READING COMPREHENSION

ACTIVITY

A. Read the text and answer the questions

The First Computer Programmer

Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. She was taught by Mary Somerville, a well-known researcher and scientific author, who introduced her to Charles Babbage in June 1833. Babbage was an English mathematician, who first had the idea for a programmable computer.

In 1842 and 1843, Ada translated the work of an Italian mathematician, Luigi Menabrea, on Babbage's Analytical Engine. Though mechanical, this machine was an important step in the history of computers; it was the design of a mechanical general-purpose computer. Babbage worked on it for many years until his death in 1871. However, because of financial, political, and legal issues, the engine was never built. The design of the machine was very modern; it anticipated the first completed general-purpose computers by about 100 years.

When Ada translated the article, she added a set of notes which specified in complete detail a method for calculating certain numbers with the Analytical Engine, which have since been recognized by historians as the world's first computer program. She also saw possibilities in it that Babbage hadn't: she realised that the machine could compose pieces of music. The computer programming language 'Ada', used in some aviation and military programs, is named after her.

Q1 - Ada Lovelace's teacher introduced her to Charles Babbage.

True

False

Q2 - Babbage programmed the first computer.

True

False

Q3 - Ada translated the article in 1842.

True

False

Q4 - The Analytical Engine was electronic.

True

False

Q5 - Luigi Menabrea designed the first computer.

True

False

Q6 - Babbage finished the machine before he died.

True

False

Q7 - Babbage's design was ahead of its time.

True

False

Q8 - Ada's work was instantly recognised as being the first computer program.

True

False

Q9 - Babbage saw that his machine could write music.

True

False

Q10 - Ada wrote military and aviation computer programs.

True

False

ACTIVITY PAST PERFECT

B. Choose the right answer...

1. I was sure that I ___________ her before.

 had saw

 seen

 had seen

2. I needed to know what ______________ to my dog.

 has happened

 had happened

 happened

3. The film ________________ by the time we got to the cinema.

 had start

 had started

 has started

4. Julia left the restaurant after she _________ eating.

 had finished

 has finished

 finished

5. I went to bed after I ___________ off the television.

 switched

 has switched

 had switched