Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the best option for each of the blanks.

Many people might be shocked to learn that artificial intelligence was invented earlier than they think. In 1973, the first humanoid robot called WABOT-1 was invented in Japan; it was able to walk on two lower limbs, (1) _________ objects off the floor, measure distances and (2) _________ humans in basic Japanese. Years later, a robot called IBM Deep Blue was invented and became the first AI to defeat a world chess champion in 1997. In 2002, the first (3) _________ domestic robot, was created; it was a helpful autonomous vacuum cleaner called Roomba. Since 2006, making best use of technological connections, various big tech corporations have developed their own AI integrated into social networks and search engines to recommend (4) _________ their products and services. Therefore, once you use any hitech device connected to the Internet, you might have no idea that the AI integrated could be trying to secretly persuade you (5) _________ purchases.

2. SPEAKING Read the text and check your answer to exercise 1. Do you think the app would increase or decrease the number of arguments in your family? Why?

(Đọc văn bản và kiểm tra câu trả lời của bạn cho bài tập 1. Bạn nghĩ ứng dụng này sẽ làm tăng hay giảm số lần cãi vã trong gia đình bạn? Tại sao?)

Tablets for dinner?

An evening meal for the family was once part of everyday life in British homes. But this tradition has almost disappeared. Some people blame technology: children and teenagers are so addicted to their phones and tablets that they do not want to stop playing with them, even at mealtimes. This causes a lot of arguments in families. But now, parents can get a free app called DinnerTime, which locks their children’s devices at certain times of the day and tight. During those times, the children are unable to access messages, games, or the internet. In theory, this means that parents and children can spend more time together, eating and chatting. But will it lead to happier families or more family arguments?

2 Read the article and check your ideas.

(Đọc bài viết và kiểm tra ý tưởng của bạn.)

MR CONNECTED

Chris Dancy loves technology. A few years ago, he noticed that he had very little information about his habits, health and lifestyle, and he wanted to lose some weight. So he bought some gadgets that could collect this information and help him understand himself better. Now he is connected to 700 sensors that record every detail of his life. He monitors what he eats and drinks, how long he sleeps, how much he spends, his mood... even the activity of his dogs! Few, if any, people collect as much data about themselves as Chris.

Most of his gadgets are attached to him. He wears gadgets on both arms, a heart rate monitor and a device that counts calories. He has a smartwatch too, which he can wear on either wrist. His house and car are also full of gadgets. Every one of them sends data to his computer, and at the end of each day Chris spends a little time analysing it. The smartwatch is the only gadget he wears all the time. He doesn't wear all of his gadgets 24/7, but he has so many systems that automatically track his activity that there aren't any days when there is no monitoring at all.

1 Read the dialogue. Who has a problem with their phone: Freya, Archie or both? Explain your answer.

(Đọc đoạn hội thoại. Ai gặp sự cố với điện thoại của họ: Freya, Archie hay cả hai? Giải thich câu trả lơi của bạn.)

Freya: I can't find my camera, Archie.

Archie: There it is. It's under your bag. Why do you have to bring it to class?

Freya: I must take it to my photography class today. By the way, I didn't understand that email you sent

me yesterday.

Archie: I didn't send any emails yesterday.

Freya: Well, you might have sent it earlier. But I got it yesterday.

Archie: I can't have sent you an email. My phone hasn't been working for a week.

Freya: Somebody must have used your account. The email had a link to a competition, but when I clicked on it, nothing happened.

Archie: Oh no! You shouldn't have clicked on the link. You've possibly downloaded some malware onto your phone.

Freya: That's terrible! You should have warned me earlier.

Archie: I didn't know! Anyway, you might not have downloaded anything. It's possible that you were lucky. You just need to wait and see.

Freya: Anyway, you need to warn your other friends. That email could have gone to everybody in your address book!

2 Read the messages between a father and his son. Do you think the son was addicted to playing video games? Find evidence for your opinion.

(Đọc những tin nhắn giữa một người cha và con trai của mình. Bạn có nghĩ rằng con trai đã nghiện chơi trò chơi điện tử? Tìm bằng chứng cho ý kiến của bạn.)

A: Dad, I'm interested in playing video games, you know. However, you are always unhappy with that. You get curious about the types of game I play. You're afraid that I'll be addicted to it. You're worried about the amount of time I spend online. Although I'm a teenager, I'm aware of what I should do. I'm responsible enough for my studying. You see, I'm always successful at maths and English. I love you, Dad.

