Ex. 17. Answer the questions

1. What technical innovations resulted in the development of microcomputers?

2. What was the first desktop computer designed for personal use?

3. Can you describe the Altair 8800? Try to do it. Give at least eight characteristic features.

4. Why was the commercial application of the Altair limited?

5. What was one of the first pre-assembled, mass-produced personal computers?

6. What was the Apple II initially used for and when did its popularity greatly increase?

7. What can you say about the IBM PC? Say six sentences.

8. When was the first portable, IBM-compatible computer introduced?

9. What does compatibility with the IBM PC mean?

10. What is the difference between IBM-compatibles and IBM-clones?

11. What computer was the first to incorporate the graphical user interface?

12. What are the advantages of the GUI?

Ex. 18. If you think a statement is false, change it to make it true. (TIP: You should replace only one word in each sentence.) Go back to the text if necessary.

1. Two technical innovations in the field of physics led to creating microcomputers.

2. The IC and the microprocessor permitted the miniaturization of laptops.

3. The first desktop computer called the Altair was designed specially for military use.

4. The Altair was developed by a large firm named Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems in 1975.

5. The Altair used a 16-bit Intel 8080 microprocessor, had 256 bytes of RAM.

6. The computer kit contained a box, a CPU board with 256 bytes of memory, and a back panel.

7. The Altair was not a revolutionary invention but it encouraged computer experts to take the previous step.

8. The Apple II computer was developed by the Apple Computer, Inc founded by Stephen Jobs and Steven Wozniak.

9. The monitor of the Apple II supported relatively high-quantity color graphics.

10. Personal computers were far more expensive than mainframes and many individuals, small businesses and schools could afford to buy them.

11. The IBM Corporation introduced the IBM-compatible сomputer in 1981.

12. The accounting system for the IBM PC was developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

13. The first portable computers resembled washing machines when they were closed.

14. Unlike the Lisa, the Macintosh incorporated a graphical user interface.

15. The Macintosh GUI combined icons (pictures that represent files or programs) with doors (boxes that each contain an open file or program).