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Taking computers for granted.doc
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1. Read and translate the text.

2. Check up your understanding. Give full answers:

  1. Looking back, when do you think the history of computers began?

  2. How do you understand the term «computer generation»?

  3. What do you know about the first programmable computing device?

  4. Who constructed the first machine?

  5. What was it used for?

  6. Why the first period of the computer history is called «The mechanical era»?

  7. What do you know about the first generation of electronic computers?

  8. What do you know about the first electronic computer?

  9. What was Colossus? What task it performed?

  10. What do you think about software technology developed for the first generation electronic computers?

  11. Were the computers of the first generation useful? Why?

  12. How long lasted the period of the first computer generation? What was the first and the last event?

  13. Why do you think computers were invented? What was the purpose?

3. Retell the text briefly using the following expressions and terms:

Can be traced, as far as, programmable computing device, electronic calculator, break codes, through the use of, hold instructions and data, assembly language (assembler), to run orders of magnitude, arithmetic operations, machine code, up to time computer, weather prediction, computer design, scientific applications, high level programming languages, memory technology, computational power, IC, CPL.

4. What’s missing? If you are in doubt refer to the text.

  1. During the early days of electronic computing devices, there was much discussions …. the relative merits of analog versus digital computers.

  2. …. the end digital computing devices proved to have many advantages.

  3. Now digital computers dominate the computing world …. in all areas.

  4. The 1st and the 2nd units are limited …. the area …. digital, electronic computers.

  5. Each generation is characterized …. improvements …. the previous generation …. technology.

  6. Their machine won a gold medal …. the exhibition …. France …. 1855.

  7. Later this machine was sold …. one …. the of observatories …. the US.

  8. The first electronic computers had no moving parts that would wear …. .

  9. Colossus played an important role …. breaking codes used …. the German army …. the World War II.

  10. Turing machine was used …. the study …. computable functions.

  11. The credit due …. Turing and his colleagues …. designing one of the first computers was slaw …. coming.

  12. There is some controversy …. who deserves the credit …. the idea …. a stored program.

  13. Computers are very useful … applied science.

  14. Computer technology …. the first generation period was primitive.

5. Rearrange the words and get the right sentences:

  1. was never / multi-purpose / device / the first / completed / computing/.

  2. was / calculator / of / an /electronic / the machine / more /.

  3. this idea / knows / who / the credit / for / nobody / deserves /.

  4. are stored / as / the same / the instructions / medium / in/ data /.

  5. generation / saw / the first / the second / super computers/.

  6. enough / to hold / was / the instructions / and / large / data / the memory /.

  7. in / were / useful / machines / applied / the first / electronic / science /.

  8. the machine / were written / in / the first / code / out / programs /.

  9. primitive / the beginning / very / technology / was in / software /.

  10. as / performed / known / programs / the / translation / assemblers / task /.