Lesson 2. Digital Computers
Getting ready for the task:

- What can computers do nowadays?
- What is a computer?

- Why do people need computers?
- How can computers change our lives in future?

Key words :
experience - 1. the knowledge and skill you’ve gained through doing smth; competence, proficiency
2. the things that have happened to you
to surf websites - to use internet
web - network
patient - 1. able to accept or tolerate delays, problems; tolerant 2. a person receiving medical treatment
1

CW. Fill in the circles answering the questions

- What can computers do?
- Can you talk about its functions?

- We can’t imagine our life without computers -- thinking machines nowadays.
- Computers are the main part of our life today.
- They help us to communicate, they can find facts and we can solve some problems with the help of a computer.

2

GW. Discuss what computers can/can't do.

- design cars
- learn from experience
- play chess
- machine that thinks
- send e-mails
- do puzzles

- teach languages
- talk like a child
- think for people
- surf websites
- need good “parents”
- improve some skills

Sample:

Computers can design cars but they can’t...
With modern computers you can send e-mails, surf websites...,

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. Choose the correct statement according to the passage.
   A) We use robots for easy jobs
   B) Robots are similar to people
   C) Robots are not helpful for people
   D) Robots control the computer brain
   E) We can use robots in different fields
2. Which is not mentioned about the Robots?
   Robots ... .
   A) do boring jobs
   B) become tired
   C) work non-stop
   D) are skilled
   E) are safe
3. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
   Future Home Robots may ... .
   1. walk the pets
   2. work in metros
   3. do school tests
   4. answer the door

   A) 1, 4 | B) 2, 3 | C) 1, 2 | D) 2, 4 | E) 3,4

4. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the word “intellect”?
5. Complete the sentence according to the passage. (no more than three words)
   A robot can be ... on the operating table

Robots are new workers nowadays. Robots can work all day and all night. They are skilled, and they do many jobs. Robots never become tired. They can do jobs that are too boring, dangerous or difﬁcult for people to do.

A robot’s brain is a computer. The computer “brain” tells it what to do. Of course, these machines cannot really think as people do.

Robots can help people at schools, in hospitals, in factories, in stores and at home. Robots can help people become better doctors and nurses. For example, a robot can be “a real patient” on the operating table. People also use robots for fun. Some robots can sing, dance, play the piano or tell jokes. Perhaps, one day, home robots may answer the door; they may cook the food or walk the dog. No one knows how robots can change our lives

1. Choose the correct statement according to the passage.
   A) We use robots for easy jobs
   B) Robots are similar to people
   C) Robots are not helpful for people
   D) Robots control the computer brain
   E) We can use robots in different fields
2. Which is not mentioned about the Robots?
   Robots ... .
   A) do boring jobs
   B) become tired
   C) work non-stop
   D) are skilled
   E) are safe
3. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
   Future Home Robots may ... .
   1. walk the pets
   2. work in metros
   3. do school tests
   4. answer the door

   A) 1, 4 | B) 2, 3 | C) 1, 2 | D) 2, 4 | E) 3,4

4. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the word “intellect”?
   Answer: “brain”
5. Complete the sentence according to the passage. (no more than three words)
   A robot can be ... on the operating table
   Answer: “a real patient”