Q: Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network. It was first defined in 1988 in the CCITT red book. Prior to ISDN, the telephone system was viewed as a way to transport voice, with some special services available for data. The key feature of ISDN is that it integrates speech and data on the same lines, adding features that were not available in the classic telephone system. The ISDN standards define several kinds of access interfaces, such as Basic Rate Interface (BRI), Primary Rate Interface (PRI), Narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN), and Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN).

ISDN is a circuit-switched telephone network system, which also provides access to packet switched networks, designed to allow digital transmission of voice and data over ordinary telephone copper wires, resulting in potentially better voice quality than an analog phone can provide. It offers circuit-switched connections (for either voice or data), and packet-switched connections (for data), in increments of 64 kilobit/s. In some countries, ISDN found major market application for Internet access, in which ISDN typically provides a maximum of 128 kbit/s bandwidth in both upstream and downstream directions. Channel bonding can achieve a greater data rate; typically the ISDN B-channels of three or four BRIs (six to eight 64 kbit/s channels) are bonded.

1. 1988
2. in the CCITT red book
3. Integrated Services Digital Network
4. yes
5. speech
6. it integrates speech and data on the same lines
7. no
8. Basic Rate Interface
9. access interface
10. Yes
11. Narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN), and Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN)
12. circuit-switches
13. Yes
14. packet-switched
15. carries data
16. copper
17. Better
18. 64 kilobit/s
19. 128 kbit/s
20. yes
21. Channel bonding
22. three or four

Numbered questions:
1. When was ISDN first defined?
2. Where?
3. What does it stand for?
4. Does it support video?
5. What else?
6. What is its key feature?
7. was this available before?
8. What does BRI stand for?
9. What kind of interface is BRI?
10. Can you name other kinds?
11. What are the name of two others?
12. What kind of switches does ISDN use?
13. Can you utilize any others?
14. Which one?
15. What does that do?
16. What kind of wire is used?
17. Does this lead to better or worse quality?
18. How many kilobits are utilized?
19. Whats the max bandwidth?
20. Is that for both directions?
21. What can result in a higher rate?
22. How many are bonded?

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. Peter wondered why he didn't have many friends. The reason was that he was always taking, never giving. One day Peter told Bill, "I'd like to give a party on Saturday. I'd like you to come and bring Martha, too. " "Thanks, Peter. We'd be happy to come. ""Perhaps you'd like to bring your violin. You and Martha sing well together. I'm sure everyone will want you to sing for us. "That was how Peter began to plan his party. Next he asked another friend, Betty, to bring a cake. "You make the best cake in the world, Betty, and I like to eat your cake better than have one from the bakery . "Peter invited a few other friends to come to his party. He didn't forget to ask for something from each of them. He even asked Jim Jackson and Mary Jackson to let him give the party at their house! They agreed. The party was a big success. However, as the guests were leaving, they said "Thank you! "to Bill and Martha for the music, Betty for the cake, the Jacksons for the use of the house and to others for their hard work. To Peter they just said, "Thanks for the invitation. " 1. What did Peter ask Betty to bring?
2. What did Peter wonder?
3. What was the reason?
4. What did Peter tell Bill one day?
5. Who did he tell Bill to bring?
6. Who did the guest thank for the music?
7. Where did Peter have the party?
8. Was the party a flop?
9. What did Peter suggest Bill might like to bring?
10. How many friends did Peter invite?
11. What were the Jackson's names?
12. What did the guests thank them for?
13. What did the guests thank Peter for?
14. What did Bill and Martha do well together?
15. What did Peter not forget to do with each guest?
numbered_answers: 1. a cake
2. Peter wondered why he didn't have many friends.
3. The reason was that he was always taking, never giving.
4. One day Peter told Bill, "I'd like to give a party on Saturday.
5. Martha
6. Bill and Martha
7. At the Jacksons' house
8. No
9. His violin
10. Peter invited a few other friends
11. Jim and Mary
12. the use of their house
13. the invitation
14. Sing
15. ask for something from each of them.

CHAPTER XXXI

THIRLWELL'S REWARD

Winter was nearly over when, one evening, George and Scott arrived at the Farnam homestead where Agatha was a guest. The house was centrally heated, and when the party gathered in Mrs. Farnam's pretty, warm room, Agatha wondered what Thirlwell was doing in the frozen North. Farnam had invested some money in the mine, and Agatha knew George had come to talk about the company's business.

"Things are not going well with us," he said presently. "Our money's nearly spent and Thirlwell has not been able to get out much ore. I think I told you he suspected Stormont sent the men who staked the claims behind our block, and the fellow's now getting on our track. He's been to see Gardner, Leeson, and one or two others."

"It would be awkward if they turned us down," Farnam remarked.

Agatha waited. She knew Gardner and Leeson held a number of the shares, but she did not understand the matter yet.

"Very awkward," George agreed. "I went to Leeson, and although he didn't say much, I reckon Stormont wants to buy his stock. He allowed that he and Gardner were not satisfied about our prospects, and I couldn't give him much ground for holding on. Then I went to Hill, who said he'd got an offer for his stock and meant to sell, but wouldn't name the buyer. I suspected Stormont again, but we won't know until we get the transfer form."

"One could head him off by bidding higher for the shares," Farnam suggested. "Still I suppose it's impossible. Anyhow, I have no more money." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Where did George and Scott arrive?
2. Who was a guest there?
3. Which season was it?
4. Was Winter just beginning?
5. How far along?
6. Where did the party gather?
7. What was the temperature like in the room?
8. What had Farnam invested in ?
9. What did Farnam wish to discuss?
10. Were things going well for the company?
11. Why?
12. Who was suspected of staking claims behind their block?
13. Had he been to see anyone else?
14. Who?
15. Did they have any shares?
16. How many?
17. Did Agatha have a good understanding of the matter?
18. Whose stock does Stormont want to buy?
19. Does Hill mean to sell?
20. How much money does Farnam have left?
Answer:
1. at the Farnam homestead
2. Agatha
3. Winter
4. No
5. Nearly over
6. Mrs. Farnam's room
7. Warm
8. in the mine
9. unknown
10. No
11. The money was nearly spent they hadn't gotten much ore
12. Stormont
13. Yes
14. Gardner, Leeson, and one or two others
15. Yes
16. unknown
17. No
18. Leeson's and Hill's
19. Yes
20. None