I.                             BIRTH OF THE COMPUTER

Most people think of the computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer (1)………..(has/ was/ had/ is) worked out over two centuries ago by a man (2) …………(known/ recognized/ written/ called) Charles Babbage.

Babbage was born (3)………(on/ by/ in/ for) 1791 and grew up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans………..(for/ of/ with/ on) several calculating machines which he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he (5) …………(wanted/ made/ started/ missed) building some of these he never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued (6)……….(until/ whether/ while/ though) his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building (7)………….(some/ the/ an/ that) engine based on one of Babbage’s designs. (8)…………….(One/ He/ They/ It) has taken six years to complete and more (9)…………….(than/ therefore/ when/ then) four thousand parts have been specially made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be shown at a special exhibition in the Science Museum (10)…………….(to/ as/ for/ so) remind people of Babbage’s wor

VI. Read the text below and write one word in each blank to complete it.

        Many people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But (1) a _____________, the idea for a computer had been worked out (2) o _____________  two centuries ago by a man (3) c _____________ Charles Babbage. Babbage was born in 1791 and (4) g _____________ up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up (5) p _____________ for several calculating machines which he called "engines". But despite the fact that he (6) s _____________ building some of these, he never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued (7) w_____________ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building (8) t _____________ engine based on one of Babbage's designs. (9) i_____________ has taken six years to complete and more than four thousand parts have been specially made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to (10) r _____________ people of Babbage's work.

IV. Choose the best word to complete the passage below.

Most people think (1) _____ computers are very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer had been worked out over 2 centuries ago by a man (2) ________ Charles Babbage. Babbage was born (3) _________ 1791 and grew (4) _______ to be a brilliant mathematician. He (5) ______ up plans for several calculating machines which he called "engines". But despite the fact that he (6) ____ building some of these, he never finished any of them. Over the years, people have argued (7) ______ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building engine based (8) _______ of the Babbage's designs. (9) _______ has taken 6 years to complete and more than 4 thousand parts have been specially made.

Whether it works or not, the machine will (10) _________ on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to remind people of Babbage's work.

1. A. of                                    B. from                                  C. in                             D. up

2. A. known                B. called                      C. recognized                         D. witten

3. A. about                  B. around                   C. in                                         D.at

4. A. down                  B. up                           C. along                                   D. . across

5. A. wrote                  B. drew                      C. took                                    D. made

6. A. wanted               B. started                    C. made                                   D. missed

7. A. until                    B. though                    C. why                                     D. whether

8. A. on                       B. off                           C. in                                         D. out

9. A. He                       B. One                         C. It                                          D. They

10. A. come                B. be                            C. take                                     D. carry         

VII.     Read the text and answer the questions

1. Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But

2. actually the idea for a computer was worked out over two centuries ago by a man called Charles Babbage.

3. Babbage was born in 1791 and grew up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several

4. calculating machines which he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he started building some of these, he

5. never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued whether his machines would ever work.

6. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building an engine based on one of

7. Babbage’s designs. It has taken six years to complete and more than four thousand parts have been specially

8. made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to

9. remind people of Babbage’ work.

29. What do most people think of computers?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

30. When was the idea for a computer worked out?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

31. Has Babbage finished building any computers as he planned?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

32. How long has it taken the Science Museum in London to complete the engine?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

33. Where will the machine be on show?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological. But actually the idea for a computer (1)         worked out over two centuries ago by a man

(2)                     Charles Babbage.

Babbage was born (3)              1791 and grew up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines (4)          he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he (5)     building some of these he never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued (6)              his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building (7)                engine  based   on        one      of Babbages designs. (8) has taken six years to complete and more (9)                                      four thousand parts have been specially made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum (10)   remind people of Babbages work

V. Read the following passage and fill in each of the blanks with ONE suitable word. (15 pts)

Most people think of computers (1) very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually, the (2) for a computer was worked out (3) two centuries ago by a man (4) Charles Babbage.

Babbage was born in 1791 and (5) up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines (6) he called. 'engines'. But (7) the fact that he started building some of these, he never finished any of (8). Over the years people have argued whether his machines (9) ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London (10) finished building an engine (11) on one of Babbage's designs. It (12) six years to complete and (13) than four thousand parts had been specially made. (14) it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to (15) people of Babbage's work.

Choose the best option to fill each of the blanks to make a meaningful passage.

Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer was (1) _______ out over two centuries ago by a man (2) _______ Charles Babbage.

Babbage was born in 1791 and (3) _______ up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines (4) _______ he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he (5) _______ building some of these he never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued (6) _______ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building (7) _______ engine (8) _______ on one of Babbage’s. designs.

It has taken six years to complete and more (9) _______ four thousand parts have been specially made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to (10) _______ people of Babbage’s work.

Question 1

A. turned

B. thought

C. invented

D. worked

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best each of the numbered blanks. Fill in the appropriate word in question 40

Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer had been worked out over two centuries ago by a man  (39) _____________ Charles Babbage. Babbage was bom in 1791 and grew up to be a brilliant

mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines which he called "engines". But

despite the fact that he (40)____ building some of these, he never finished any of them. Over

the years, people have argued (41)___ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the

Science Museum in London has finished building(42)__ engine based on one of Babbage's

designs. (43)_____ has taken six years to complete and more than four thousand parts have been

specially made.

A. wanted

B. made

C. missed

D. started

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best each of the numbered blanks. Fill in the appropriate word in question 39

Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer had been worked out over two centuries ago by a man  (39) _____________ Charles Babbage. Babbage was bom in 1791 and grew up to be a brilliant

mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines which he called "engines". But

despite the fact that he (40)____ building some of these, he never finished any of them. Over

the years, people have argued (41)___ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the

Science Museum in London has finished building(42)__ engine based on one of Babbage's

designs. (43)_____ has taken six years to complete and more than four thousand parts have been

specially made.

A. an

B. the

C. some

D. that