Communication in Groups

The sheer number of people in a group affects the amount of communication. Consider
the difference between communication between two friends and communication in a
group of five people. When friends talk, there are two people sending and receiving
messages. In a group of five, there are five people doing the same thing. Each idea that
is expressed must be understood by four others, who may also choose to respond.
Consequently, the greater number of people in a group, the fewer contributions an
individual may make. Because there are disadvantages to large groups, you might
assume that small groups would be the most effective. However, groups can be too
small as well as 100 people large. With too few members, a group has limited resources,
which eliminates a primary advantage of groups for decision making. Also, members
may be unwilling to disagree or criticize each other's ideas. I believe that five to seven
members is the ideal size for a small group.

1. We can conclude from the reading that in large groups ----.

A) there is always a chaos at the end of each discussion

B) no one criticizes each other's ideas

C) before a decision is made everyone has to express their ideas

        individually

D) everyone is free to express their ideas as much as they want

E) there is less opportunity for each person to speak

2. According to the passage, small groups ----.

A) are always more successful than large groups in terms of decision

        making

B) can have some disadvantages as well

C) express their criticism more freely than large groups

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 D) have always infinite resources

E) are unable to make a decision at the end of discussions

3. The author of the article suggests that ----.

A) the number of people in a small group must not be more than five

B) large groups are always superior to small groups

C) the ideal size for a small group should be five to seven

D) small groups are better as members of them have a chance lo criticize

        each other

E) everyone should listen to each other's ideas no matter how large the
        group is

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What is Information Technology?

Information Technology (IT) is the application of computers and internet to store,

retrieve, transmit, and manipulate information, often in the context of a business or
other enterprise. IT is considered a subset of information and communications
technology (ICT) and has evolved according to the needs.

It is worthwhile noting that the term IT is commonly used as a synonym for computers
and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution
technologies such as television and telephones. Several industries are associated with
information technology, including computer hardware, software, electronics,
semiconductors, internet, telecom equipment, engineering, healthcare, e-commerce, and
computer services.

Thanks to the continuous development of computers, the original computing systems

became minicomputers and later personal computers took the lead. Nowadays, mobile
phones are dethroning the personal computer and computing is evolving faster to
become disembodied more like a cloud, becoming accessible more easily whenever
needed. Information technology has transformed people and companies and has allowed
digital technology to influence society and economy alike. It has, in this sense, shaped
societies and adapted itself to people's needs.

History
If you want a brief history of Information Technology, here is one. Humans were the
first "computers". Then, machines were invented to carry out the computational tasks.
Now these machines have given way to new form of information technology.
Information has become disembodied accessible from anywhere through cloud
technology. Recent advances in IT is the consequence of the development in computing
systems.

Humans have been storing, retrieving, manipulating, and communicating information

since the Sumerians in Mesopotamia developed writing in about 3000 BC, but the
term information technology in its modern sense first appeared in a 1958 article
published in the Harvard Business Review; authors Harold J. Leavitt and Thomas L.
Whisler commented that "the new technology does not yet have a single established

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name. We shall call it information technology (IT)." Their definition consists of three
categories: techniques for processing, the application of statistical and mathematical
methods to decision-making, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through
computer programs.

Reading Comprehension
1. Information technology is changing principally because of:

a.   the changing needs

b.   new technological advances

2. According to the author the first computers were:

a.   calculators

b.   humans

3. Development of information technology is the result of:

a.   advances in computing systems

b.   development of machinery in general

4. Computing systems are taking the form of clouds means:

a.   computers have become smaller

b.   computing power are becoming disembodied.

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Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was born in New Jersey 1) ____in  1898. After school, he went to
Rutgers University, then took a law degree and worked as 2) ___a  lawyer for a few
years.

He then became a famous actor and singer, starring 3) ___on  a number of British films
after he went to live there. 4) _when  he returned to the United States, he spoke against
the conditions African Americans faced.

After he 5) gone____ to communist Russia, 6) his___ passport was taken away and he
could not leave the country. He got 7) them___ back, but it was hard to see his films
or 8) hear___ his recordings for many years.

Q1

in

on

at

Q2

the

for

Q3

in

on

at

Q4

where

5
 when

afterwards

Q5

went

visited

gone

Q6

the

him

his

Q7

passport

them

it

Q8

listen

hear

see