Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 - Surf the Net!

1. Listen and mark the statements as T (true) or F (false). Then correct the false statements.

1 The Internet was started in 1990. F

2 The Internet links computers.

3 To visit a web site, you simply enter the telephone number.

4 The main use of the Internet is to find mistakes.

5 Using the Internet is getting more expensive.

Answer & Audioscript

1 F The Internet wasn’t started in 1990. It was started in 1968.

2 T

3 F To visit a web site, you don’t enter the telephone number. You enter the address.

4 F The main use of the Internet isn’t to find mistakes. The main use is to find information.

5 F The Internet isn’t getting more expensive. It is getting cheaper.

Audioscript

The Internet: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The Internet is without doubt one of the most important inventions in history. It was started in 1968 by the US government, but at first it was used mainly by scientists. Since 1990, when the World Wide Web was created, it has changed the world, and its uses are growing every day.

1 What exactly is the Internet?

The Internet is a network (several networks, in fact) of millions of computers around the world, connected by phone lines, satellite or cable, so that all the computers on the net can exchange information with each other.

2 That’s the same thing as the Web, isn’t it?

Not quite. The Internet links computers, and the World Wide Web is a system which links the information stored inside these computers.

3 What is a web site, and how do I visit one?

A company or organization stores its information in electronic documents on one of the Internet computers, somewhere in the world. This computer space – the company’s web site – has an address, in the same way that every telephone has a number. To visit a web site, you simply enter the address. Your computer is connected to the web site, a document is downloaded, and a page appears on your computer screen.

4 How do I “surf the net”?

When you visit a web site looking for information, some words on the page may be underlined, showing that there is more information about the subject in another document. If you click on one of these words, the Web automatically connects your computer to a new document or web site, even if this is stored thousands of kilometres away. You’re surfing the net!

5 What can I use the Internet for?

The main use of the Internet is to find information – for your schoolwork or job, or just to find out more about your hobbies, sports or current events. You can also use the Internet to read newspapers and magazines, play games, plan your holiday or buy things from your favourite shop. E-mail makes it possible to send electronic messages anywhere in the world in seconds, and you can use the Internet to ‘chat’ with people and make new friends.

6 What do I need in order to use the Internet?

If you don’t already use the Internet, all you need to get started is a computer, a modern and a phone line. Using the Internet is getting cheaper and easier all the time.

Are you ready to surf the net? There’s a whole exciting Internet world out there waiting for you!

2. Listen and fill in the gaps with words and phrases from the list.

but, Finally, Firstly, For example, However,

In conclusion, Also, What is more, On the other hand

The Pros and Cons of Using the Internet

Advertisements for the Internet promise you a world of information, entertainment, on-line shopping and e-mail services. (1)………………, the real world of the Internet may not be as perfect as the advertisements suggest.

Using the Internet offers many advantages. (2)………………, all of the latest information is available to you, in your home, at any hour of the day or night. It is much faster and easier to surf the net in search of information from all over the world than to travel to libraries in dozens of countries. (3)………………, on-line shopping makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps make friends all over the world. (4)………………, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and cheaper than a telephone conversation.

(5)………………, the Internet has several disadvantages. (6)………………, with so much information available, finding what you want can take you hours. Multimedia web pages with photographs, music and video are attractive, (7)……………… they make downloading slow and boring. (8)………………, there is too much advertising instead of real information. As for Internet friendships, sitting at home in front of a computer making ‘chat friends’ is not the same as actually meeting people.

(9)………………, the Internet obviously has both good and bad points. Fortunately, the system is improving all the time, and any problems which still exist can be solved. Whether we like it or not, the Internet is here to stay, so we have to make the best possible use of it.

Answer & Audioscript

1 However 2 For example 3 Also 4 Finally

5 On the other hand 6 Firstly 7 but

8 What is more 9 In conclusion

3. Should children use the Internet? Read the points (1-6), listen and mark them as P (pros) or C (cons).

Children on the Net: yes or no?

1 The net is part of our world, so children need to use it. ………

2 Many use it for playing games, not for learning. ………

3 They learn about other countries and cultures. ………

4 They can meet people from all over the world. ………

5 some web sites are not suitable for children. ………

6 They can make friends in faraway places. ………

Answer & Audioscript

1 P 2 C 3 P 4 P 5 C 6 P

Audioscript

Presenter: Welcome to Chat Room, the programme where you get a chance to air your opinions. Send us your comments, by e-mail or voice mail, and let us know what you think. On last week’s show, Jurgen in Germany raised the question of whether it’s a good idea for children to use the net. This was Jurgen’s comment …

Jurgen: Of course, if it is used correctly, the Internet can be a great learning tool for children. But any tool can be used or misused. What about the problems and dangers if children are allowed to surf the net on their own?

Presenter: We received a lot of replies, many in favour of children using the Internet. Here’s one from Sadiq, in Pakistan …

Sadiq: Whether we like it or not, the Internet is already part of our world. Everybody needs to use it – and that means children need to use it, too.

Presenter: 13-year-old Julia from Italy had this to say …

Julia: Children can use the Internet to learn about other countries and their cultures. They can also meet people from all over the world, and they can make friends in faraway places.

Presenter: On the other hand, some people were strongly against letting children surf the net on their own. This is Margaret from Wales …

Margaret: I’m a teacher, and my students say they spend several hours a day on the Internet. When I ask them, though, I find that they use the net for playing games, not for learning anything. It also worries me because I think children need real friends to talk to, instead of a keyboard and a computer screen.

Presenter: Someone called Ken – no address given – mentioned another worrying problem …

Ken: Parents should remember that some ‘adult’ web sites are really not suitable for children, and we have to make sure they don’t have access to these sites. We should also teach children that giving information to ‘chat friends’ can be dangerous. You don’t know who you’re talking to, or what they want the information for, so never tell them your address, age or real name.

Presenter: Good advice, Ken. Yes, the Internet offers many advantages, but we believe that children should always be supervised when they’re using it. Children need to use the net – so parents must teach them how to use it properly.