses b) saves c) correlates d) identifies

8. What does “conflicts” in paragraph 3 mean?

a) consumes b) confirms c) clashes d) strikes

9. What does “this” in paragraph 3 refer to?

a) providing additional layer b) sending e-mails

c) regular office hours d) having the time

10. What does “this” in paragraph 4 refer to?

a) communicating via internet b) sending announcements

c) distributing materials d) the entire class