1. Read and translate the following text:

The computers became popular. As their popularity grew the number of factories producing them also grew.

IV). The control of reading.

1. A computer is a kind of …………..

a. a counting machine

b. a typewriter

c. a table game

d. a TV set.

2. A computer could be used to…………..

a. play games

b. solve difficult problems

c. cook meals

d. save money.

3. The text tells us about special-purpose computers and………………

a. all-purpose computers

b. calculators

c. general-purpose computers

d. ordinary computers.

4. There are…………. most important parts in general-purpose computer

a. very many

b. five

c. two

d. ten.

5. The smaller the computer, the……………. it can work.

a. more effectively

b. slower

At the Hotel

While travelling it is better to reserve rooms in advance. As soon as you are through the customs you take a taxi to a hotel. When the taxi rolls up to the curb the doorman will open the door of the taxi and remove your luggage. In many hotels the doorman calls one of the porters who takes your luggage and shows you the way to the desk-clerk. The desk-clerk will ask you to register, he will hand you an arrival card to fill it in. After all formalities are over the porter will show you up to your room. He unlocks the door and turns on the light. If you require nothing else the porter is dismissed with a tip.

When going out you are asked to leave your keys at the desk. All the keys are hung on a special key-rack. Whenever you ask for your key, the desk-clerk looks into the pigeon-hole under your number for post. If there is any post he will let you have it with your key.

In the lobby you will usually find a newspaper-stall and stalls where cigarettes, sweets and souvenirs are sold. You can also find a special corner or room to write letters. First-class hotels supply their guests with hotel stationary free of charge. Many hotels have special weekly and monthly rates, so it is cheaply to pay by the week or by the month than by the day. You will find rooms with or without baths, single rooms, double rooms and suites consisting of 2 or more rooms. Guests are asked to warn the clerk in advance when checking out, so that he can have the bill ready for them in time.

II. Read the dialogues and act them out.

- Hello. Can I help you?

- Hello. We need a double room for three nights.

-Yes, we have two double rooms, on the 11^th and 15^th floor, facing the yard. Which would you prefer?

-It’s all the same with me. Maybe my wife would like to choose. What do you think, darling?

- 11^th sounds okay with me, if you don’t mind.

-Sure. Then let it be on the 11^th floor.

-All right. Will you, please fill in these forms?

-Certainly.

- How long are you going to stay here?

-About a week or so.

A computer is really a very specific kind of a counting machine. It can solve mathematical problems faster than any person alive. By means of electric processes it can find the answer to a very difficult and complicated question in a few seconds.

A computer can “remember” information you give it. It keeps the information in its “memory” until it is needed.

There are different kinds of computers. Some of them can do only one kind of job. These are special-purpose computers. Each specific problem requires a specific computer. One kind of a computer can help us build a spaceship, an other kind can help us navigate it. A special-purpose computer is built for this purpose alone and cannot do anything else.

But there are some computers that can do many different jobs. They are called the general-purpose computers. These are the big “brains” that solve the most difficult problems of science.

We used to think of a computer as a large machine that took up a whole room. But today computers are becoming smaller and smaller. Though these small devices are called microcomputers or minicomputers, they are still true computers.

The most important parts of a general-purpose computer are as follows: 1) memory, where information is kept; 2) an arithmetic unit for performing calculations; 3) a control unit for the correct order of operations; 4) input devices; 5) output devices for displaying the results of calculations. The input and output devices are called peripherals.

There are several advantages in making computers as small as one can. Sometimes weight is particularly important. A modern plane carries many heavy electronic apparatus. If it is possible to make any of them smaller, it can carry a bigger weight. But weight is not the only factor. The smaller the computer, the faster it can work. The signals go to and from at a very high but almost constant speed.

Some of the first computers cost millions of dollars, but people quickly learned that it was cheaper to let a million dollar computer make the necessary calculations than to have a hundred clerks trying to do the same by hand. Scientists found that computers made fewer mistakes and could fulfill the tasks much faster than almost any number of people using usual methods.

-Fine. The bellboy will show you to your room. Here are the keys. Don’t worry about the suitcases. Leave them in the lobby. The porter will help with the luggage.

**

-I’m leaving tomorrow. Get my bill ready, please.

-Certainly. It will be ready in due time.

-And when must I vacate the room?

-It must be vacated before the lunch time.

-All right. And call me up at 8 in the morning. I’d like my early morning tea and a newspaper, please.

-Certainly, sir.