S e c o n d e d I t I o n 1 Reading for the Real World 1

The Death of Bigfoot?
Discussion
1.
If Bigfoot exists, what kind of creature do you think it could be?
2. 
What other kinds of hoaxes have you heard about?
Track 4

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Vocabulary Preview
 
Match each word or phrase with the correct definition.
1.
accelerate 
a.
a set of operation instructions for a computer program
2.
access 
b. 
easily carried by hand
3.
cable 
c. 
to go faster
4.
code 
d.
a person skilled at programming, usually having
a mischievous purpose
5.
hacker 
e. 
a cord made of strands of metal wire
6.
portable 
f. 
to use by permission
Pre-Reading Questions
Think about the following questions.
1.
During which decade were computers first used in homes?
2.
During which decade did lots of people start using the Internet?
3.
Was the original use of the Internet for business or some other 
purpose?
The History of 
the Internet
 
C o m p u t e r s & Te c h n o l o g y
1
U N
I
T
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The History of the Internet
A 
lmost everyone knows about the Internet. More than a billion people 
around the world are now 
online
. The Internet is a powerful tool for 
information and communication.
The basic concept of the Internet was first thought of in the early 1960s. It 
began as a military research network, designed to be 
decentralized
or spread out 
over many locations. If one location was attacked, the military could communicate 
from another location. The first small network went online in 1969. It connected 
four universities in the United States.
This network was very successful from the beginning. Scientists could now 
share information about their research. In 1972, email was invented and quickly 
became the most popular 
application
. By the end of that year, the network 
connected many universities and government research centers. The general 
public became 
aware of
the network in the late 70s. A new version allowed 
anyone to get online. People from all over the world joined online groups to talk 
about thousands of different subjects.
The term Internet was used for the first time in 1982. New technology had 
created a common language for the network computers. The Internet was now 
recognized as an international 
network. This was also at 
the time when privacy and 
security started becoming 
important issues. Hackers 
and viruses began to 
emerge.
In 1990, the original 
military network went 
offline, and a year later the 
2
online --- connected to the network
5
decentralize --- to put in many different locations
11
application --- a special purpose for which something is used
13
aware of --- conscious of; informed about
5
10
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20
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