Text e. Types of computers.

How big do you think a computer is? Computers come in many different sizes. A computer can be big enough to fill a room about the size of a school hall, or small enough to rest on your knees.

The largest computers are called mainframe computers. They are found in the head offices of banks and other large companies. Many of the bills that arrive at your home, such as gas and electricity bills, have been calculated and printed by mainframe computers. Mainframes work very fast, can do lots of different jobs and have very large memories in which they can store programs and data.

Mainframe computers use a great deal of energy and give off a lot of heat. Special air-conditioned, dust-free offices are built to house them.

From mainframe to microcomputer

Early computers were all mainframes. They took a long time to build and were difficult to repair if they broke down. Each part had to be wired separately to other parts. Then, in the 1960s, everything changed. The integrated circuit was developed. The integrated circuit could combine thousands of electronic parts in one small piece. So smaller computers could be built. These minicomputers were about the size of a cupboard. Minicomputers have smaller memories than modern mainframes, but they are far more powerful.

Minicomputers cannot store as much data as mainframes but are more powerful than microcomputers.

The next step forwards came in 1971 when an American company made the first microprocessor. This is a type of integrated circuit that combines thousands of different parts in one small unit. Soon, microprocessors were being used in personal computers, or microcomputers, which were small enough to fit onto a desk. Chips made it possible for millions of people to have pocket calculators and computers at home.

Microcomputers have smaller memories than minicomputers or mainframes, but they can be connected to extra equipment.

Personal computers cannot do as much work, or do it as quickly, as mainframes or minicomputers. But they work hard and fast enough for the needs of most people using a computer at home, at school or in a small office.

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.

GRAMMAR.

Страдательный залог. (Passive Voice)

Формы страдательного залога английских глаголов образуются с помощью вспомогательного глагола to be в соответствующем времени, лице и числе и причастия II (Participle П) смыслового глагола:

Present Indefinite: The letter is written.Past Indefinite: The letter was written.Future Indefinite: The letter will be written.Present Continuous: The letter is being written.Past Continuous: The letter was being written.Future Continuous: The letter will be being written.Present Perfect: The letter has been written.Past Perfect: The letter had been written.Future Perfect: The letter will have been written.

Глагол-сказуемое в страдательном залоге показывает, что подлежащее предложения является объектом действия со стороны другого лица или предмета.

Сравните: I bought а book. — Я купил книгу.The book was bought (by me). — Книга была куплена (мной).

Глаголы в страдательном залоге на русский язык переводятся:

1. Глаголом быть + краткая форма причастия страдательного залога:

The letter was sent yesterday. Письмо было послано вчера.

2. Глаголом с частицей -ся (-сь):

This problem was discussed last week. Эта проблема обсуждалась на прошлой неделе.

3. Неопределенно-личным оборотом, т.е. глаголом в действительном залоге 3 лица множественного числа, типа «говорят», «сказали»:

English is spoken in many countries. На английском языке говорят во многих странах.

4. Глаголом в действительном залоге (при наличии исполнителя действия):

Pupils are taught at school by the teachers. Учеников учат в школе учителя.

Exercise1. Переведите и определите залог и время сказуемого:

1. Не left for Moscow. 2. The news will be of great interest. 3. They were speaking to him.

4. She studied many subjects. 5. The film was much spoken about. 6. New subjects will be studied next year. 7. I am working now. 8. The text has been already written by them.9. He studies at our college. 10. You are working, aren't you? 11. The text is being translated at the moment. 12. Do you work at this office? 13. When I saw him, he was going home. 14. They will have passed their exams by 3 o'clock. 15. This book was written by our teacher.16. We shall be writing our tests at 10 o'clock. 17. The work will have been done when he comes. 18. We translated this text. 19. The letter had been written before we came. 20. We shall inform you. 21. These toys are made by children. 22. Does he work here? 23. Is he working now? 24. The conference will be held in May. 25. What are you doing here? 26. This work must be done at once.

Exercise2. Раскройте скобки, поставьте глаголы в нужные формы страдательного

залога:

1. Those books (return) to the library yesterday. 2. The paintings (exhibit) till the end of the month. 3. Why your home task (not do)? 4. The patient (take) to the hospital today, and (operate) tomorrow morning. 5. This room (use) only on special occasions. 6. Litter must not (leave) here. 7. This newspaper (not read) because the pages (not cut). 8. Dictionaries may not (use) at the examination. 9. Usually the floor (sweep) every day, but it (not sweep) yesterday. 10. This book (leave) in the classroom yesterday. 11. Thousands of new houses (build) every year. 12. This room (not use) for a long time. 13. The children (take) to the circus tomorrow.

UNIT 5.

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.