/’desk,tɔp /

/’læp,tɔp/

/’pɑ:m,tɔp/

Read the first part of the passage and complete the table.

Topic sentence

Computers Sizes

First computers

Desktops

Laptops

Palmtops

Other kinds

Read the first part after the tape and tell Read the first part after the tape and tell whether the following statements are true or whether the following statements are true or false.false.1. Since the 1940s, computers have 1. Since the 1940s, computers have become smaller and smaller.become smaller and smaller.

2. Desktop computers are bigger than 2. Desktop computers are bigger than televisions while laptops are as big as televisions while laptops are as big as big books.big books.

3. A palmtop computer is as small as a 3. A palmtop computer is as small as a bar of chocolate.bar of chocolate.

4. You may not know about the other 4. You may not know about the other small kinds of computers inside your TV, small kinds of computers inside your TV, telephone or washing machine.telephone or washing machine.

Read the second part of the passage Read the second part of the passage again and tell whether the following again and tell whether the following statements are true or false.statements are true or false.

1. As we all know, computers are very good 1. As we all know, computers are very good calculators.calculators.

2. Computers can calculate very fast and 2. Computers can calculate very fast and never give wrong answers.never give wrong answers.

3. Computers can type, print, draw things 3. Computers can type, print, draw things and play games with you.and play games with you.

4. What’s more, they can make railways 4. What’s more, they can make railways work and fly aeroplanes and spaceships.work and fly aeroplanes and spaceships.

How many years ago were the first computers How many years ago were the first computers built?built?

What has happened to computers since then?What has happened to computers since then?How big is a desktop/laptop/palmtop?How big is a desktop/laptop/palmtop?

Which is the smallest?Which is the smallest?What makes your TV, telephone and washing What makes your TV, telephone and washing

machine work?machine work?Why do we call computers electronic brains?Why do we call computers electronic brains?

Give at least two examples.Give at least two examples.

Read the first and second parts again and answer Read the first and second parts again and answer the following questions.the following questions.

Read the first and second parts again and answer the following questions.

How many years ago were the first How many years ago were the first computers built?computers built?

What has happened to computers since What has happened to computers since then?then?

About 70 years ago.About 70 years ago.

They have become smaller and smaller.They have become smaller and smaller.

Read the first and second parts again and answer the following questions.

How big is a desktop/laptop/palmtop?How big is a desktop/laptop/palmtop?

Which is the smallest?Which is the smallest?

A desktop computer is the size of a television.A desktop computer is the size of a television.A laptop computer is the size of a big book.A laptop computer is the size of a big book.A palmtop computer is the size of a bar of A palmtop computer is the size of a bar of chocalate.chocalate.

A palmtop computer is the smallest.A palmtop computer is the smallest.

What makes your TV, telephone and washing What makes your TV, telephone and washing machine work?machine work?

Why do we call computers electronic brains?Why do we call computers electronic brains?Give at least two examples.Give at least two examples.

Computers do.Computers do.

Because they can calculate fast and rarely Because they can calculate fast and rarely give wrong answers.give wrong answers.(Because they can type, print and draw (Because they can type, print and draw things……)things……)

Read the first and second parts again and answer the following questions.

Discuss in groups and say some sentences with the Discuss in groups and say some sentences with the help of the given words and pictures.help of the given words and pictures.

the first the first computerscomputersthe first the first

computerscomputers

the size ofthe size of

builtbuilt biggerbiggerbiggerbigger

smallersmallersmallersmallersince thensince then

the size ofthe size of

palmtop computerspalmtop

computers

other kinds other kinds

small enoughsmall

enough a bar of chocalatea bar of

chocalate

tinytinytinytiny be unaware of

be unaware of

More importantly

More importantly

type, print, type, print, draw thingsdraw thingstype, print, type, print, draw thingsdraw things

operateoperate

fastfast

super calculators

super calculators

rarelyrarely

teach, play games

teach, play games

wrong answerswrong

answers

common knowledgecommon

knowledge

flyfly

A:A:1. Read the words and phrases .1. Read the words and phrases .2. Read the two parts fluently.2. Read the two parts fluently.B:B:Write some sentences with the help of some words.Write some sentences with the help of some words.

Built 1940s

Smaller and smaller

The size of

Be unaware of

Common knowledge

Rarely give wrong answers

operate