XI. Word forms Choose the appropriate word to complete the sentences. Make sure you use the correct form.

1. reliably, rely on, reliable, reliability

a. Computers are … machines.

b. If you don’t know the meaning of a computer term, you cannot always … an all-purpose dictionary for the answer.

c. Computers can do mathematical operation quickly and … .

2. integration, integrate, integrated, integrating

a. Some computer manufacturers have … both input and output devices into one terminal.

b. The success of any computer system depends on the … of all its parts to form a useful whole.

c. … input and output devices into one peripheral has reduced the area needed for a computer installation.

3. change, changeable, changeably, changing

a. Computer personnel often have to take refresher courses in the … field of computer science.

b. Many… have taken place in the computer industry in the last decade.

c. Memory and primary storage can be used inter-… .

4. generality, generalize, general, generally

a. …-purpose computers are larger than minicomputers.

b. It is the … consensus of opinion that computers have improved the quality of life.

c. Minicomputers are … cheaper than mainframes.

d. It is often easier to … than to talk about specifics.

XII. Content review a. Match the following words in columnAwith the statements in columnB.

	A	B
	1. valve	a. a device that controls the flow of electricity
 	2. vacuum tube 3. transistor	b.one of the two points at which electricity enters or leaves a battery
	4. chip	c. a tube to control the flow of electricity
	5. electron	d. a flow of electricity
	6. electrode	e. a small piece of matter in an atom
	7. current	f. electronic valve
		g. a silicon piece used to store and process information in computers

b. Use the information in the text to complete the following table.

Time	Event
the beginning of the 20th century
	A computer Colossus using … was built.
1946
1948
	The invention of the integrated circuit

XIII. Translate paragraphs 4 and 5 into Russian after checking the unknown words in the dictionary.

Unit 3 Types of Computers

Section AComparisons

Comparing two things	Comparing tree or more things
X is … -er than Y	X is the … -est
X is more … than Y	X is the most …
X is less than Y	X is the least …
X isn’t as … as Y

A. Better and best 1. Compare

• an abacus with a pocket calculator

• your car with your teacher’s car

• two different ways of investing money

2. Consider the points below, and then give your opinion. Say which you think is better.

Calculating machines		Cars
size speed weight portability efficiency ease of use age reliability		size age price power running costs comfort boot size engine size speed acceleration

3. Compare

• three different forms of transport

• three different jobs

• your country with two other countries

4. Consider the points below, and then give your opinion. Say which you think is best.

Transport		Jobs		Countries
price speed comfort interest noise convenience		interest stress difficulty hours of work pay satisfaction training		size population climate scenery standard of living culture food

Section BLanguage Focus. The Passive Voice

I. Study the models of the passive constructions and translate the sentences into Russian: A.

1. Computers are used nowadays for many different kinds of work, e.g. in offices, banks, factories, hospitals, universities and schools.

2. In computers of the 1950’s the transistors, diodes, resistors and other components were mounted on printed-circuit cards.

3. The speed and capacity of these components have been greatly improved with each new generation of computers.

4. The conference will be held next week.

5. Is the program being loaded now?

6. Many books on the computer’s architecture had been translated into Russian by the end of last year.

B.

1. In the early 1960’s a wholly new technology was created by semiconductor makers.

2. The power of Central Processing Unit (CPU) is partly determined by its speed.

3. He is often asked to make a report at conferences.

4. They were shown new computer classes.

5. The newest electronic memory systems will be much spoken about.

6. The conductor is acted upon by an electric field.

7. The results of his numerous experiments are often referred to.

8. That design was soon followed by many others.

9. In the 1960’s advances in microelectronic components were followed by an even smaller microcomputer.

10.The development of computers was greatly influenced by the invention of transistors.