24. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What changes in a society indicate that it is moving into the information age?

2. What do we mean when we say that computers can process information?

3. Computers are now used to enhance our ability to communicate with each other. Name some of the devices and techniques that we are now using to facilitate communications.

4. What were the main characteristics of the first generations of computers? How did they differ from the second and third generation computers?

5. Today computers can be large or small. The smallest computers are based on a new type of processing device. Name that device and describe the new types of computers that are based on it.

6. Describe the differences between main memory and secondary storage.

7. A computer system includes devices that are used to get information into the computer (input devices) and to transfer information out of the computer in a form usable by humans (output devices). List some of today’s most common input and output devices.

8. What does the term software refer to? Name the three main classifications of software.

LESSON 2

Времена группы Continuous Active, Passive

Функции it, that, one

Степени сравнения прилагательных

Суффиксы прилагательных и наречий

Text A Computer hardware

Text B The computer’s components

Text C Input and output devices

PRE-TEXT EXERCISES

1. Объясните употребление времен группы Continuous, переведите предложения:

1. I am sitting at the table and reading an English text. 2. The teacher is listening to me. She is not sitting; she is standing. She is looking at us. She is holding a pen in her hand, but she is not writing. 3. It is getting cold now, isn’t it? Look out. Is it raining now? 4. When I came home my brother was watching TV. 5. She usually gets up at seven o’clock. But today she got up at half past seven. Her parents were having breakfast. 6. Yesterday when I was having dinner a friend of mine rang me up. 7. I hope they will be waiting for me when I come back. 8. They will be translating this difficult article the whole day tomorrow. 9. In June the students will be taking their exams for the whole month.

______

1. Our dean is not available at the moment. He is being interviewed. 2. I couldn’t use the photocopier this morning. It was being repaired. 3. What is going on? A new method of research is being discussed. 4. A new material was being explained when you came in. 5. Much is being done to improve computer-based communications systems.

2. Преобразуйте следующие предложения в вопросительные и отрицательные:

1. The students are listening to the lecturer. 2. At the last lecture professor N. was encouraging us to ask questions. 3. A new teacher training computer program is being developed by our programmers. 4 The computer was being repaired when they entered the computer class. 5. They were working all day yesterday. 6. Teachers are discussing merits and demerits of the new approach in language teaching. 7.The Prime Minister will be staying three days in France.