B: Dear my boy, I feel dissatisfied with your staying up late playing video games. I'm sometimes shocked at your words when I remind you to do homework. I know you're good at maths and English, but I think you need to spend more time playing sports. And don't be too sensitive to my advice. How about a game of badminton with me next Saturday evening? Lots of love.

2 Now scan the article. Which of the following is the main idea?

(Bây giờ xem qua bài viết. Câu nào sau đây là ý chính?)

a Ann Sullutor- a typical day at work

(Ann Sullutor- một ngày điển hình tại nơi làm việc)

b Ann Sullutor - a multitasking companion

(Ann Sullutor - người bạn đồng hành đa nhiệm)

Reading Strategy

In a multiple-choice question, the correct option will match the meaning of the text but use different words. It is therefore important not to automatically assume that a multiple-choice option which contains words from the text is correct.

(Chiến lược đọc

Trong một câu hỏi trắc nghiệm, phương án đúng sẽ phù hợp với nghĩa của văn bản nhưng sử dụng các từ khác nhau. Do đó, điều quan trọng là không được tự động cho rằng một phương án trắc nghiệm có chứa các từ trong văn bản là đúng.)

3 Read the Reading Strategy. Then complete these tasks.

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc. Sau đó hoàn thành các nhiệm vụ này.)

1 Look at question 1 in exercise 4. Read the second paragraph of the text.

(Xem câu hỏi 1 trong bài tập 4. Đọc đoạn thứ hai của văn bản.)

2 Circle the correct option and identify the sentence of the paragraph which gives the answer.

(Khoanh tròn phương án đúng và xác định câu của đoạn văn đưa ra câu trả lời.)

3 Which words are used in the sentence instead of the words in the correct option?

(Những từ nào được dùng trong câu thay cho từ trong phương án đúng?)

A perfect companion

A: Hello there.

B: How are you?

A: I am doing very well. How are you?

B: Fine.

A: Glad to hear it. What's for today?

B: Nothin'.

A: Fair enough. What do you want to study?

B: I dunno.

A: You don't know what you want to study?! Lazy humans!

B: Say what I need to study.

A: You have not yet told me what you want to study.

This conversation is between a visually-impaired student, Nick, and his digital tutor named Ann Sullutor.

Ann Sullutor is the brainchild of a 22nd century scientist modelled on and named after the dedicated tutor of Helen Keller. You can have conversations with Ann Sullutor via a wristwatch or any piece of jewellery. The idea of the digital tutor was to help disabled children study in mainstream schools.

Early in the morning, Ann Sullutor wakes up from a full charge of energy, ready for a 20-hour non-stop working day. Nick is quite independent in familiar situations, but if he comes across something unexpected, he can turn to Ann Sullutor for help by using his voice to control the watch on this wrist. Similarly, if he is in an unfamiliar place, he can get directions from Ann through a tiny set of earphones. In an emergency, for example, if there is an obstacle or unexpected vehicle, Nick receives a tiny vibration as a warning. Ann sends reports to the child's parents on a regular basis or on demand.

Registered in the school system and equipped with an immense database, Ann can easily keep track of Nick's schedule and curriculum. During class, Ann gives off a warning beep when Nick is distracted, quicky converts the new material into braille or dictates what the teacher has just written on board. Ann is there to bridge the gap between Nick and his classmates. In Nick's individual sessions, Ann suggests lessons depending on his preference and ability. She can adapt the lesson to aid Nick's learning process, but she doesn't jump in immediately to offer him a hand. Nick has to work on his own for a while before Ann makes a few suggestions. She may even ask Nick to read some extra materials to get a grasp of the topic. Nick often complains about Ann's persistence and strictness. In his fury, Nick sometimes does wish to turn Ann off for a while, which can only be done by his parents.

Ann Sullutor is much more than a beautifully-designed gadget for a visually-impaired child. She can make a perfect companion to any child that needs a tutor or a friend to talk with.

4 Read the rest of the article. Choose the correct answers (a-d).

(Đọc phần còn lại của bài viết. Chọn câu trả lời đúng (a-d).)

1 Ann Sullutor

a is an invention of the 22nd century.

b costs a huge sum of money.

c takes a 20-hour energy charge.

d can't be controlled orally.

2 The inventor of Ann Sullutor

a takes inspiration from Helen Keller's tutor.

b is a dedicated tutor to visually-impaired children.

c has a fondness for wristwatches and jewellery.

d works as a teacher in mainstream schools.

