Computers then and now

The world’s first electronic computer (build) at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946, although computer-like machines (build) in the 19th century. Computers (sell) commercially for the first time in the 1950s, and a lot of progress (make) since then. Computers are now much smaller and more powerful, and they (can/buy) much more cheaper.

Computers (use) in many fields - in business, science, medicine and education, for example. They (can/use) to forecast the weather or to control robots which make cars. The computer’s memory is the place

where information (keep) and calculations (do).

A computer cannot think for itself - it (must/tell) exactly what to do. A lot of difficult calculations (can/do) very quickly on a computer.

And computers don’t make mistakes. Stories (hear) sometimes about computers paying people too much money or sending them bills for things they didn’t buy. These mistakes (make) by the programmers - the people who give the computer its instructions. Some years ago, a computer-controlled rocket belonging to the USA went out of control and (have to/destroy). The accident (cause) by a small mistake in one line of the programme. This mistake cost the USA $18 million.

Criminals have found out the ‘computer crimes’ are often a lot easier than robbing banks. Hundreds of millions of dollars (steal) from American businesses every year by people changing the information in computers.

Large numbers of home computers (sell) recently, especially in the USA and Britain. People know more about computers than they used to, and computers are playing a bigger part in our lives. Progress (make) all the time. Many people believe we can look forward to the day when even our household jobs like cleaning (do) by computer-controlled robots.

Exercise 17. Choose the correct answer.

The National Security Bank in downtown San Antonio (robbed/was robbed) last night. A safe (blew open/was blown open) and around $ 800,000 (stole/was stolen). The robbery (took/was taken) place between midnight and 1.00 a.m. The police (are looking/are being looked) for two men who (saw/were seen) getting into a black car near the bank at about 1 o’clock last night. They (also want/are also wanted) to hear from Mr. Joe Newman, 52, who (worked/was worked) as a security guard at the bank. Mr. Newman (disappeared/was disappeared) just before the robbery and he (has not seen/has not been seen) since then.

Exercise 19. Put the verbs in brackets into the most suitable form:

Active or passive.

1. The book (write) in 1978 but it (not to publish) until 1986. 2. A lion (escape) from the National Zoo yesterday, but it (catch) a few hours later. 3. Two men (arrest) by the police last night after their car (stop) at a police road-block in Kent. 4. A new comet (discover) by scientists who (work) at the Jodrell Bank radio telescope. 5. This portrait (paint) in the sixteenth century, and just (sell) to a Japanese art gallery. 6. My water (cut off) yesterday although my water bill (pay) two weeks ago. 7. The results of the test which students (take) last Tuesday (send) by post in a week’s time. 8. The money (believe) (steal) by two men who (see) entering the bank yesterday afternoon. 9. Don’t worry. If the man (try) to escape, he (arrest) by the security guards. 10. I (ask) to tell you that your application for the post of Assistant Manager (accept). 11. She (release) from prison last week and at the moment she (stay) with friends. 12. A lot of people (invite) to our last party, but some of them (not to receive) their invitations in time. 13. I’m afraid that my car (steal), so can someone (meet) me at the station? 14. It recently (decide) that in future smoking (not allow) in the building. 15. Why Sue (resign) from her job? Didn’t she enjoy it? 16. Why Bill (sack) from his job? What did he do wrong? 17. The company is not independent. It (own) by a much larger company. 18. I (learn) to swim when I was very young. I (teach) by my father. 19. Can you come to the police station? The man who (suspect) of stealing your wallet (arrest), and (question) at the moment. The police hope he (identify), either by you or another witness. 20. I’m sorry I (not to write) to you lately but my house (break into) a few weeks ago and I (feel) rather upset since then.

Exercise 20. Put the verbs in brackets into the most suitable form: active or passive.

1. She told us that she just (phone) the main office and that our order (send) on the previous day. 2. Nothing (do) about the hole in the road so far, so I (think) a letter should (write) to the local council. 3. I (not to realise) that the electricity bill (not to pay) last month, and now the power (cut off). 4. As soon as the house (decorate), we (go) away for a few days. 5. Don’t enter the room, it (air). 6. You see that a lot of work (do) since you left. 7. While our breakfast (make) I told him our story. 8. You can’t use the refrigerator at the moment, it (fix) by the mechanic. 9. A new metro line (construct) now. One of its stations (build) in our street. 10.You can’t go in. She (interview) for the TV. 11. Look! There’s nothing here. Everything (take) away. 12. She promised that nothing (do) till he came back. 13. Her brother (elect) president of the new concern. 14. The lists (send) to both newspapers and now (print). 15. The Amazon valley is extremely important to the ecology of the earth. Forty per cent of the world’s oxygen (produce) there. 16. The game probably (win) by the other team tomorrow. They’re a lot better than we are. 17. There was a terrible accident on a busy downtown street yesterday. Dozens of people (see) it, including my friend, who (interview) by the police. 18. The government used to support the school. Today it (support) by private funds as well as by the tuition the students pay. 19. Right now a student trip to the planetarium (organise) by Mrs Hunt. You can sign up for it at her office. 20. He is a man whose name will go down in history. He never (forget).

