3.
2
1. Almost half of all computer projects cost more than expected: Section C mentions a
financial management system that ultimately wreaked chaos and resulted in the firing of the
Chief Financial Officer.
2. Techies and users tend to blame each other for computer systems failing: Section D
discusses the mutual finger-pointing between techies and non-techies, with each blaming
the other for various issues.
3. Users believe techies are privy to certain knowledge: Section D mentions an assumption,
whether warranted or not, that IT people hold a secret store of knowledge that
businesspeople can't access.
4. People's ambivalent attitude towards computers is often humorously depicted: Section B
talks about technology being both an ally and a scapegoat, and it mentions popular culture
references like the Dilbert comic strip and the Saturday Night Live sketch.
5. Techies suffer from a reputation for being arrogant: Section D mentions the executive vice
president of system director at Men's Wearhouse, Dean Levy, stating that users are resistant
to change wrought by technology projects, suggesting a perception of arrogance.
6. The idea of offices being computer-free is inconceivable: Section A mentions that the
prospect of working without computers is unthinkable.
7. Computers increase productivity: Section A mentions that while technology increases
workplace output, the frustration with technology is also acknowledged.
8. Technical support people do not accept criticism easily: The text does not explicitly
mention this point.
3.3. Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F):
1. Techies enjoy new technologies regardless of how impractical it might be. **False** - The
text doesn't make a specific statement about whether techies enjoy impractical new
technologies.
2. Few can claim they‘ve never had the desire to damage a computer. **True** - The text
suggests that most people have felt frustrated with technology at some point and might have
had the desire to damage it.
3. The idea of offices being computer-free is inconceivable. **True** - Section A mentions
that the prospect of working without computers is unthinkable.
4. Technology can be used as an excuse for uncompleted work. **True** - The text implies
that people might use "My computer crashed" as an excuse for uncompleted work.
5. Few users feel threatened by the alien quality of technology. **False** - Section B
mentions that people who are just learning about computers often feel stupid and
intimidated, suggesting that some users do feel threatened by the alien quality of technology.
4.1 Match the words/phrases from the text with their definitions:
1. to think tank - c. a committee of people with special experience or knowledge in a
particular area
2. to toil over - e. to work hard on someone or something.
3. woes - b. sorrow or grief; misery.
4. a scapegoat - i. to feel or show anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair
treatment
5. indignant - i. to feel or show anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment
6. to ascribe - g. to regard something as being due to (a cause)
7. to come into pay - a. to start to have a use or an effect in a particular situation
8. to unveil - h. to cause something to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled way
9. to wreak - h. to cause something to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled way
10. warranted - f. justified or well-founded
11. tremendous - d. very great in amount or level, or extremely good
12. devastating - j. causing a lot of damage or destruction
4.2.
1. The storm made it difficult to **establish a connection**, so we had limited access to the
Internet today.
2. If your computer crashes unexpectedly, you will lose all **unsaved data**.
3. The **components** of a standard computer are the keyboard, the mouse, the monitor,
and the central unit.
4. Modern computers will recognize **hardware connections** as soon as you connect them,
without you having to do anything else.
**Remaining Collocations:**
- Main data
- Additional components
- Internal connection
- Outgoing data
- High-speed components
**Additional Sentences:**
5. Every time you download something off the Internet, your modem starts converting and
storing **incoming data**.
6. The efficiency of the new system is enhanced by **additional components** that improve
overall performance.
7. The IT department is working on optimizing the **internal connections** to ensure
seamless communication between departments.
8. Ensure that your antivirus software is updated regularly to protect against potential threats
from **outgoing data**.
9. The new gaming computer is equipped with **high-speed components** to provide an
exceptional gaming experience.
4.4
Here are the completed sentences with the appropriate devices:
1. This model features a backlight, so you can see what you‘re typing in the dark
(keyboard).
2. We have a Bluetooth version which works without wires, but the surface you use it
on needs to be dark (mouse).
3. Why don‘t you try this? It‘s used for drawing as if you were using a pen and paper
(graphics tablet).
4. You‘ll need one of these – it‘s used to control your movements while you play (game
controller).
5. For more precision, I‘d recommend this. It‘s like an upside-down mouse, and it works
by running your hand over the plastic ball here (trackball).
6. This is our most popular model. It allows you reproduce exact copies of your
documents in digital format (scanner).
7. This works just like a mouse, except you can write directly onto the screen with it
(light pen).
8. This is a model which works particularly well with Skype (microphone).