3 Nick can

a regularly send reports to Ann Sullutor.

b listen to Ann Sullutor's instructions.

c switch Ann Sullutor off.

d always get Ann Sullutor's help with his schoolwork immediately.

4 The writer

a believes that Ann Sullutor can be of great help to a child.

b finds Ann Sullutor needs a lot of improvement.

c thinks the lessons Ann Sullutor suggests are too difficult.

d suggests that Ann Sullutor should be registered in the school system for the best use.

2 Read the introductory paragraph. Then listen. Complete the missing dates in the timeline of Benjamin Franklin's life.

(Đọc đoạn giới thiệu. Sau đó lắng nghe. Hoàn thành những ngày còn thiếu trong dòng thời gian về cuộc đời của Benjamin Franklin.)

Berenjamin Franklin is a giant O of American history, partly because he was successful in so many different areas. Today, he is perhaps remembered mostly as a scientist and inventor, but he was also a publisher, a musician, a newspaper owner, a politician and a philosopher. And he was able to do all of this despite quite a poor background.

1706 Born in Boston, USA, the eighth of ten children.

¹_____ Leaves school after only two years because his parents cannot afford to pay.

1718 Starts working for his brother James, a printer.

1728 Starts his own printing company in Philadelphia.

²_____ Becomes owner of a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette.

1731 Founds America's first lending library.

³_____ Begins to publish the first in a series of almanacs, yearly books containing interesting facts, stories and puzzles. Their success makes Franklin rich.

1748 Retires from printing to spend more time on science and experiments.

1750 Publishes important work on electricity.

⁴_____ Carries out his famous experiment with a kite in a storm.

1776 Becomes the first American Ambassador to France, and works to improve the relationship between the

two countries.

1785 Retires from politics.

⁵_____ Dies at the age of 84. Funeral is attended by 20,000 people.

4 SPEAKING Describe the picture using the words below. Have you heard of this experiment? What do you think Franklin was trying to discover?

(Mô tả hình ảnh bằng cách sử dụng các từ dưới đây. Bạn đã nghe về thí nghiệm này chưa? Bạn nghĩ Franklin đang cố gắng khám phá điều gì?)

Read the two texts and choose the best answer (A-D).

(Đọc hai văn bản và chọn câu trả lời đúng nhất (A-D).)

Back in time

As she stepped into the hall after nearly thirty years of absence, she realised at once that she shouldn't have come back. The smell of wood smoke, damp stone and ancient paper brought the past back so powerfully that it nearly knocked her backwards. In an instant she felt like a young girl again, alone and frightened in the house. She remembered feeling very, very cold - not from the damp and the near-freezing temperature, but because a terrible new life was beginning. And she could do nothing to stop it.

1 What is true about the woman's feelings when she entered the house?

A She realised that she had missed her old home.

B She was happy to return to the house.

C She understood that coming back was a mistake.

D She was sad about the condition of the house.

Future home?

Every few years, trend-watchers tell us that the house of the future has arrived, and gadgets from science fiction films will soon be in every home in the country. So far they've been wrong - and after viewing the 'Home of the Future' exhibition, I suspect that they are still wrong. Why do I need a superintelligent fridge or an internet-surfing mirror? I would much rather see my face clearly in an ordinary bathroom mirror than try to surf the internet while I'm combing my hair! If only they could design a device to stop me killing all my houseplants. If they did that, then I might be interested!

2 What was the writer's reaction to the exhibition?

A He found it very interesting.

B It reminded him of a science fiction film.

C He wanted to buy the gadgets online.

D He didn't see the use of many of the inventions. 

2. Read the following article about the technological developments in education in the future. Write the number of the technologies (1-3) in the blanks.

(Đọc bài viết sau về những phát triển công nghệ trong giáo dục trong tương lai. Viết số công nghệ (1-3) vào chỗ trống.)

1. Which device helps students boost their imagination?                        _____

2. Which device helps students learn according to what they need? _____

3. Which device helps students have real-world experiences?                     _____

4. Which device helps students have mini-objects?                                 _____

5. Which device helps students learn through various applications?          _____

I believe in the next 30 years, students in big cities in Việt Nam will learn differently from what they do now with the support of technology. Here are a few technologies that will reshape the future of education in Việt Nam:

1. Virtual Reality

Students will wear a Virtual Reality (VR) headset that can cover educational lessons and provide them with real- world experiences. Students will be taken on a virtual trip, experiencing exactly what is happening outside the classroom. Imagine if you walk through a garden, the VR headset will automatically identify the name and details of every plant you see.

