THE DAWN OF THE DIGITAL AGE Can you think of any other words which start with

These days computers are everywhere, and we don´t mini- or micro-?

really think about them. But they´re actually a very recent _________________________________________________________________
invention and the have developed very quickly. ________________________________________________________________.
1940s
The first real electronic computers were developed in the B. Answer the question below. Then read the article THE
1940. They were huge machines which filled whole DAWN OF THE DIGITAL AGE and check your answer
rooms at universities and other research facilities. The Which of these computers is the largest and the
world´s first digital computer that could store programs smallest?
was called Baby and was built at Manchester University  A minicomputer _____________________
in England in 1948.  A microcomputer ______________________
“Computers in the future may weigh no more y than 1.5  A personal computer (PC)______________________
tons” C. Read the article again and answer the questions
Popular Mechanics magazine, 1949. 1. “Baby” was …
1950s a. A very larger computer
During the 1950s, computers first became available to a b. An extremely small computer
few large businesses. They were still huge machines, c. A portable computer
thought and very expensive. They used magnetic tape to 2. Moore´s Law describes how quickly computers
input and store data. became …
1960s a. Smaller
New technology made computers much smaller and b. More powerful
much cheaper. The minicomputer became available to c. Cheaper
even small businesses. 3. Early PCs stored information on …
1970s a. CDs
The first microprocessor was launched in 1971 and by b. Memory sticks
the mind-seventies, the first personal computers c. Cassette tapes
appeared. These early PCs were still quite large and 4. “Windows” made computers …
expansive and used cassette tapes to store data. a. More affordable
1980s b. Easier to use
Personal computers became affordable and more widely c. Smaller
available. At first, when you switched on your new PC, 5. The World Wide Web was invented …
you got a blank screen whit a cursor flashing in the top a. In the late eighties
corner. b. In the early eighties
Then, in 1985, Microsoft launched the Windows c. In 1985
operating system, making computing easier for everyone.
By the late eighties, PCs were becoming smaller and more D. The suffix –abble (or –ible) is used to form many
portable and laptops were now available. In 1989, Tim adjectives
Berners–Lee invented the Word Wide Web and the
modern digital age really began. -able (suffix) – used with many verbs to make
adjectives describing something that can be done:
READING enjoyable (=that people can enjoy), breakable (=that is
A. Look at these dictionary definitions easy to break.

Mini-(prefix) - smaller or shorter than other Find three adjectives in the article that end with –able.
things of the same kind. Match them to these definitions
1. Easy to carry or move _________________________
Micro-(prefix)-extremely small: used with 2. Cheap enough for ordinary _________________________
some nouns and adjectives people to buy.
3. That you can find, buy or use _________________________
Complete the sentences whit mini or micro and the
word in brackets E. Complete the phrases with the correct adjectives from
1. There was a____________________ on TV last week the text.
about the invention of the World Wide Web 1. ______________________ behaviour behaviour that
(series). people can accept
2. Today, ______________________ are in all PCs. They 2. an___________________ accident an accident that can
were invented in the late 1950s. (chips) be avoided.
3. They´ve got five children, so they´re thinking of 3. a____________________change a change that people
buying a ____________________________ (van) can notice
4. Some people cook all their food in a________________ 4. _____________________ packaging packaging that can
oven. (wave) be recycled

Good lucky!