Dialogue 1. Computers in Russia

Task 1. Read and translate the dialogue.

Foreigner: Many people think that Russians tend to lag behind other countries in computer literacy of the population. Is that True?

Russian: To some extent you are right if you mean the number of computers. But over the last few years we have progressed enormously. Two decades ago few people realized that computers would become part of our daily lives. Not only computers, many of the things that we do now were thought to be impossible 20 years ago.

F.: Yes, the world has changed. In advanced countries computers are everywhere these days. Computers monitor the flow of materials in plants and factories, computerized robots take over dangerous jobs in factories. They are widely used in business and finance, in science and medicine.

R.: They even help secretaries to get letters and contracts typed accurately and quickly. To be serious, the progress in computer technologies is amazing.

F.: Yes, soon computers will be able to recognize voice commands, people won’t be using keyboards.

R.: Undoubtedly within 20 years from now all information will be coming through computers even in my country. It will affect the labour market drastically.

F.: Can’t agree more. Many jobs will have disappeared by, say, 2015. Besides, computers provide access to the Internet. Do young people in your country use the system?

R.: I’d say an overwhelming majority of young people do use the Internet. They show an interest in websites relating to their occupations and studies.

F.: Do you often visit Internet shops?

R.: No, I log on to the Net from my office. Many people, however, are disappointed and embarrassed by the situation. We’ve become too dependent on computers.

F.: That’s right. Clerical staff cannot do simple arithmetic without calculators.

R.: Not only that. It’s difficult to keep information held on computers secret.

F.: Yes, even kids can hack the computers of large corporations, they can hack into banks and transfer huge amounts of cash.

R.: Connecting to other people’s computers secretly and illegally has become a problem. People may be right that the spread of computers has brought us as many problems as it has solved.

Vocabulary List

lag behind – отставать

to some extent – до некоторой степени

voice command – команды, подаваемые человеческим голосом

drastically – коренным образом

disappear – исчезать

overwhelming majority – подавляющее большинство

be embarrassed – быть смущенным, растерянным

do arithmetic – делать арифметические подсчеты

take over – брать на себя

Task 2. Comprehension Questions

1. Has Russia made progress in computer literacy of the population?

2. Did many people in Russia foresee the future of computer technologies as far as two-three decades ago?

3. What can be done with the help of computers? Are they used in offices, at plants, in research institutes?

4. What breakthrough in computer technologies is likely to happen in the near future?

5. How do computers affect the labour market?

6. Do young people in Russia use the Internet?

7. How can people get access to the Internet?

8. Does hacking pose a serious problem?