1. What is the main purpose of this passage?

a) To look back to the early days of computers.

b) To explain what technical problems may occur with computers.

c) To discourage unnecessary investment in computers.

d) To warn against a mentally lazy attitude towards computers.

2. According to the passage, initial concerns about computers were that they might …

a) lead us into the post-war era;

b) be quite widespread;

c) take control;

d) take over routine tasks.

3. The passage recommends those dealing with computers to …

a) be reasonably skeptical about them;

b) check all their answers;

c) substitute them for basic thinking;

d) use them for business purposes only.

4. An ‘internal computer’ is …

a) a computer used exclusively by one company for its own problems;

b) a person's store of knowledge and the ability to process it;

c) the most up-to-date in-house computer a company can buy;

d) a computer from the post-war era which is very reliable.

5. The passage suggests that the present-day problem with regard to computers is …

a) challenging;

b) dramatic;

c) insoluble;

d) malfunctioning.

VARIANT III

Grammar

Choose the right variant (a, b, c or d)

1. Evidence for this hypothesis … for two decades.

a) have been accumulated c) are being accumulated

b) is accumulating d) has been accumulated

2. They are sure that the funds … by the end of the month.

a) will be receiving c) will have been received

b) will have received d) will have been receiving

3. Now new applications of the theory … in many fields.

a) is explored c) has been explored

b) are being explored d) are exploring

4. He … to advance strong arguments for the use of his own method.

a) has c) must

b) are d) needn't

5. Universal agreement concerning the problem … yet to be reached.

a) is c) can

b) need d) have

6. They may … their experiments long ago.

a) stop c) had stopped

b) have stopped d) stopped

7. I heard somebody … my name.

a) mentioned c) mention

b) to mention d) mentions

8. They didn't want their plan …

a) failed c) failing

b) fail d) to fail

9. Science is knowledge … in an orderly manner.

a) arranging c) to arrange

b) arranged d) being arranged

10. In any technical achievement … thing always lies ahead.

a) best interesting c) the most interesting

b) much interesting d) many interesting

11. We hoped that our paper… a contribution to this debate.

a) would be c) being

b) were d) to be

12. If the test data … available, the calculations of the parameters will be made from them.

a) is c) was

b) will be d) are

13. Provided they … these new methods, they would apply them in their investigations.

a) had considered c) would have considered

b) would consider d) considered

14. The experiment … a failure if we hadn't taken the necessary measures in time.

a) might be c) had to be

b) might have been d) had been

15. … his research with his colleagues he saw some of its weak points.

a) Having discussed c) Having been discussed

b) Being discussed d) Discussed

16. If … economically, the supplies could last for a month.

a) using c) to use

b) used d) having used

17. … such processes is essential for a comprehensive programme of research.

a) To be described c) Being described

b) Describing d) Described

18. When … opinions with other people, you enrich your mind.

a) being exchanged c) exchanging

b) exchanged d) having exchanged

19. … between these two approaches, we need to have some further information.

a) Chosen c) To choose

b) Having been chosen d) Being chosen

20. For this possibility ..., it is necessary to work much harder.

a) to realize c) being realized

b) realizing d) to be realized