Reading Text. The Founder of the Microsoft

1.Read and translate.

It’s hard to believe that the first personal computer, the prototype of the computer now found in homes and offices around the world, was developed less than twenty years ago. The original PC, as it’s known, came in a form of an electronic kit, a piece of hardware strictly for the hobbyist. The software for that machine – the language that allows us to tell the computer what we want it to do – was developed by William Gates.

Bill was born in 1955 in Seattle. He became interested in computers when he was 13 years old. Bill attended Harvard University. There he began to develop the computer language called Basic. Later William returned to Seattle where he established the Microsoft Company in 1975. It employed only three workers at first. Microsoft developed software for established American companies like General Electric, City Bank and International Business Machines company, known as IBM. In1981 IBM began selling a personal computer that used Microsoft products as part of its operating system. By then Microsoft had 129 workers.

Today four out of five of the world’s personal computers run on Microsoft software, on what is called Microsoft DOS or on its latest incarnation – Windows. Windows system makes it much easier to use a computer. It’s through the Windows system that we may gain access to the Internet, the global computer network.

Microsoft does thousands of millions of dollars in business each year. It now has more than 16 thousand workers in 48 countries. Microsoft produces computer programmes in 30 languages and sells them in more than 100 countries.

Thanks to the success of his company, William Gates has earned a personal fortune estimated to be in excess of seven billion dollars. He is one of the richest men in the world.

electronic kit – електронний конструктор

incarnation – втілення

access – доступ

earn – заробляти

in excess of – більш ніж

2.Answer the questions.

1.When was the first personal computer developed?

2.By whom was the software for the machine developed?

3.When and where was William Gates born?

4.At what age did he become interested in computers?

5.At what University did he study?

6.What did he begin to develop during his studies at the University?

7.When and where did he establish the Microsoft Company?

8.For what companies did he develop software?

9.What are the advantages of using Windows system?

10.In how many languages does Microsoft produce computers programmes?

3.Retell the text.

Talking points

Read and dramatise the following dialogue.

(Leon has been working in the computer centre for many years. His younger brother David is a newcomer. David combines his work with studies. He is in his first year at the University, Computer Faculty.)

David: Leon, did you buy that computer we had seen?

Leon: I sure did. One of our customers wants to buy it. It is a new store and they want the computer to have their own record keeping system.

David: Do you know everything about operating it? The computer is of the newest model.

Leon: Of course, I do. It’s my job. I’m going to explain our customers how to operate it, how to plan the use of this computer in their business.

David: It is useful for their business, isn’t it?

Leon: It goes without saying.

David: I wish I knew about computers as much as you do.

Leon: All in good time, my dear, all in good time. By the way, what are you reading?

David: I’m working over my report on computers and their nowadays use. But there are some special terms I can hardly understand.

Leon: All right. What are those terms?

David: Say, the word “bit”.

Leon: Bit is the smallest unit of information that the computer recognises. It is as simple as that.

David: Thank you, Leon. And what is byte?

Leon: A group of bits which stand for a single letter or number in the computer.

David: The word “cassette” means some way to store information, doesn’t it?

Leon: You are right. But also it means the cheapest and slowest way to store information and only when the computer’s of.

UNIT 11

Grammar: Passive Voice (Perfect Tenses) Topic: At the Map of Ukraine Reading: Text A. Government of Ukraine Text B. Agriculture of Ukraine Talking Points