The World Wide Web
Instructions: Complete the following questionnaire. After you have completed the questionnaire, you will be given time to discuss your answers with the other members of your group. [Statistical Data obtained from Statistics Canada reported in the Toronto Star. 1. In 1992, the total number of websites was _________ . (a) 2,000 (b) 50 (c) zero (d) 600 2. In 2006, the total number of websites was _________ . (a) 1 billion (b) 9 billion (c) 93 million (d) 16 million 3. In 2001, the total value of online sales in Canada was _________ . (a) $17 billion (b) $6.5 billion (c) $250 million (d) $750 million 4. In 2006, the total value of online sales in Canada was _________ . (a) $39.2 billion (b) $85.5 billion (c) $21 billion (d) $1.6 billion 5. As of August 2006, the total number of Web users worldwide was _________ . (a) 600 million (b) 850 million (c) 900 million (d) 1.1 billion 6. On average, the number of Web pages viewed per household per month (excluding those accessed at work) is _________ . (a) 1,373 (b) 2,000 (c) 255 (d) 1,100 7. The average time spent in each Web-surfing session is _________ . (a) 63 minutes (b) 92 minutes (c) 17 minutes (d) 51 minutes 8.
Answer the following questions yourself and then ask
your partner for his/her responses.
& Vocabulary Development Activity: topInstructions: Complete the following vocabulary chart. (An example has been provided.)
Instructions: Read the following text. When you have finished reading the article, complete the comprehension questions that follow. [1] It’s hard to believe that something as ubiquitous as the World Wide Web is still in its infancy. A mere fifteen years ago, on August 6, 1991, the Web sprang to life when an Englishman by the name of Tim Berners-Lee put the first webpage on the Internet. The first website, rather mundane by today’s standards, detailed the set of protocols explaining how users could access staggering amounts of data housed in databanks around the world. In a relatively short amount of time the Web has infiltrated almost every facet of our day to day life from education to commerce. [2] When Berners-Lee launched the inaugural webpage he projected the Web would become “a force for individual, regional, and global understanding.” Fifteen years down the road, most would agree that the World Wide Web hasn’t really lived up to Berners-Lee’s lofty expectations. Notwithstanding the fact that users have access to an unprecedented amount of valuable information, most people primarily use this new “tool” as a source of entertainment and a means of communication. [3] It is important to note that although the Web is only fifteen years old, the internet itself has been in existence for thirty-five years. Initially designed as a way to protect military information and communication access in times of war or disaster, the internet has become a mainstream commodity that many can’t do without. Compared to other technological advances, the general population was quick to embrace the World Wide Web. The telephone, airline travel, microwave ovens and even VCRs all experienced a long period of rejection before they were adopted as “essential” elements to modern life. [4] When the Web was in its early years, there were widespread fears of the apocalyptic destruction it would mean for the publishing industry, particularly books and newspapers. The attempt by the famous American writer, Stephen King to publish an e-book that would only be available in electronic form on the Internet proved to be an utter disaster. The fear that newspapers would go bankrupt en mass has also proved to be incorrect. Never before have newspapers enjoyed such a vast international audience eager to stay informed of rapidly changing global events. [5] Just as every coin has two sides, the World Wide Web is not without its drawbacks and detractors. Sadly, pornography persists on being the Web’s primary attraction. Parents need to be constantly vigilant of their children’s safety in regards to protecting them from inappropriate material and from sexual predators. The Web is also a tool for scam artists willing to cheat innocent victims out of their hard-earned money, not to mention the “identity thieves” who wreak havoc at the expense of an overly-trusting public. 1. An appropriate title for this article is: (a) The Web: A Thing of Beauty (b) The Web: The Good and The Bad (c) Uses of the Web (d) Life After the Web 2. The word “mundane” (in paragraph one) is: (a) a noun (b) a verb (c) an adverb (d) an adjective 3. The word “detractors” (in paragraph five) is: (a) a noun (b) an adjective (c) a verb (d) an adverb 4. The phrase “most would agree that the World Wide Web hasn’t really lived up to Berners-Lee’s lofty expectations” (in paragraph 2) means: (a) Most people feel that the WWW has been a huge success. (b) Berners-Lee was convinced the WWW wouldn’t succeed. (c) Most people believe that Berners-Lee’s initial expectations for the WWW were overrated. (d) Most people feel that the WWW has enriched their life. 5. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT: (a) The Internet has been around longer than the World Wide Web. (b) The World Wide Web has both pros and cons. (c) E-books have proven to be a huge success in the publishing world. (d) Berners-Lee is considered the father of the World Wide Web. 6. Find a word in the text that means “alert/attentive”. ________________ 7. Find a word in the text that means “unmatched/unparalleled”. ________________ 8. Complete the following statement. In fifteen years, I think the Internet will ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
. ? Paragraph Writing: topInstructions: Select any one of the following quotes and write a one-paragraph response. 1. “Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.” Mitch Kapor 2. “We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.” Robert Wilensky 3. “On the Internet, some people find love at first byte..” Anonymous __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
