reading tashk10Computer Crim.doc

Computer CrimeA computer crime is generally defined as one that involves the use of computers and software for illegal purposes. This doesnt mean that all the crimes are new types of crime. On the contrary, many of these crimes, such as embezzlement of funds, the alteration of records, theft, vandalism, sabotage, and terrorism, can be committed without a computer. But with a computer, these offenses can be carried out more quickly and with less chance that the person responsible for the crime will be discovered. Computer crimes are on the rise and have been for the last twelve years. Just how much these computer crimes cost the American public is in dispute, but estimates range from 3 billion to 5 billion annually. Even the FBI, which attempts to keep track of the growth or decline of all kinds of crimes, is unable to say precisely how large a loss is involved; however, it estimates that the average take from a company hit by computer crime is 600,000. A number of reasons are given for the increase in computer crime: (A) more computers in use and, thus, more people who are familiar with basic computer operation; (B) more computers tied together in satellite and other datatransmission networks; and (C) the easy access of microcomputers to huge mainframe data bases. The CriminalMovies and newspaper stories might lead us to believe that most computer crimes are committed by teenage “hackers”brilliant and basically good children who let their imagination and technical genius get them into trouble. But a realistic look at the crimes reveals that the offender is likely to be an employee of the firm against which the crime has been committed, i.e., an “insider”.Difficulty of Detection and PreventionGiven the kind of person who commits a computer crime and the environment in which the crime occurs, it is often difficult to detect who the criminal is. First of all, the crime may be so complex that months or years go by before anyone discovers it. Second, once the crime has been revealed, it is not easy to find a clear trail of evidence that leads back to the guilty party. After all, looking for “weapons” or fingerprints does not occur as it might in the investigation of more conventional crimes.Third, there are usually no witnesses to the computer crime, even though it may be taking place in a room filled with people. Who is to say if the person at the next terminal, calmly keying in data, is doing the companys work or committing a criminal act?Fourth, not enough people in management and law enforcement know enough about computer technology to prevent the crimes. Authorities have to be familiar with the computers capabilities within a given situation to guard against its misuses. In some large cities, such as Los Angeles, police departments have set up specially trained computer crime units.But even when an offender is caught, the investigators, attorneys (律师), judges, or juries may find the alleged crime too complicated and perplexing to handle. More attorneys are specializing in computer law and studying the computers potential for misuse. After a computer crime has been discovered, many companies do not report it or prosecute （起诉） the person responsible. A company may not announce the crime out of fear that the pubic will find out the weaknesses of its computer system and lose confidence in its organization. Banks, credit card companies, and investment firms are especially sensitive about revealing their vulnerabilities (脆弱性） because they rely heavily on customer trust.To avoid public attention, cautious companies will often settle cases of computer tampering out of court. And if cases do go to trial and the offenders are convicted, they may be punished only by a fine or light sentence because the judge or jury isnt fully trained to understand the nature and seriousness of the crime.Not all companies are timid in apprehending computer criminals. For example, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company decided it had to get tough on violators. So when the company discovered that one of its computer technicians had embezzled 200,000 by entering false benefit claims, it presented it findings to the states attorney and aided in the prosecution of the technician. The technician was found guilty and sentenced to prison, not just for the computer misuse, but also for grand theft and insurance fraud. Connecticut General now has a policy of reporting all incidents of theft or fraud, no matter how small.1. The FBI knows exactly how large a loss is involved in computer crimes.2. It has become easy for microcomputer owners to use huge mainframe data bases.3. It is implied in the Paragraph 3 that most computer criminals are the employees of the concerned companies.4. Many companies dont report computer crimes because law procedures against computer crimes usually cost a lot of money.5. When computer crime takes place in a room filled with people, there are usually many witnesses to the crime.6. The passage is mainly about the increase of computer crimes in America and the difficulties in combating computer crimes.7. Computer crimes are on the rise because more cheap microcomputers are available.8. According to the passage, computer crimes has been on the rise for the last years.9. Connecticut General Life Insurance company is cited as of companies that took serious measures to fight against computer crimes.10. Banks, credit card companies, and investment firms are especially sensitive about revealing their vulnerabilities because they place too much reliance on .2006年6月17日大学英语四级Professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. They may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. They may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity and initiative. Or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language.When applying for a job, one usually has to submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). The two terms generally mean the same thing: a one-or two-page document describing ones educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the corporate (公司) culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The challenge will be to embrace two or more cultures in one document. The following list is a good place to start. “Educational requirements differ from country to country. In almost every case of cross-border job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not bean adequate description. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience.”Pay attention to the resume format you use-chronological or reverse-chronological order. Chronological order means listing your oldest work experience first. Reverse-chronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. Most countries have preferences about which format is most acceptable. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format.”If you are submitting your resume in English, find out if the recipient (收件人) uses British English or American English because there are variations between the two versions. For example, university education is often referred to as tertiary education in the United Kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the United States. A reader who is unfamiliar with these variations may assume that your resume contains errors.21.Companies are hiring more foreign employees because _.A) they find foreign employees are usually more talentedB) they need original ideas from employees hired overseasC) they want to expand their business beyond home bordersD) they have difficulty finding qualified personnel at home22.The author believes that an individual who applies to work overseas _.A) is usually creative and full of initiativeB) aims to improve his foreign language skillsC) is dissatisfied with his own life at homeD) seeks either his own or his childrens development23.When it comes to resume writing, it is best to _.A) take cultural factors into considerationB) learn about the companys hiring processC) follow appropriate guidelines for job huntingD) know the employers personal likes and dislikes24.When writing about qualifications, applicants are advised to _.A) stress their academic potential to impress the decision makerB) give the title of the university degree they have earned at homeC) provide a detailed description of their study and work experiencesD) highlight their keen interest in pursuing a cross-border career25.According to the authors last piece of advice, the applicants should be aware of _.A) the different educational systems in the US and the UKB) the differences between the varieties of EnglishC) the recipients preference with regard to the formatD) the distinctive features of American and British culturesQuestions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.Educating girls quite possibly yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world. Womens education may be unusual territory for economists, but enhancing womens contribution to development is actually as much an economic as a social issue. And economics, with its emphasis on incentives (激励), provides guideposts that point to an explanation for why so many girls are deprived of an education.Parents in low-income countries fail to invest in their daughters because they do not expect them to make an economic contribution to the family: girls grow up only to marry into somebody elses family and bear children. Girls are thus seen as less valuable than boys and art kept at home to do housework while their brothers are sent to school-the prophecy (预言) becomes self-fulfilling, trapping women in a vicious circle (恶性循环) of neglect.An educated mother, on the other hand, has greater earning abilities outside the home and faces an entirely different set of choices. She is likely to have fewer but healthier children and can insist on the development of all her children, ensuring that her daughters are given a fair chance. The education of her daughters then makes it much more likely that the next generation of girls, as well as of boys, will be educated and healthy. The vicious circle is thus transformed into a virtuous circle.Few will dispute that educating women has great social benefits. But it has enormous economic advantages as well. Most obviously, there is the direct effect of education on the wages of female workers. Wages rise by 10 to 20 per cent for each additional year of schooling. Such big returns are impressive by the standard of other available investments, but they are just the beginning. Educating women also has a significant impact on health practices, including family planning.26.The author argues that educa