American English Conversation Lessons and Podcasts Online Tutor For English

1. Read the paragraph.
2. Study the questions and answers below.

 

Paragraph:

VoIP is the most popular mode of Internet voice communication today. VoIP stands for Voice over IP, where IP refers to the Internet Protocol that underlies all Internet communication. VoIP began to take off around the Year 2000. The difference between VoIP and Instant Messaging Systems is this: IMS's originate as text messages that can be changed into voice messages. For example, an email message can be heard from a telephone as voice message. On the other hand, VoIP messages originate as voice, travel as voice data over the Internet lines, and reach to the receiving person as voice. I am familiar with a widely popular VoiP system on the Internet, that is Skype. Skype has two types of VoIP: Skype-to-Skype (computer-to-computer) and Skype Out. Skype-to-Skype or computer-to-computer VoIP calls are made between at least two people with the Skype program installed on their computers. Skype-Out VoIP occurs when a person makes a Skype call to a person's ordinary telephone line. Skype Out calls are not free. For example, you may call your friend's home telephone from Skype, and then you pay for that call.

1. What is the most popular mode of Internet voice communication today?
2. What does VoIP stand for?
3. When did VoIP begin to take off?
4. What is the distinction between Instant Messaging Systems (IMS's) and VoIP?
5. What are some benefits of VoIP?
6. Are you familiar with a VoIP system so popular among Internet users in these days? What is it?
7. Describe how calls are made in Skype?
8. What is the tense used in the lesson mostly? Use the Internet (Google) to learn about this tense.

 

Answers:

1. VoIP is the most popular mode of Internet voice communication today.
2. VoIP stands for Voice over IP, where IP refers to the Internet Protocol that underlies all Internet communication.
3. VoIP began to take off around the year 2000.
4. The difference between VoIP and Instant Messaging Systems is this: IMS's originate as text messages that can be changed into voice messages. For example, an email messages can be heard from a telephone as voice message. On the other hand, VoIP messages originate as voice, travel as voice data over the Internet lines, and reach to the receiving person as voice.
5. VoIP uses Internet lines for carrying the voice data that is much cheaper and faster.
6. Yes, I am familiar with a widely popular VoiP system on the Internet, that is Skype.
7. Skype has two types of VoIP: Skype-to-Skype (computer-to-computer) and Skype Out. Skype-to-Skype or computer-to-computer VoIP calls are made between at least two people with Skype installed on their computers. Skype-Out VoIP is making a Skype call to a person's ordinary telephone line. For example, you may call your friend's home telephone from Skype, and then you pay for that call.

 

Vocabulary:

VoIP: acronym - Voice over Internet Protocol

in your own words: noun-phrase - do not memorize the text line-by-line; try to express the ideas in the text the way they come into your mind

mode: n. type

concept: n. idea, definition

stand for: idiomatic verb. to mean

take off: idiomatic verb-to arise

distinction: n. difference

instant: adj. timely

popular: adj. well-liked

originate: v. to begin

underlie: v. to contain

on the other hand conjunction phrase - in comparison

widely: adj-very

at least: adj.- minimum