Vocabulary

commodity items - items which can be produced and traded freely

non-proprietary - not belonging to any single company

capitalize on - profit from, turn to one's advantage

II. Answer these questions about the text.

1 How many mainframes did IBM think it was possible to sell in 1952 ?

2 How many PCs have now been sold?

3 Who paid for the initial research into PCs?

4 Which company later used the results of this research to develop their operating system?

5 What are command-based operating systems?

6 DR/DOS is an acronym. What does it stand for?

7 Since the invention of the IBM PC, many of its features have been improved. Which of the following features does the text not mention in this respect?

a memory b speed c size d cost

8 Give three examples from the text of how the availability of computers has changed the world for ever.

III. Find words in the text that have a similar meaning to:

1 international 5 buy

2 contested 6 first

3 errors 7 recommendation

4 paid for 8 improved

IV. Choose the correct alternative in each of the following sentences:

1. We would be grateful for your … on this matter.

a) advice b) advices

2. Thank you for the … concerning the schedule.

a) information b) informations

3. Please accept our sincere … for the delay.

a) apology b) apologies

4. We have excellent storage … .

a) facility b) facilities.

5. A …. object seems to be smaller than …… object.

a) more distant b) distanter

a) the closest b) a closer

6. The Taj Mahal is one of the………… buildings in the world.

1. most famous b) more famous.

7. …. there any money left after your shopping?

a) are b) is

8. Let us have a note of your … as soon as you get back.

a) expense b) expenses

9. We have no … of the proposal to increase import duty.

a) knowledge b) knowledges

10. We have made substantial … since we last spoke to you.

a) progress b) progresses

V. A) Write and say the numbers and the dates.

NUMBERS: DATES: TIMES:

9654__________ November 22, 1963 ________ 1:05

30__________ August 8, 1745 __________ 7:55

482 __________ 2007________ 12:45

7,600,253_________ 1801________ 3:30pm

b) Write the words in italics as numbers.

Model: 1. That'll be twenty-nine dollars and thirty cents, please. - $29.30

2. The room measures about one hundred and thirty-five metres.

3. The account number is three nine one double-seven six two eight.

4. He owns a fifth of the company.

5. The data shows that nought point eight per cent of people work from home.

VI. Put the words in parenthesis in the correct tense form:

Last year's overall sales figures (be) excellent for Nielsen Electronics. In January, they (introduce) the RU20 CD player, and sales (go) up from 2,000 to 2,500 the next month. In March, sales (reach) 3,500. Sales then (stay) at the same level through the next quarter, but they (continue) to go up in July and August, when they (increase) to 4,000.

Nielsen (want) to launch their digital camcorder, the DCC-N300, in September, but production problems (delay) the introduction of this new model. So Nielsen (launch) it at the end of October. Overall sales (go) down after August, and at the end of October they (be) at 3,500.

However, the DCC-N300 (be) very popular, and the overall volume of sales (grow) until the end of the year, when it (reach) 4,500.