The Computer Revolution

1 We live in the age of technology. Every day, new technology appears, ranging from iPods that can
store thousands of songs to giant space telescopes that can send photographs of distant stars back to
Earth. Of all the new technological wonders, personal computers have probably had the greatest
influence on the daily lives of average people. Through computers, we can now talk to people in any
country, research any topic, work, shop, bank, and entertain ourselves. Personal computers have
especially revolutionized communication, business practices, and education in both positive and
negative ways.

2 Perhaps the most important effect of personal computers has been to expand our ability to
communicate with the outside world. A lonely invalid in Minnesota can talk with a similarly house-
bound person in Mississippi. A single computer user can send an e-mail message to millions of people all
over the world with one keystroke. Computer users can get together in an online chat room to discuss
their interests and problems with others who have similar interests and problems. For example, a
person who is planning a vacation and wants to know the names of the best beaches in Costa Rica can
ask others who have already been there for suggestions. People even start romances through online
dating services! The possibilities of computerized communication are indeed unlimited.

3__________________, personal computers are changing the way we do business. One change is that
computers make it easy to take care of a lot of personal business at home. For example, you can buy
airline tickets, send a greeting card, pay bills, buy and sell almost anything, and even pay your taxes from
your home computer at any time of the day or night. This is a great convenience for people who are
busy during the day and for physically disabled people who find it hard to leave their homes.

4 __________________ telecommuting – working at home instead of going to the office — has become
a choice for thousands of businesspeople. Suzanne Carreiro, a financial manager for a large company in
downtown Manhattan, has telecommuted from her home in New Jersey for the past two years. She
goes to her office only once a week. Four days a week, she works at home and communicates with her
staff by computer.

5__________________ personal computers have changed the world of education. Elementary

6__________________, not everyone agrees that computers are good for education. Replacing a
teacher with a machine is not progress, according to some critics. They say that young children
especially need a real person, not a machine, to guide their learning.

7__________________ computers have caused problems for society. People who spend hours each day
surfing the Internet can become isolated and lonely, and children and teenagers can meet strangers
through the Internet who may be dangerous.

8__________________ the computer age has arrived, and it has changed our lives. Computers have
made communicating and doing business faster and more convenient, and they are changing the way
we learn in school. Just as the invention of automobiles had an unplanned consequence — the growth
of suburbs — so will the invention of personal computers. We will have to wait and see what
unintended consequences may develop.
BÀI TẬP WRITING E6-WEEK 1
I- Drag and drop the suitable word or phrase in the box to complete the following
passage.
thesis statement repetition of key nouns body introduction
coherence Transition signals conclusion unity

An essay (1) ______________ consists of two parts: a few general statements to attract your
reader's attention and a (2) ______________ to state the main idea of the essay. A thesis
statement for an essay is like a topic sentence for a paragraph: It names the specific topic and
gives the reader a general idea of the contents of the essay. The (3) ______________ consists of
one or more paragraphs. Each paragraph develops a subdivision of the topic, so the number of
paragraphs in the body will vary with the number of subdivisions or subtopics. The (4)
______________, like the concluding sentence in a paragraph, is a summary or review of the
main points discussed in the body. An essay has (5) ______________ and (6)
______________, just as a paragraph does. (7) ______________ and the (8) ______________
link the paragraphs into a cohesive whole.

KEY
An essay (1) introduction consists of two parts: a few general statements to attract your reader's
attention and a (2) _ thesis statement _ to state the main idea of the essay. A thesis statement for
an essay is like a topic sentence for a paragraph: It names the specific topic and gives the reader
a general idea of the contents of the essay. The (3) __ body __ consists of one or more
paragraphs. Each paragraph develops a subdivision of the topic, so the number of paragraphs in
the body will vary with the number of subdivisions or subtopics. The (4) __ conclusion __, like
the concluding sentence in a paragraph, is a summary or review of the main points discussed in
the body. An essay has (5) __ unity ____________ and (6) ___ coherence _-, just as a
paragraph does. (7) _ Transition signals __ and the (8) _ repetition of key nouns __ link the
paragraphs into a cohesive whole.

II- Put the following paragraph into the correct order to form a complete essay