Language work: The Passive Voice (Present, Past)

Help box

A passive verb indicates that the subject of the sentence did not perform the action of the verb. It shows that someone or something else performed this action.

Example: Computers are used by all kinds of people.

The first robot was designed in the 20^th century.

New types of graphics software will be created in the future.)

Ex. 1. Look at the Help Box and change the following sentences so as to use Present Passive and Past Passive.

Example I: A. You scan a picture into your PC.

B. A picture is scanned into your PC.

1. A modern computer performs millions of logical operations.

2. The main memory stores all the programs and data.

3. Engineers and architects use CAD (computer-aided design) to design everything.

4. Vector graphics represent images as mathematical formulae.

5. The user controls the program by choosing one item from the menu.

6. All computers do not use the same operating systems.

7. The operating system copies to disk backing storage the state of the real-time system.

Example II: I saw her in the computer laboratory yesterday.

She was seen in the computer laboratory yesterday.

1. Xerox Corporation funded the initial research on personal computers in California.

2. Bill Gates founded Microsoft on the basis of MS/DOS.

3. In 1981 Microsoft developed MS-DOS.

4. Bell Laboratories designed Unix to be a multitasking system.

5. Helen learned 2 computer languages when she was at University.

6. Sun Microsystems invented Java to run on the web.

7. They used a fax machine some years ago.

Writing

Ex. 1. Summarize the text. You may like to follow these steps.

1. Read through the whole text again and think of a suitable title for it.

2. Make sure you understand all the main points. Go through the text and underline the relevant information in each paragraph.

3. Make notes about the main points:

• omit repetitions and unnecessary phrases

• leave out details, such as examples.

E.g. notes on the first paragraph: In the past only experts used computers.

But now, emphasis on user-friendly interfaces.

4. Make sentences from the notes and connect the sentences by using linking words (and. but, also, because, that's why, in fact, therefore, etc.). Write your first draft.

5. Improve your first draft by reducing sentences (see HELP box below),

6. Write the final version of your summary.

Help box

Ways of reducing sentences

• Transform a relative clause into an -ing participle clause

e.g. Icons are graphic images that represent tasks ...

= icons are graphic images representing tasks.

• Take out relative pronouns where possible

e.g. The software (that) we bought last year...

• Omit qualifying words (adjectives or modifying adverbs)

e.g. (quite) complex/(very) similar

• Take out that in reported speech or thought

e.g. It is well known (that) computers ...

I think (that) there's something wrong with this program.

• Cut out unnecessary phrases

e.g. Macintosh computers were designed with a clear aim: to facilitate the user's interaction with the computer,

= Macintosh machines were designed to facilitate the user's interaction with the computer.)

T E X T B

Task

a) Match the English word combinations with their Russian equivalents.

bar charts filters presentation software wire frame clip-art reflection edit pictures

ПО для презентаций редактировать картинки фильтры, эффекты 1) ограничение изображения; 2) вырезка отражение, отсвет каркасный корпус иллюстративная вставка, графический фрагмент, заготовка

b) Read the text and do the following exercises.