C. Text Study. Computers concern you

Text B

COMPUTERS CONCERN YOU

When Ch. Babbage, a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University, invented the first calculating machine in 1812 he could hardly have imagined the situations we find ourselves in today. Almost everything in modern world is done with the help of computers – the complicated descendants of his simple machine. Computers are being used more and more extensively in the world today, for the simple reason that they are far more efficient than human beings. They have much better memories and can store great amount of information and they can do calculations in a fraction of the time required by a human mathematician. No man alive can do 500,000 sums in one second, but a modern computer can.

In fact, computers can do many things we do, but faster and better. They can control machines at factories, work out tomorrow’s weather and even play chess, write poetry or compose music. Let’s look now at some of the ways in which computers concern people in their daily lives and work.

Many people associate computers with the world of science and mathematics, but they are also a great help to scholars in other subjects: in history, literature and so on. It is now possible for a scholar to find a book or an article he needs very quickly, which nowadays when a million or more new books are published each year is quite an advantage. You tell the computer which subject you are interested in and it produces any microfiche you need in seconds.

There are also systems which are being developed to translate articles from foreign magazines by computer and to make up many lists of information which are needed in a modern library. So, computer can help us to deal with the knowledge explosion in many ways. One can imagine a time when libraries will be run by computers, without human being at all.

Or, let’s take another example. When a man drives a car for long distances he has two problems: to keep the car at constant speed and watch that he does not run into the car in front of him. Engineers are now experimenting with a system which has a computer control of these two problems. The car’s computer keeps the speed constant. At the same time the distance between the car and any other car in front of it is measured by a beam of light transmitted forwards. The beam meets the rear reflectors of the car in front and it is reflected back, which enables to measure the distance. This information is fed to the computer which adjusts (регулировать) its speed control accordingly.

II. Read the text and define whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Charles Babbage invented the first calculating machine in the 18^th century.

2. Computers play a very important role in modern life.

3. Computers are less efficient than human beings.

4. Computers can store great amount of information.

5. It’s impossible to imagine a time when libraries will be run by computers, without human beings at all.

III. Expand the sentences.

1. Ch. Babbage invented the first calculating machine.

2. Almost everything in modern world is done with the help of computers.

3. Computers do many things.

4. Computers are also a great help to scholars.

5. The car’s computer adjusts its speed control accordingly.

IV. Now decide which of the following statements express important ideas or supporting details for this reading.

1. a)Everything in modern world is done with the help of computers.

b) Computers are being used more extensively in engineering.

c) Computers have a very good memory.

2. a) Computers are able to do many things.

b) Computers can control machines at factories, play chess, compose music.

c) Computers concern people in their life and work.

3. a) Computers are associated with the world of science.

b) Computers help scholars in different subjects.

c) Computers can help you to find a book or an article you need.

V. Find the words – carriers of the primary and the secondary information in paragraph 1.

VI. Define the function of commas in paragraph 3, 5.

VII. Find out the means of connection between clauses, parts of the sentence and sentences.

VIII. Arrange the sentences in the logical order according to the text.

A. Computers help people to study.

B. The creator of the first calculating machine couldn’t predict its significance.

C. Computers help drivers.

D. The possibilities of computer are unlimited.

E. Computers are widely used in our everyday life.

IX. Give the main points of the text in 4-5 sentences.

I. Translate the text into Russian.

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