2. 3D Printing

In the near future, Vietnamese teachers and students will have a 3D printer on their desks to help them learn STEM subjects. When the class is learning about the history of planes, these 3D printers can print mini-planes based on the designs given. This technological device combined with VR technology will print out any object students imagine they will experience in their virtual classrooms.

3. Machine learning

Advances in machine learning will help students learn at their own pace that suit their intellectual abilities. Students will be placed in adaptive learning platforms where contents will be personalized for them. There will be adaptive quizzes, textbook apps and other educational apps that match with students' educational background.

Tạm dịch:

Tôi tin rằng trong 30 năm tới, học sinh ở các thành phố lớn của Việt Nam sẽ học khác với những gì các em học hiện nay với sự hỗ trợ của công nghệ. Dưới đây là một vài công nghệ sẽ định hình lại tương lai của giáo dục tại Việt Nam:

1. Thực tế ảo

Học sinh sẽ đeo tai nghe Thực tế ảo (VR) có thể bao gồm các bài học giáo dục và cung cấp cho các em những trải nghiệm trong thế giới thực. Học sinh sẽ được thực hiện một chuyến đi ảo, trải nghiệm chính xác những gì đang diễn ra bên ngoài lớp học. Hãy tưởng tượng nếu bạn đi bộ qua một khu vườn, tai nghe VR sẽ tự động xác định tên và chi tiết của từng loại cây mà bạn nhìn thấy.

2. In 3D

Trong tương lai không xa, giáo viên và học sinh Việt Nam sẽ có một chiếc máy in 3D trên bàn học để giúp các em học các môn học STEM. Khi cả lớp học về lịch sử của máy bay, những chiếc máy in 3D này có thể in những chiếc máy bay nhỏ dựa trên các thiết kế được đưa ra. Thiết bị công nghệ này kết hợp với công nghệ VR sẽ in ra bất kỳ đối tượng nào mà sinh viên tưởng tượng rằng họ sẽ trải nghiệm trong lớp học ảo của mình.

3. Thiết bị học

Những tiến bộ trong máy học sẽ giúp học sinh học theo tốc độ riêng phù hợp với khả năng trí tuệ. Học sinh sẽ được đặt trong các nền tảng học tập thích ứng, nơi nội dung sẽ được cá nhân hóa cho họ. Sẽ có các câu đố thích ứng, ứng dụng sách giáo khoa và các ứng dụng giáo dục khác phù hợp với nền tảng giáo dục của học sinh.

3. Tick the best summary of the text in exercise 2.

(Đánh dấu vào phần tóm tắt hay nhất của văn bản trong bài tập 2.)

a A man in the USA developed an addiction to Google Glass while he was receiving treatment for another addiction. ☐

b A man in the USA became addicted to Google Glass after using it at work ☐

c A man in the USA found it so difficult to break his addiction to Google Glass that he developed an alcohol addiction. ☐

2. Read the text. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

(Đọc văn bản. Các câu này đúng (T) hay sai (F)?)

1 RoboCup takes place every year. ☐

2 Twelve countries produce very strong teams. ☐

RoboCup

RoboCup is a football competition that has taken place every year since 1997. But the players are not human; they are robots. The competition's full name is 'Robot Soccer World Cup, and the aim is to create, by the middle of the 21st century, a team of robot footballers that are able to play against and beat the winners of the real World Cup.

In order for robots to play football, robotics companies have had to develop special technologies. A robot can't just run onto the field and start kicking the ball. So each robot is fitted with a webcam which is connected to a computer inside the robot. The robot is able to see where the other players are, where the goal is and, most importantly, where the ball is. They are programmed to make their own decisions and during the match the robots' creators are not allowed to tell them what to do. The robots are, however, able to communicate with other members of their team, via a wireless network. They might, for example, communicate a message like this to a team-mate: 'I'm nearest the ball. I'm going to kick it. You go and defend the goal. They know who to pass to and how best to get the ball past an opponent. Australian, German and American teams dominate the competition, though teams from twelve countries competed at the last tournament. There is a long way to go before robots will be able to compete against humans. They need to become more intelligent and become able to react more quickly and anticipate the game. But the technologies that are being developed for scoring goals have other uses as well. It may be possible to develop robots that can be used in search and rescue, for example, finding people trapped in buildings after earthquakes. They may not be as fun to watch as real footballers, but at least they don't demand enormous salaries!

