Speaking. 1. Answer the following questions:

1. Answer the following questions:

 

(a) What role does computer play in your life?

(b) How often do you use computer?

(c) Can you call yourself as “an Internet user”?

(d) In what sphere do computers use widely?

(e) Could a person keep the endless information in his head?

(f) Do you think that in the future computer can replace a person?

(g) What advantages of a computer do you know?

(h) Who invented the first calculated machine?

(i) How do you imagine our life without computers?

 

2. Ask your partner questions about:

 

(a) Computers; (b) Information science; (c) scientists; (d) medical computer centers; (e) Charles Babbage; (f) school problems.

 

3. Retell the text.

 

4. How do you understand the joke? Discuss it with your partner.

 

AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.

Grammar numerals

1. Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.

For example:

I want five copies. I want 10 copies.

 

2. Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.

For example:

One-half of the pies have been eaten.

A two-thirds majority is required for that bill to pass in Congress.

 

3. A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.

For example:

We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.

Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.

4. With numbers that have decimal points, use a comma only when the number has five or more digits before the decimal point. Place the comma in front of the third digit to the left of the decimal point. When writing out such numbers, use the comma where it would appear in the figure format. Use the word and where the decimal point appears in the figure format.

For example:

$15,768.13: Fifteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen cents

$1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents

Note!

If the number has no decimal point, authorities disagree on whether to begin using the comma with four-digit numbers or to begin using the comma with five-digit numbers. When writing out these numbers, I recommend using the comma where it appears in the numerical form.

 

1,054 schools OR 1054 schools: one thousand, fifty-four schools OR one thousand fifty-four schools

12,154 schools: twelve thousand, one hundred fifty-four schools

 

5. The following examples apply when using dates:

For example:

The meeting is scheduled for June 30.

The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.

We have had tricks played on us on April 1.

The 1st of April puts some people on edge.