SSC English First Paper | Unit Seven | Lesson: 7 | People who stand out | The wizard of Apple

A. Look at the picture and ask and answer the questions.

1 What do you see?

2 Are you familiar with this logo?

3 What does this logo stand for?

4 Which company uses this logo for its products?

5 Do you know the logo of any Bangladeshi product?

6 Do you like it? Why/Why not?

B. Read about Steve Jobs.

Steven Paul Jobs (24 February 1955 – 5 October 2011) , most popularly known as Steve Jobs was the co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. He was the pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was famous for his career in the electronic field of computers and consumers. This became possible through the marketing of Apple computers.

In 1985, Jobs left Apple after losing a power battle with the board of directors. He then founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in the higher education and business market. Apple, however failed to bring up any new operating system during Job’s absence. Jobs returned to Apple as an adviser, and took control of the company as an interim CEO. By 1998, Jobs brought Apple back to profitability from the verge of bankruptcy. He supervised the development of iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and iPad. These devices are so simple and user friendly that even a child can operate them.

He supervised the company’s Apple Stores, iTunes Stores and the App Stores too. The success of these products and services brought about steady financial returns for several years and pushed Apple to become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company in 2011. This triumph is regarded as the greatest turnarounds in the business history.

Steve Jobs has been highly acclaimed as a visionary leader. He has changed people’s perspective towards the computer and how they use it, consume personal media and how they communicate with each other. Hence iBooks, iPhones, iPods and iPads have become extremely popular. Jobs saw and felt the need of Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in laptops. It is he who made Wi-Fi a standard feature of every laptop, and of many other devices worldwide. So Jobs’ dream to be anywhere anytime became a reality.

Jobs also co-founded and served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios. He became a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, when Disney acquired Pixar.

C. True or false? If false, give the correct information.

1 Jobs spent his entire career working for Apple.

2 He became famous because he knew how to market computers and keep the buyers happy.

3 He became the chairman of The Walt Disney Company.

4 Jobs left Apple in 2001.

5 Jobs was a visionary.

D. Read the text in B again and answer the following qustions.

1 Write about Jobs’ successful career.

2 What does ‘power battle’ mean?

3 How did Jobs manage to bring Apple back to profitability ?

4 Why was he called a visionary?

5 Why did Jobs feel that Wi-Fi connection was needed in laptops?