Lesson 1
by Paolo Rossetti

Topic  : Internet Software
Grammar: Causative Verbs
Level :  Intermediate
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Vocabulary

PRODUCT  REVIEW

Product:        WebWhacker
Categories:   Offline browsers
Purpose:        Auto web site downloader
Platform:       Windows, 95; Macintosh
Vendor:         ForeFront Group
 
WebWhacker lets you snatch an entire web site and store it on your local drive. It takes both the
HTML pages and all the images - relinking them locally so that the site can be browsed naturally.
The "whacked" information, says the vendor, is "a mirror image of the same information on the
World Wide Web. The aim of the product is to reduce the user's dependency on an Internet
connection.

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EXERCISE 1.1 - Vocabulary

Please match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. a purpose                        a.  somebody who sells something; a seller
2. a vendor                          b.  a picture; a photo; a graphic
3. to snatch something       c.  to keep something, maybe for a long time
4. to store something         d.  a reason for doing something; an aim; a goal
5. an image                         e.  to take something away quickly; to grab something
6. locally                              f.  to look around, especially on the Internet; to surf the web
7. to browse                        g.  a place near you; on your own computer
8. to reduce                         h.  to use less of something
9. a dependency                  i.  a link; something joined together; eg. between
                                                  your computer and the Internet
10.a connection                  j.  cannot live without something; a strong need

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EXERCISE 1.2 - Grammar

"WebWhacker lets you snatch an entire web site and store it on your local drive."

The verb 'let' in the above sentence works as a Causative Verb following this pattern:
Let someone do something, or, Let + direct object + verb stem + indirect object.

Other causative verbs:

I let my students use the computers. = I allowed my students to use the computers.

I had my son draw a picture. = I asked my son (and he accepted) to draw a picture.

I got my friend to help me. = I persuaded my friend to help me.

I made the dog sleep outside. = I forced the dog to sleep outside.

Note:   'get' follows the pattern: Get someone *TO* do something.

The other three verbs do not need 'to'.

Please fill in the blanks.

1. The teacher ......... the class stay in late as punishment.
2. She had her daughter .......... the windows because they were so dirty.
3. I got my colleague to .......... me some money so I could purchase more shares.
4. You ............ Joanne to cut your hair! She said she wouldn't do it!
5. The boss ............ the secretary re-type the letter until it was perfect.
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EXERCISE 1.3 - Reading Comprehension

Please read the text and choose the correct answers.

1.  What is the purpose of this text?  (to inform, to advertise, to warn)
2.  Who is selling a product? (WebWhacker,  Windows 95, ForeFront Group)
3.  Where can you get further information? (search on the web, at www.ffg.com,
                                                                    no information given)
4.  What does WebWhacker do? (creates a copy of the website onto your computer,
                    snatches your computer's HTML pages, creates Internet connections)

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Answers     Go to  ----->  Online English Content 
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