ES1000 Basic English

Reading

Part 1: An exercise in annotation

1. Read the following article and jot down notes in the right column. Samples of annotation are provided in the first few paragraphs. Wherever possible, try to write your notes in your own words. These notes should provide the gist of the paragraphs and help you understand the passage better.

2. When you have finished annotating the passage, attempt the questions that follow.

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6 / The Internet in Africa
When it comes to technology, Africa is far behind the rest of the world. For example, Africa has very few telephone lines compared with other areas. In fact, it has only about 2 percent of all the telephone lines in the world. In Africa, there are about 2.5 phone lines for every 100 Africans, while there are about 70 phone lines for every 100 Americans. There are also very few computers—only about 6 million on the entire African continent. As for the Internet, there are fewer Internet users in Africa than in the city of London alone.
The lack of telephones and computers in Africa may not seem like an important problem on a continent with many serious problems. However, more telephone lines and computers would allow more Africans to connect to the Internet. Through the Internet, Africans could have better access to information and better contacts with the rest of the world. In this way, they could end their dependence on others and begin to take control of their own development.
People in many African cities are already using the Internet. However, there are often problems with the quality and the speed of the satellite connections to the Internet. Cables can carry much more Internet data than satellites and can do it more quickly, so new cables are being put down on the ocean floor along the coast of Africa. One cable will go along the west coast, making connections from South Africa to eight other countries and finally ending in Spain. The other cable will circle all around Africa, connecting countries on the east and west coasts.
Though many people cannot afford to buy a home computer, they can go to "cybercafés" and pay for computer use by the hour. The cybercafés are especially popular with young people. They use the Internet to get in contact with people from other countries. One company that has opened many cybercafés is Africa Online, started by a young Kenyan who studied in the United States. Africa Online now has cybercafés in Kenya, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and it is planning to open cafes in Egypt and other countries.
The Internet is also an important resource for students. School and college libraries often do not have many up-to-date books and students usually cannot afford to buy the books themselves. With the Internet, students can access libraries and databanks around the world. They can also sign up for and follow distance-learning courses at many universities in the developed countries.
As the connections for the Internet are made more direct and reliable, new opportunities will open up for jobs. The Internet will allow Africans to develop an information-based economy that can do business with the whole world. For example, even today an American health insurance company in Kentucky has hired computer operators in Ghana to do some of their correspondence work. With a direct Internet connection between Kentucky and Ghana, the real distance becomes unimportant.
Source: Mikulecky, B.S. & Jeffries, L. (2004). More reading power (2nd ed., p. 217). New York, NY:Longman. / Africa is far behind the rest of the world in technology
Statistics as evidence:
(1) Few telephone lines:
2.5/100 phone lines for Africans
v.s. 70/100 phone lines for Americans
(2) Few computers & Internet users- 6 millions in all of Africa Internet users in Africa< those in London alone
Benefits of telephone lines and computers to Africans:
a) keep Africa connected with the world
b) is a tool for independence
Problems facing Africans using the Internet:
Low quality and slow speed of satellite connections
Measures taken:Two new cables laid to connect the entire Africa and a few countries
Other means of access: Cybercafes –popular
Example of cybercafés called “Africa Online”
Benefits of the Internet for students:
a)access resources in libraries and databanks
b)further their education through online courses in developed countries.
Other benefits:
job opportunities for Africans -- do business with the world through the Internet
Example:American company hiring African computer operators to do correspondence work.

Part 2: Reading comprehension

Answer the following questions using your own words.

  1. How does the writer show that Africa is “far behind the rest of the world” in terms of technology?

By giving facts about how few telephone lines, computers and internet users there are in Africa compared to other countries.

  1. What is the author implying by stating that “the lack of telephones and computers in Africa may not seem like an important problem”?

Africa has many serious problems such as poverty, lack of education and development. In comparison, the lack of computers and telephone lines seem insignificant but it is not so.

  1. Why is it crucial for Africa to gain access to information and be connected with the rest of the world?

In gaining access to information, Africa can enjoy first-hand knowledge of global affairs and need not be dependent on other countries for their own growth and development.

  1. What is the purpose of paragraph 3?

This paragraph highlights the differences between satellite and cable connections to the Internet. It also shows how Africa is attempting to connect itself to other countries and across the country via cable.

  1. Why are cybercafés popular in Africa?

Many people who cannot afford home computers choose to use the Internet at cybercafés to connect with people from other countries.

  1. What is revealed about the young Kenyan in this paragraph?

The young Kenyan is an enterprising businessman who has made use of his overseas experience to set up cafes across Africa and other countries.

  1. How does the internet help students in Africa?

The Internet opens up worldwide access to libraries and resources as well as overseas distance-learning education opportunities to students.

  1. How does the author conclude the article?

The author concludes the article on a positive note i.e. the Internet will open up job opportunities for African and highlights how real distance is not a problem once Internet connections become available and reliable.

  1. What is the writer’s thesis?

Despite the lack of technology in Africa, computers and the Internet are the ways to help Africans improve their education, work opportunities and communication with the rest of the world as well as increase Africa’s independence.

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