Exercise 21. Put the verbs in brackets into the most suitable form:

Active or passive.

1. The flight (not to announce) yet. It (not to announce) for another half-hour, at least. 2. It (be) an old house that (divide) into flats. 3. I’m very sorry we couldn’t repair your car today, but it (repair) tomorrow. 4. When I came to the cinema, a new film (show). I was sorry that I (not to tell) about the show before and was late for the beginning as the end impressed me greatly.5. Nick was late for the party, so when he came into the room all the guests (introduce) to each other, some of them (dance) and some (sing) in the next room. 6. The mother (tell) not to worry about her sick son. He (examine) soon by the doctor. 7. I (give) a kitten. It (call) Pussy, but my little sister (call) it Push. 8. I (introduce) to him last week, but I am afraid I (not to recognise) him if I meet him again. 9. Where (be) the contract? - It (type) now. It (bring) in a few minutes. 10. I want to call the police. - Why? - Because my watch (steal). - I hope it (find) soon. 11. I just (offer) a ticket for the cup game. I’m sure it (be) very interesting. 12. Where the conference (hold)? - In London. - How long it (last)? - For a week. - You (hear) any interesting reports? - Quite a lot. 13. When you (arrive) at the airport tomorrow, you (meet) by a friend of mine. He (wear) a red shirt and blue jeans. 14. I’m sorry I’m late. I (hold up) by the rush hour traffic. It (take) thirty minutes for me to get here instead of fifteen. 15. According to a recent survey, out of every dollar an American spends on food, thirty-six (spend) at restaurants. 16. An interesting article (publish) in the next issue of the magazine. The author of the article (work) at it for a long time. 17. What language you (teach) when you (study) at the University? - French. 18. Why they (not to come) to the party? - Well, I (not to know). They (send) the invitations about a week ago. 19. When I (reach) the building I (stop) by a policeman who (want) to see my pass. 20. The old man (fall) down and (break) his leg. He (take) to hospital by a passing motorist.

Exercise 22. Put the verbs in brackets into the most suitable form:

Active or passive.

1. You (look) for your gloves? Ask the attendant, some gloves (pick up) and (give) to him a few minutes ago. 2. I’ve heard that Mr Smith (not to write) his own speeches, they (write) by his secretary. 3. Where (be) the secretary? - She (call) to the boss a few minutes ago. 4. Mr Short is a good lecturer. He always attentively (listen) to. 5. This copy (not to read). The pages (not to cut). 6. Why the car (not to lock) and (put) into the garage? 7. He (take) to hospital this afternoon, and (operate on) tomorrow morning. 8. Students (allow) to use dictionaries at the exam? - No, dictionaries (not to allow). 9. Normally this street (sweep) every day, but it (not to sweep) yesterday. 10. My keys (return) to me; they (pick up) in the street. 11. The telegram (bring) yesterday in the morning when I (be) just about to leave the house for my office. 12. He (promise) that everything (arrange) before tomorrow afternoon. 13. Soon everything (arrange) for the trip and the family (start) for the railway station. 14. The old theatre in our town (reconstruct) last year. 15. The dinner (leave) on the table untouched. 16. The football match between Scotland and Wales (show) on TV programme at 7 o’clock tonight. 17. a) The newspaper (bring) long before I left home. b) The newspaper (bring) long before I leave home. c) The newspaper (not to bring) yet. d) The newspaper always (bring) in the morning. e) The newspaper (bring) in a few minutes. 18. Our tourist group (arrive) in Moscow in the morning. A bus (take) us to the hotel «Ukraina». After breakfast and a short rest we (invite) for a sight seeing tour of Moscow. We (want ) to see as much as possible as none of us (be) in Moscow before. We (show) and (tell) a lot of interesting things. Before our tour (come) to an end we (learn) much about Moscow. 19. A big bus (bring) just some people from the airport. 20. Their luggage (bring up) in the lift.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 2126