Unit 1 history of computers.

Inventors and their inventions

Страдательный залог (повторение)

Причастие I. Его формы и функции

Причастие II. Его формы и функции

Независимый причастный оборот

Модальные глаголы и их эквиваленты

Text A. The first calculating devices

Text B. The first analogue and digital computers

Text C. Four generations of computers

Text D. The rise of IBM

Text E. The rise of the personal computer

Exercise 1. Read the new words below and learn them by heart.

computer technology – компьютерные технологии to contain – содержать neural ['njuər(ə)l] network – нейронная сеть minibus – микроавтобус to weigh [weɪ] – весить ton [tʌn] – тонна chip – чип, микросхема pin head – булавочная головка wrist [rist] – запястье to save – экономить all in all – в общем So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage? – зд. Почему бы их не заставить работать на нас?

generation – поколение industry – отрасль промышленности human – человеческий brain – мозг step [step] шаг to diagnose ['daɪəgnəuz] – ставить диагноз to identify [aɪ'dentɪfaɪ] – опознавать criminal – преступник dangerous ['deɪnʤ(ə)rəs] – опасный invention – изобретение tool [tu:l] инструмент exactly – именно то

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text. Choose the information in it to give a summary of the text.

Computer revolution

50 years ago people didn't even heard of computers, and today we cannot imagine life without them.

Computer technology is the fastest-growing industry in the world. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today, its job can be done by a chip of the size of a pin head. And the revolution is still going on.

Very soon we'll have computers that we'll wear on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings.

The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic "neural networks". Of course, they'll be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, identify criminals and control space travel.

Some people say that computers are dangerous, but I don't agree with them.

They save a lot of time. They seldom make mistakes. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.

On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money.

E-mail is a great invention, too. It's faster than sending a letter and cheaper than sending a telegram.

All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a useful tool. They have changed our life for the better. So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage?

Exercise 3. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers.

1. Have you got a computer?

2. Do you think it's a useful tool?

3. Will computers become smaller in the future?

4. Can the Internet help you to do your homework?

5. Can computers help us to learn foreign languages?

6. Do you play computer games?

7. What are the advantages of on-line shopping?

8. What are the advantages of e-mail?

9. Do you think that computers are bad for health?

10. Some people have made friends through the Internet. What about you?

11. Some people say that computers make us less sociable. Do you agree?

12. What will the next generation of computers be able to do?

Exercise 4. Read the new words below and learn them by heart.

calculating device – вычислительное устройство

multiple – кратный

abacus ['æbəkəs]– счеты

slide rule – логарифмическая линейка

logarithm table– логарифмическая таблица

calculus ['kælkjuləs] – исчисление; математический анализ

general-purpose – общего назначения, универсальный

to cut out the human being altogether – полностью исключить человека

to manipulate – обрабатывать, преобразовывать; управлять

data processing– обработка данных (информации)

to tabulate the census – занести данные по переписи (населения) в таблицу

means of coding– средства кодирования (шифровки)

to punch the holes – пробивать отверстия

punched card – перфокарта

to perform – выполнять, производить (действие); осуществлять;

a unit of data – единица информации

keyboard terminals – терминал (вывод) с клавишным управлением

proliferation [prəˌlɪf(ə)'reɪʃ(ə)n] – размножение, быстрое увеличение

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text. Speak about the first calculating devices mentioned in the text.

Notes:

J. Napier ['neɪpɪə] Isaac Newton ['aɪzək 'njuːt(ə)n] Leibniz [ˈlaɪbnɪts]

Charles Babbage [ʧɑːlz bbiʤ] Herman Hollerith ['hɜːmən 'hərɪ