3. Read the Reading Strategy. Then circle the correct answers.

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc. Sau đó khoanh tròn vào những câu trả lời đúng.)

1 The movement of each robot is controlled by

a the fans of each team.

b itself.

c the captain of the team.

d the owner of the robot.

2 During the match, the robots can communicate with

a any other robot on the pitch.

b the people who created them.

c other robots in the same team.

d no other robots or people.

3 Before the robots can play against humans,

a more countries need to get involved.

b they need increased intelligence and better movement.

c they simply need to become more clever.

d the technologies need to be applied in areas other than football

4 The main goal of the organisers is to

a have the robots play in the real World Cup.

b develop technologies that can help in search and rescue.

c make it more fun to watch than real footballers.

d eventually build robots that can play better than humans.

Reading

3. Read the text and match paragraphs A-E with the questions 1-7 below. There are two extra questions. Underline the evidence in the text that supports your answer.

(Đọc đoạn văn và nối các đoạn văn A-E với các câu hỏi từ 1-7 bên dưới. Có hai câu hỏi bị thừa. Gạch dưới bằng chứng trong văn bản hỗ trợ câu trả lời của bạn.)

In which paragraph does the writer mention

1 a rule that sets the time limit for the use of gadgets each day? ☐

2 a tactic for putting electronic devices out of sight? ☐

3 a technique for making a venue a technology-free zone? ☐

4 a tip for getting a good night's sleep? ☐

5 a strategy for protecting the privacy of guests at a party? ☐

6 a method for preventing impolite phone behaviour in restaurants? ☐

7 a way to promote communication among families for a limited time each day? ☐

The society that can't switch off

A

Los Angeles dancer, Brian Perez, was eating out with his friends one evening when suddenly everyone went quiet. To his horror, he saw that the reason for this was that people were checking their phones. Realising he had to do something to stop this, Brian made a rather daring suggestion. What if they all put their gadgets in a pile in the middle of the table until they had finished the meal? If anyone picked up their phone, that person would have to pay the whole bill. And so, it is said, the game of 'phone stacking' was born.

B

The necessity for action like this highlights a major problem in today's society: our inability to disconnect from technology. But while Brian's idea deals with the obsession in a social context, measures also need to be taken at home. Some people drop their smartphones into a box the moment they arrive home, which gives them the chance to interact with the people they live with. The fact that the phone cannot be heard - it is on silent - nor seen - the flashing lights are hidden by the box - means that they are no longer tempted to use it.

C

A less drastic solution is to ban electronic devices at certain times of day when the whole family is likely to be together, for example, at meal times. This can be hard for everyone, from teenagers desperate to text friends to parents unable to switch off from work. On a normal day, however, dinner takes less than an hour, and the benefits of exchanging opinions and anecdotes with the rest of the family certainly make up for the time spent offline.

D

Taking a break from technology is one thing, but knowing when to turn off a device is another. Time seems to stand still in the virtual world, and before you know it, you find that it is three o'clock in the morning. This is where a digital curfew comes in handy, a set time when all devices must be put away. Evenings without technology are usually nice and peaceful and make a more agreeable end to the day.

E

And then it's time for bed. One of the best ways of ensuring you can sleep at night is to ban electronic devices altogether from the bedroom. Lying next to a machine bursting with information is far from relaxing, and the sounds it emits during the night can easily wake you up. With technology out of the room, a line has been drawn between daytime and sleep time, which enables us to switch off ourselves and drift off to sleep.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years. Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.

First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also when companies need its service the most.

Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has decreased.

Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps toward making more practical global networks.

According to the author, what is one reason why the Internet is sometimes slow?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years. Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.

First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also when companies need its service the most.

Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has decreased.

Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps toward making more practical global networks.

As it can be inferred from the passage, what benefits does Internet II have over the Internet I?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years. Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.

First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also when companies need its service the most.

Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has decreased.

Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps toward making more practical global networks.

The word “harness" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ____________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years. Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.

First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also when companies need its service the most.

Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has decreased.

Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps toward making more practical global networks.

In the passage, which of the following ts NOT true of the Internet?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years. Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.

First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also when companies need its service the most.

Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has decreased.

Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps toward making more practical global networks.

The word "analogue" in paragraph 4 most nearly means_____.