Задание 7-3

Text 2. COMPUTER LITERACY

Informed citizens of our information-dependent society should be computer-literate, which means that they should be able to use computers as everyday problem-solving devices. They should be aware of the potential of computers to influence the quality of life. 
There was time when only privileged people had an opportunity to learn the basics, called the three R’s: reading, writing and arithmetic. Now, as we are quickly becoming an information society, it is time to restate this right as the right to learn reading, writing and computing.
There is little doubt that computers and their many applications are among the most significant tech nical achievements of the century. They bring both economic and social changes. “Computing” is a concept that embraces not only the old third R, arithmetic, but also a new idea – computer literacy.
Because computers have moved into society so rapidly and so completely, you need basic computer skills just to pursue your career goals and function effectively in society. In short, you need computer literacy, sufficient computer knowledge to prepare you for working and living in a computerized society.
For many people, computer literacy means simply knowing which key to press. That knowledge is important, but isn’t enough. You need to understand some fundamental concepts about how computer systems are set up and how they work.
In an information society a person who is computer-literate need not be an expert on the design of computers. He needn’t even know much about how to prepare programs which are instructions that direct operations of computers. All of us are ready to become computerliterate. Just think of your everyday life. If you receive a subscription magazine in the post-office, it is probably addressed to you by a computer. If you buy something with a bank credit card or pay a bill by check, computers help you process the information. When you check out at the counter of your store, a computer assists a checkout clerk and a store manager. When you visit your doctor, your schedules and bills and special services, such as laboratory tests, are prepared by computer.
Many actions that you have taken or observed have much in common. Each relates to some aspect of data processing system.

1. Match the following English words and word combinations with the Russian equivalents.
device                                                                                                    создавать компьютерные системы
be aware of                                                                                           компьютерная грамотность
quality of life                                                                                           устройство
significant achievements                                                                        знать
application                                                                                              достаточное знание компьютера
computer literacy                                                                                    система обработки данных
basic computer skills                                                                              качество жизни
sufficient computer knowledge                                                              значительные достижения
to set up computer systems                                                                  применение
data processing system                                                                        основные навыки работы с компьютером

2. Complete the sentences choosing the best variant corresponding to the contents of the text.
1. Informed citizens of our information-dependent society
а) should know which key to press.
b) should be able to use computers as everyday problem-solving devices.
c) should be able to use the Internet.
2. You need sufficient computer knowledge
a) to buy something with a bank credit card.
b) to receive a subscription magazine in the post-office.
c) to prepare you for working and living in a computerized society.
3. . . . , computers help you process the information.
a) If you are an expert on the design of computers
b) If you buy something with a bank credit card or pay a bill by check
c) If you need computer literacy
4. You need to understand some fundamental concepts about
a) how computer systems are set up and how they work.
b) how to use the Internet.
c) how laboratory tests are prepared by computer.

3. Answer the questions that follow.
1. What does to be computer-literate mean?
2. Why are computers considered to be the most significant technical achievements of the century?
3. What do people need basic computer skills for? 
4. What helps citizens to prepare for working and living in a computerized society?
5. Does computer literacy mean simply knowing which key to press?
6. Does a computer-literate person need to be an expert on the design of computers? Why?
7. What is the use of computers in our everyday life?