1.revolution2.calculate3.logical4.artificial5.personally6.reality7.technology8.intelligence9.simplify10.application11.mobile

12.finance13.explore14.goal15.virus16.signal17.arise18.electronic19.character20.electronic21.totally22.solve

A toy?A handbag?

I am very old now. I was born in

China. Many people used me for

calculating in the past, but now I am a

bit lonely because they don’t like me

now.

Do you know who I am?abacus

Riddles (谜语 )

I can be used for calculating. Besides, I

can also be used for watching DVD,

sending e-mail and communicating

through the Internet. However, I am not

a PC, because I’m small enough for you

to take me with you.

Do you know who I am?

laptop

PDA Personal Digital Assistant

I am so small in size that I can fit in your hand. I usually have a small screen usually bigger than a digital phone, however smaller than the smallest laptop, I’m a great way to store telephone numbers, access the internet, make calculations, and so on. Do you know who I am?

I am very small. I can be used for

calculating. In China, a lot of students

use me when solving mathematical

problems.

Do you know who I am?

calculator

I am very big. Scientists use me to

solve some mathematical problems.

huge computer

Do you know who I am?

robot

I’m a machine that works automatically. I can do a wide variety of tasks, especially suitable for doing jobs too boring, difficult,or dangerous for human beings.

Do you know who I am?

PC Personal Computer

I’m a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. I’m based on the microprocessor technology. At home, people use me to surf the Internet and play games.

Do you know who I am?

PDA

abacus calculator huge computer

PC

laptop

Can you tell the development of computers?

robot

Can you give us the English names

of a computer components (组件 )?

keyboard 键盘

mouse 鼠标

monitor 显示器screen 屏幕

speaker 音响

host 主机

components of a computer

main board

CPU (central processing unit)

floppy disc

DVD ROM

USB flash disk

printer scanner

modem

screen

keyboard

mouse

monitor

DVD-ROM

hard disk

1. the part of the computer that looks like a television

2. the part of the monitor that you look at

3. something you use to click on things (files, etc.)

4. the part of the computer that you type on

5. the part of a computer that stores information

6. the part of computer that we can put a CD in

Match

WHO AM I?

Reading

1. Who is the speaker in this story?

2. What’s the main idea of this passage? A. The development of computers. B. The development and use of computers. C. A machine which is simple-minded. D. Computers may replace human beings.

A computer.

Prediction(猜测 )

Scanning to get

detail information

Paragraph 1

Topic sentence

Supporting details

Over time I have been

changed quite a lot.

1 calculating machine2 analytical machine3 universal machine4 PC5 laptop

1642

1822The analytical machine was made by Charles Babbage.

The computer began as a calculating machine．

1936 The computer grew rapidly both in size and in brainpower.

Finish the timeline below.

1940s

1970s

The computer had grown as large as a room.

I have been used in offices and homes.

Paragraph 2

Topic sentence

Supporting details

These changes only

became possible as my

memory improved.

1 tubes2 transistors3 chips4 network5 World Wide Web

Paragraph 3

Topic sentence

Supporting details

Since the 1970s many new

applications have been found

for me. 1 communications 2 finance 3 trade 4 robots 5 mobile phones 6 medical operations 7 space rockets

1. My real father was Charles Babbage, who wrote a book and built me in 1936.

2. I began as a calculating machine in Japan in 1642. 3. After 1936, I grew rapidly both in size and in brainpower.4. As time went by, I was made bigger.

1. When was the “universal machine” built?

A. In 1822. B. In 1642.

C. In 1936. D. In 1970.

2. When was the computer the biggest?

A. In 1642. B. In 1936.

C. In the 1940s. D. In the 1970s.

(3) Choose the best answer.

3. Which of the following is in the right order of time?a. The computer was connected with other computers.b. Alan Turing wrote a book about the computer.c. The computer has been sent to explore the Moon and Mars.d. The computer began to simplify difficult sums. A. a. b. c. d. B. b. c. a. d. C. d. a. c. b. D. d. b. a. c.

Critical thinking

• 1. How was so much information given in such a short space?

• The writing is clear and does not waste words. There are no descriptions.

• 2. What do you think is the tone of the writing?

• It is natural .

Quiz

I began as a __________ ________ in

1642 in France. In 1822 I was built as an

_________ ________. Then in 1936 Alan

Turing wrote a book and built a ________

________. As the years have gone by, I

have been made _______ and ________

but I became _________ and _________.

calculating machine

analytical machine

machine

Answer:

universal

smaller smaller

cleverer quicker

In the ______ they gave me a family

connected by a ________. Now people

call it the ________. I have been used in

______ and ______ since the 1970s. So I

became PC. Since my _____ I have truly

been built to serve the _______ ____.

network

1960s

Internet

human race

offices homes

birth

Do you know in what ways computers

are used today?

Work out a list and compare it with

your partner.

search for …

see movies

listen to music

read books and magazines

send emails to friends

download music

and films

buy things on line

play games on

the computer

store information

take part in

chat groups