While most people think of the prototypical geek when defining computer programmers, the field is becoming more diverse as more people enter the field, attracted by high salaries. However, successful software developers are intelligent, abstract thinkers who are good with mathematics and logical reasoning. A programmer must be able to pay attention to details, as Sean Tierney, an IT manager at an Internet start-up, notes, "abstract thinking is needed, not ambiguous thinking. You have to be able to pay attention to details. A misplaced comma will stop the application from functioning. In programming either the application works or it doesn't."Software development is still a male dominated field. The current programming culture is still known for lax attitudes towards time-keeping and dress codes — not to mention a distaste for authority. The combination of high salaries and high demand allows these professionals to have more control over their working conditions. "Managing programmers is like herding cats" is a common expression in the industry.Contrary to the geek stereotype, communication skills are very important, both written and verbal. Many good software engineers prefer clearly defined specifications and well documented code so that future programmers have a lucid understanding of what has already been done. A typical dot-com will have only a few software engineers because of high costs. Therefore, a staff programmer may be called upon to represent and explain technical requirements to other staff, clients, and partners.The salaries are quite high in this field, ranging from $50 K to $120K, depending on the years of experience, educational background, range of languages and skills, management level ( such as development lead ), and industry. Note that start-ups may pay significantly less than banks or other major corporations; and consultants may earn significantly more than their full-time, one-company counterparts. Nevertheless, most employees prefer to work at lower-paying dot-coms and software development houses because they prefer more relaxed, egalitarian company cultures. No matter what the industry is, benefits include stock options and bonuses, although these too vary from place to place.Most of the top salaries require some management responsibilities as well as programming. There is a cap for those who wish to avoid management and just code for the rest of their lives. Programmers who decide to move into management or who start their own businesses often stop programming eventually as business requirements take up most of their time and they are unable to keep current in the field.11.Why do more and more people become interested in becoming computer programmers?A) Because the job is very interesting.B) Because they can get well paid in this profession.C) Because it takes no great efforts to learn to do it.D) Because of the high social status of the programmer.12.What kind of quality is most preferred to become a programmer?A) Profound computer science knowledge.B) Ambiguous thinking capability.C) The ability to value details.D) Great insight into numbers.13.Which is not mentioned as the characteristics of programming?A) Most of the programmers are males.B) Managing programmers is considered as very challenging.C) It involves high IQ.D) It does not matter much whether to observe a fixed schedule.14.Which kind of company is favored by most employees in this field?A) Commercial banks.B) Some financial institutions.C) Consultancy companies.D) Some dot-coms.15.What can we infer from this passage?A) In order to be among the top in the business, one must be good at both managing as well as programming.B) One does not have to be perfectly intelligent to become a good manager of a company.C) Punctuation marks matter more than anything else in programming.D) Programmers are often thought to love watching prototypical geeks' performance.