Module 2 Science and technology
Unit 3 Computers
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Reading
Computer facts
Smaller and better
In the 1940s, the first computers were bigger than cars. Now computers are becoming smaller and better.
Some computers are tiny. You may be unaware of them. There is probably one inside your TV or washing machine. You depend on computers more than you realize.
What can we do with computers?
We can use computers to calculate. They can calculate at a faster speed than we can and almost never give wrong answers. We can also type and draw things with them. In addition, computers can do important jobs like operating railways and flying planes and spaceships.
Is a computer cleverer than me?
The answer is "No". Your brain can produce new ideas but computers cannot. However, one day computers may be able to do a better job than human beings. For example, they may be better than doctors at doing their job.
What will happen to us if computers can do all our jobs? Will we have nothing to do? Computers may change our lives, but will they make them better?
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Listening
A phone order
Mabel Wang is ordering some things on the phone. Listen to the conversation and complete the table below.
Man: Top Office. How may I help you?
Mabel: This is Mabel Wang from Hi-Lo Company. I'd like to place an order, please.
Man: Good morning, Ms Wang. What would you like to order?
Mabel: I'll give you the numbers. First is A1961.
Man:A1961. That's A4 paper.
Mabel: I'd like ten boxes, please.
Man: Ten boxes, at 150 yuan each. That's 1,500 yuan. Anything else?
Mabel: Yes, I'd like a monitor. Its number is C4091.
Man:C4091. It's 1,200 yuan now.
Mabel: I need some CDs too. The number is D2791. I'd like to order five boxes. How much is one box?
Man: One box is 60 yuan, so the price for five boxes is 300 yuan.
Mabel: OK. That's all.
Man: Altogether that's 3,000 yuan. Thank you very much. We'll send you those tomorrow morning.
Mabel: Great. Thank you. Goodbye.
Man：Goodbye.
TOP OFFICE
Company: Hi Lo Company
Name: Mabel Wang
| |
No. |
Quantity |
Price each |
Total |
A4 paper |
|
10 boxes |
|
|
Monitor |
|
1 |
|
|
CD |
D2791 |
|
¥ 60 |
|
Grand total: ______________ |
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Speaking
A Talk time
Extra stress
We already know two rules about sentence stress:
• Stress nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and numbers.
• Do not stress words like a, the, is and have except for special reasons.
Here is a third rule:
• Give extra stress to the most important word in the sentence. You, the speaker, must decide what the most important word is.
A1 Read the conversation below and practise it in pairs. Give extra stress to the words underlined twice.
Amy: What do you think of computers, Frank? Are they cleverer than human beings?
Frank: No, I don't think so.
Amy: Why not? Computers can do a lot of things!
Frank: Maybe, but human beings created computers!
Amy: That's true.
A2 Read the conversation below and draw an extra line under the words you would give extra stress to. Then practise it in pairs.
Frank: Which kind of computers are better, desktops or laptops?
Amy: Laptops, I think.
Frank: Why?
Amy: Laptops are lighter. They're easier to carry around than desktops!
Frank: Yes, but desktops are often cheaper than laptops. And I don't really have much money.
Amy: Well, then a desktop is probably a better choice for you.
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