Exercises

1. Read the introductory text again and answer these questions.

• What ongoing projects does IBM develop?

• What categories does their focus on algorithms fall under?

• What is the IBM’s complexity theory concerned with?

• Can you name the ways of storing data employed in the IBM?

• What characterization of the Web do IBM researchers give?

• What for was the bow-tie model proposed?

2. Find in the text equivalents for the following words and word-combinations:

разрабатываемые проекты; круг интересов в ч-л.; с практической точки зрения; неизбежный; сотрудничать с; исследовать проблемы; делиться на категории; время работы; вычислительная модель; преодолеть проблему; улучшить работу; сложная задача; крупномасштабные базы данных; заниматься/интересоваться ч-л.; хранение данных; надёжность; потенциальное применение; исследование всемирной сети; экспериментально выявленное явление.

3. Read the text. Do the tasks given below. Can computers outsmart us?

If the world’s population continues to grow at its present rate- doubling every 40 years- there isn’t going to be enough room for us all on Earth by the year 2600. The only sounds in the room are the clicking of the pressure pads and the whirring of the computer. We need to become more complex if biological systems are to keep ahead of electronic ones. At the moment computers have an advantage of speed but they show no sign of intelligence. This is not surprising as our present computers are less complex than the brain of an earthworm, a species not known for its intellectual powers. But computer’s speed and complexity double every eighteen months and this will probably continue until computers have a similar complexity to the human brain.

But will computers ever show true intelligence, whatever it might be? It seems to me that if very complicated chemical molecules can operate in humans to make them intelligent, then equally complicated electronic circuits can also make computers act in an intelligent way. And if they are intelligent, they can presumably design computers that have even greater intelligence and complexity.

• Choose the words given below to complete the text:

Twenty years ago we relied mainly on TVs, radios and stereo equipment to provide entertainment in our homes, (1)___ their place is quickly being taken over by computers. (2)___ do we use computers to lighten or load at work, increasingly we are using computers for fun. (3)___. More and more home computers have access to the Internet. (4)___ we can now access a huge range of leisure facilities in our homes, such as reading newspapers on screen, shopping from home, (5)___ downloading music and films. Developments in optical fibre cables and DVD videos CDs mean that we can now download entire albums or feature films onto our computers and soon video players and hi-fis could become totally obsolete

But now; but then; also; it’s true that; as well; not only; so, in this sense; but more importantly; this means that; as well as; after all.

• Make sentences out of the two parts:

1. Computers’ speed and complexity	A. will have a similar complexity to the human brain.
2. To keep ahead of electronic systems	B. may become the only sounds in the room in the future.
3. Is it possible that computer	C. double every ten years.
4. The clicking of the pressure pads and computer whirring	D. no sign of intelligence.
5. At the moment computers show	E. people need to become more complex.