DIRECTIONS: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Imagine a magic box that can be your math whiz, storyteller, and game buddy all at once! That's what a computer is – a super versatile tool you can program to do almost anything. From crunching numbers to showing you hilarious videos, it follows your instructions like a loyal friend. This invention started with the ideas of Charles Babbage, a genius who dreamed of programmable machines. Today, computers come in all sizes, from tiny smartphones to giant servers hidden in buildings far away. And guess what? They can even talk to each other through networks, like a web of friends sharing secrets and information. Think of your home WiFi as a neighborhood network called a Local Area Network (LAN). It connects all your devices, like your laptop, phone, and even your smart TV, so they can play together and share files. But networks can be bigger than your house! Imagine a whole city's worth of computers chatting amongst themselves – that's a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), spanning across towns and neighborhoods. And when networks grow even bigger, stretching across countries and continents, they become Wide Area Networks (WANs). Think of the internet itself as a giant WAN, connecting computers all over the world! There's also a smaller network called a Controller Area Network (CAN), often found inside cars. It's like a tiny LAN but for your car's engine, sensors, and other parts to talk to each other and keep you safe on the road. So, whether you're using a tiny phone or a big desktop, remember, you're not just holding a computer – you're holding a piece of a connected world! From tiny LANs in your home to giant WANs linking continents, computer networks are the invisible wires that let us share information, play games, and stay connected with each other, no matter where we are.