IBM to invest $1.2 billion in cloud services

IBM to invest $1.2 billion in cloud services (19th January, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

IBM is investing $1.2 billion in cloud computing. The tech giant wants to be a bigger player in cloud storage. It will build 15 high-tech data centres worldwide. It must change from being a hardware company to providing online services. Its revenues have decreased for 18 months. It needs to reverse this trend. IBM said: "This is fundamental because this allows us global coverage. We are continuing to invest in where we think the growth areas are."

Wikipedia says cloud computing involves many computers, "connected through a real-time communication network such as the Internet". "The cloud" is a metaphor for the Internet. Companies use the idea of the cloud to sell more services. People keep their data and software with the cloud service company. There is no need to download anything or store information on a computer. Problems with cloud computing include security, reliability, and privacy.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-16/ibm-to-invest-1-dot-2-billion-to-build-on-softlayer-cloud-services
http://news.techworld.com/data-centre/3497482/ibm-throws-12-billion-at-its-global-data-centre-network/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	build 15 high-	a.	to invest
2.	The tech giant	b.	this trend
3.	It needs to reverse	c.	growth areas are
4.	this allows us global	d.	tech data centres
5.	We are continuing	e.	wants to be a bigger player
6.	where we think the	f.	coverage

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	cloud computing involves	a.	communication network
2.	connected through a real-time	b.	download anything
3.	"The cloud" is a metaphor	c.	and privacy
4.	use idea of the cloud	d.	many computers
5.	There is no need to	e.	to sell more services
6.	security, reliability,	f.	for the Internet

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

IBM is investing $1.2 billion in cloud computing. The (1) ___________________ be a bigger player in cloud storage. It will build 15 (2) ___________________ worldwide. It must change from being a hardware company to providing online services. Its (3) ___________________ for 18 months. It needs to (4) ___________________. IBM said: "This is fundamental because this (5) ___________________. We are continuing to invest in where we (6) ___________________ are."

Wikipedia says cloud computing (7) ___________________, "connected through a (8) ___________________ network such as the Internet". "The cloud" (9) ___________________ Internet. Companies use the idea of the cloud to sell more services. People (10) ___________________ software with the cloud service company. There is (11) ___________________ anything or store information on a computer. Problems with cloud computing include security, (12) ___________________.

"THE CLOUD" SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about "the cloud" in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about "the cloud" for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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