The Reading / Listening - Level 5

International Business Machines (IBM) is investing $1.2 billion in cloud services. The technology giant wants to increase its presence in the next generation of cloud storage. It will build 15 high-tech data centres across the world. It must change from being a largely hardware-based company to online services. Its revenues have decreased for the past six quarters. It needs to reverse this trend. An IBM spokesman told reporters: "This is fundamental because this allows us global coverage." He added: "We are continuing to invest in where we think the growth areas are going to be."

Wikipedia says cloud computing is a concept that involves a large number of computers, "connected through a real-time communication network such as the Internet". "The cloud" is a metaphor for the Internet. Marketers use the concept of the cloud to sell more services. People keep their data and software on a server (a huge computer) of the company offering the cloud service. There is no need to download anything or store information on any computer. There are several problems with cloud computing, including security, reliability and issues of privacy.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 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.

investing

a.

based company

2.

increase

b.

generation

3.

the next

c.

this trend

4.

15 high-tech

d.

its presence

5.

a largely hardware-

e.

coverage

6.

revenues have decreased for

f.

$1.2 billion

7.

reverse

g.

data centres

8.

global

h.

the past six quarters



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

a concept that involves a large

a.

for the Internet

2.

a real-time communication

b.

sell more services

3.

"The cloud" is a metaphor

c.

download anything

4.

use concept of the cloud to

d.

number of computers

5.

People keep their data and

e.

on any computer

6.

There is no need to

f.

privacy

7.

store information

g.

network

8.

issues of

h.

software on a server

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

International Business Machines (IBM) (1) ___________________ in cloud services. The technology giant wants to (2) ___________________ in the next generation of cloud storage. It will build 15 high-tech data centres across the world. It must change from being (3) ___________________ company to online services. Its (4) ___________________ for the past six quarters. It needs to (5) ___________________. An IBM spokesman told reporters: "This is fundamental because this allows us global coverage." He added: "We are continuing (6) ___________________ we think the growth areas are going to be."

Wikipedia says cloud computing (7) ___________________ involves a large number of computers, "connected (8) ___________________ communication network such as the Internet". "The cloud" is a metaphor for the Internet. Marketers (9) ___________________ the cloud to sell more services. People keep their data and software on a server (a huge computer) of the company offering the cloud service. There is (10) ___________________ anything or store information on any computer. There (11) ___________________ with cloud computing, including security, reliability (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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