READING COMPREHENSION TEST for the 9th grade students The 2nd term
The Internet, a computer-based worldwide information network, is composed of a large number of smaller interconnected networks called internets. These in-ternets may connect tens, hundreds, or thousands of computers, enabling them to share information with each other and to share various resources, such as powerful supercomputers and databases of information. The Internet has made it possible for people all over the world to effectively and inexpensively communicate with each other. Unlike traditional broadcasting media, such as radio and television, the Internet is a decentralized system. Each connected individual can commu-nicate with anyone else on the Internet, can publish ideas, and can sell products with a minimum overhead cost. In the future, the Internet may have a dramatic impact on higher education and business as more universities offer courses and more companies offer goods and services online.
The internets from which the Internet is composed are usually public access networks, meaning that the resources of the network can be shared with anyone accessing the network. Other types of internets, called intranets, are closed to public use. Intranets are the most common type of computer network used in companies and organizations where it is important to restrict access to the infor¬mation contained on the network.
During the 1990s the Internet has grown tremendously in the number of people using it and the amount of information contained on it. According to the Internet Society, a non-profit society that studies and promotes the use of the Internet, 134 countries had full Internet connection and an additional 52 countries had limited access (for example, e-mail only) in 1996. Surveys performed by International Data Corporation and Matrix Information and Directory Services found that as of Sep¬tember 1997 there were between 53 and 57 million users of the Internet worldwide.

Task 1. For each of the questions 1-10 decide which of the statements are true or false
1. The main function of the Internet is information exchange.
2. The Internet is made of supercomputers.
3. You should be quite well off to use the Internet efficiently.
4. The Internet has a strong central authority.
5. There may be a great change in higher education soon.
6. The only thing you need to get on the Internet is a computer with the Internet access..
7. You can easily find what you need on the intranet.
8. There has been an Internet boom in the recent decade,
9. More countries in the world have only limited Internet access.
10. It is rather difficult to count the number of Internet users in the world.
Task 2. For each of the questions 11-20 decide which of the answers (a, b, c or d) best complete the statements
11. The Internet is most likely to be associated with:
a) an ad work; b) a Ned work; c) a neat work; d) a network.
12. The computers in the Internet are:
a) connected to each other; b) standing oh each other; c)looking for each other; d)not needed at all.
13. One can make a conclusion that:
a) corresponding with a distant friend is much easier now;
b) there, are fewer powerful computers now than before;
c) it is difficult to afford using the Internet
d) you need to be an expert to use the Internet.
14. It can be inferred from the text that:
a) it is more difficult to post an advertisement on the radio than on the Internet;
b) it is more expensive to use the Internet for selling goods;
c) using the Internet for educational purposes is not considered;
d) some universities offer complete Internet training:
15. Where from is it least possible for general public to connect to the Internet?
a) From home; b) from a public library;
c) from a private company: d) from an Internet cafe.

16. Internets and intranets differ in:
a) the cost of use;
b) accessibility;
c) the number of supercomputers;
d) the way of connecting computers together.
17. Companies create intranets to:
a) protect the environment; b) prevent misuse of important data;
c) restrict working areas; d) predict the future.
18. It maybe inferred from the text that the Internet Society:
a) has the aim of earning money;
b) does a database research;
c) wants more people in the world to use the Internet;
d) died out-in the 1990s.
19. The researches mentioned in the text:
a) were carried out at the same time;
b) could not be trusted;
c) promoted using e-mail;
d) were done independently on each other.
20. One can infer from the text that because of the Internet:
a) more information is now used by fewer people;
b)less information is available;
c) there's recently been a great increase in the information exchange;
d) about 57 million people will never use the
Internet​