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This new TV technology is called Qube (求比), a pay-cable system now operating in Columbus, Ohio in 20,000 homes for its first trial run. The new "two-way" cable system allows subscribers to "talk back" to those people miles away behind the TV cameras. Qube subscribers can select 30 different programs by pressing one of the buttons on a box like device, called the Qube console. (1)On the console, the channel selectors are connected by wire (cable) from the box, to the TV set, through the wall, into the street, then over utility poles (电线杆) or underground for miles and miles to the computers at the Qube's TV studio headquarters.Nine at the buttons connect to special TV programs that allow the audience to respond to questions by pressing the appropriate button on the Qube box, sending electronic signals to the Eclipse computers. A question is flashed on the screen with possible answers; or buttons 2 can serve as "yes" or "no" replies. The computers in the TV studio tabulate the responses from all viewers and flash the results on TV. (2)At last, the viewer can talk to his or her TV, and so far, Qube subscribers have held dialogues with politicians, decided on talent show winners, and even named a baby.They call it "touching in" since the words "touch now" flash at the bottom of the TV screen when a response is requested.
Qube is revolutionizing American's relationship with television. As expected, the more popular of the 30 channels are those where the audience can "interact" and "touch in". the computers scan the response buttons every 6 seconds to provide the talk-back facility. (3)Quiz shows allow the audience to guess along with the players in the TV studios by responding to the multiple choice or true-false questions flashed on the TV screen.A weekly amateur talent contest. Talent Search, has viewers voting on whether each local act should be allowed to continue. When 50% or more hit the "no" button, the performer must stop. An interview show called Columbus Active makes frequent use of the two-way connection. (4)On a recent program 53% of Qube viewers touched in to say they would 'jump at the chance' to have dinner with ex-president Richard Nixon.Qube viewers are still waiting for the time when a politician will make a statement and then ask his audience: "How many of you believed what I just said？"
Qube has the ability to provide a range of services that viewers can choose to subscribe to. (5)In the past, only a way a viewer could control what was broadcast on TV was to change the channel.Some see Qube as the beginning of a new era--Narrowcast. Narrowcast indicates the computers have ability to send a certain program only to some TV households (the rest get snow). With the cooperation of local colleges, Qube viewers, at extra cost can have various courses narrowcast into their living rooms.

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Микротекст 1
Уроков географии 8-ой " В " не любил. Поэтому неудивительно, что в среду кабинет географии не могли открыть: кто-то положил спичку в замок(锁), но к счастью, учитель труда мучился с замком недолго.
-- Кто это сделал？--спросила учительница на уроке. Никто не отвечал. Как же ученики могли признаться, что спичку положил Максим!

The word "university" comes from the Latin word "universitas", meaning "the whole". The modern definition of a university is an institution that teaches and examines students in many branches of advanced learning, awarding degrees and providing facilities for academic research. The origins of universities can be traced back to the Middle Ages, with the earliest European centers at Bologna, Italy, for law, founded in 1088. The first universities in England were established at Oxford in 1185 and at Cambridge in 1209. By comparison, the oldest universities in the U.S.A. are at Harvard, founded in 1636, and Yale, established in 1701. The English university in London was not founded until 1836. However, it was in the 1960s that the largest single expansion of higher education took place in Britain. One of the largest university developments was the foundation of the Open University in 1969. It is a nonresidential university which provides for life- long education of various backgrounds with part-time degree and other courses. It uses a combination of correspondence courses, television, radio broadcasts and the Internet, and summer schools for organization on a regional basis.

Scientists have discovered a genetic defect that appears to cause deficit-hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as hyperactivity. People afflicted with this disorder have trouble focusing their attention and controlling impulses, and tend to be rest-less and aggressive. The defect occurs in a gene that regulates the body's use of the thyroid hormone. This finding was made in continuing study organized by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in which 70 percent of children inheriting the gene were hyperactive while only 20 percent of the children not inheriting the gene were hyperactive. And although the researchers admit that this defective gene probably accounts for only a fraction of cases of hyperactivity, this discovery will allow doctors to spot newborn babies likely to have the disorder, and also to provide clues for its cause and treatment.

Marian Anderson had a brilliant singing career which began a the age of six when she leamed spirituals' at the Union Baptis Church in her hometown of Philadelphia. Her tour of Europe in the 1920s drew vast acclaim; however, when .she returned to the United States she was still barred from performing on the American operatic stage. After she was prevented from singing in Washington's segregated Constitution Hall in 1939 Eleanor Roosevelt intervened and arranged for her to perform at the Lincoln Memorial. A crowd of 75, 000 people came to watch her sing before the Memorial. Her beautiful contralto voice was breaking down racial barriers, showing Americans that black had a profound contribution to make to Americans cultural life. Eventually, she became the first African-American singer to perform at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1955. In her many years of touring she had to endure a racism that forced her to enter concert halls and hotels through service entrances. Her grace under this stress showed a moral perseverance that paralleled that of the famous Martin Luther King, Junior.