(BBC)The "father of the personal computer" who kick-started the careers of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen has died at the age of 68.Dr Henry Edward Roberts was the inventor of the Altair 8800, a machine that led to the home computer age.

Gates and Allen contacted Dr Roberts after seeing the machine on the front cover of a magazine and offered to write software for it.The program was known as Altair-Basic, the foundation of Microsoft's business."Ed was willing to take a chance on us - two young guys interested in computers , and we have always been thankful to him," the Microsoft founders said in a statement.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told technology website CNET that Dr Roberts had taken " a critically important step that led to everything we have today".

Dr Roberts was the founder of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), originally set up to sell electronics parts to model rocket hobbyists.The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts, but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms.

In the mid-1970's, with the firm struggling with debt, Dr Roberts began to develop a computer kit(配套零件) for hobbyists.The result was the Altair 8800.The $395 kit (around ??1,000 today) was featured on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975, resulting in a flood of orders.

Among those interested in the machine were Paul Allen and Bill Gates.The pair contacted Dr Roberts, offering to write software that would help people program the machine.The pair finally moved to Albuquerque - the home of MITS - where they founded Micro-Soft, to develop their software.

Dr Roberts sold his company in 1977.He died in hospital on 1 April after a long period of pneumonia (肺炎) .

Why did Dr Roberts probably decide to sell his company?

       A.Because he was in heavy debt in the mid-1980's.

       B.Because he wanted to take a chance on Gates and Allen.

       C.Because he wanted to develop a computer kit for hobbyists.

       D.Because he had difficulty competing with big companies.

What do we know about MITS?

       A.It was set up by Steve Wozniak.

       B.It sold electronics parts to big firms.

       C.It is located in Albuquerque.

       D.It is a technology website.

We can learn that Popular Electronics is likely to be  ____.

       A.a newspaper                 B.a magazine  

       C.a Website              D.an organization

What is the best title of this passage?

       A.The story of the Altair 8800

       B.The founder of MITS

       C.Father of the personal computer died

       D.The story of Dr Roberts

(BBC)The "father of the personal computer" who kick-started the careers of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen has died at the age of 68.Dr Henry Edward Roberts was the inventor of the Altair 8800, a machine that led to the home computer age.

Gates and Allen contacted Dr Roberts after seeing the machine on the front cover of a magazine and offered to write software for it.The program was known as Altair-Basic, the foundation of Microsoft's business."Ed was willing to take a chance on us - two young guys interested in computers , and we have always been thankful to him," the Microsoft founders said in a statement.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told technology website CNET that Dr Roberts had taken " a critically important step that led to everything we have today".

Dr Roberts was the founder of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), originally set up to sell electronics parts to model rocket hobbyists.The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts, but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms.

In the mid-1970's, with the firm struggling with debt, Dr Roberts began to develop a computer kit(配套零件) for hobbyists.The result was the Altair 8800.The $395 kit (around £1,000 today) was featured on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975, resulting in a flood of orders.

Among those interested in the machine were Paul Allen and Bill Gates.The pair contacted Dr Roberts, offering to write software that would help people program the machine.The pair finally moved to Albuquerque - the home of MITS - where they founded Micro-Soft, to develop their software.

Dr Roberts sold his company in 1977.He died in hospital on 1 April after a long period of pneumonia (肺炎) .

1.Why did Dr Roberts probably decide to sell his company?

         A.Because he was in heavy debt in the mid-1980's.

         B.Because he wanted to take a chance on Gates and Allen.

         C.Because he wanted to develop a computer kit for hobbyists.

         D.Because he had difficulty competing with big companies.

2.What do we know about MITS?

         A.It was set up by Steve Wozniak.

         B.It sold electronics parts to big firms.

         C.It is located in Albuquerque.

         D.It is a technology website.

3.We can learn that Popular Electronics is likely to be  ____.

         A.a newspaper                    B.a magazine  

         C.a Website                 D.an organization

4.What is the best title of this passage?

         A.The story of the Altair 8800

         B.The founder of MITS

         C.Father of the personal computer died

         D.The story of Dr Roberts

 

Shirley Allen loved to sing and play the piano. She studied music in college and her 36 was to become a concert pianist or blues singer.

Everything 37 when she was 20 years old. She became sick with what doctors  38  was typhoid fever(伤寒)and she almost died. Doctors gave her medicine to help her get well, but the medicine  39 her to become  40 deaf. She could no longer hear the music which she had always  41.

Shirley would never give up playing the piano,  42  she did decide to change 43 . She transferred to Gallaudet University and studied English. In 1964 Shirley graduated from Gallaudet and looked for  44 . She wanted to be 45 and work full-time.

For three years, Shirley worked as a clerk in Washington, D.C. 46 , in 1967 she was asked to work at Gallaudet University as a dorm supervisor (宿舍监管员). Shirley supervised young women who 47 in the university during the school year. She also taught English. Somehow she found time to 48 graduate school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1972, Shirley received her M.A. degree.

Always 49  a new challenge, in 1973 Shirley became a professor at National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID),which 50 deaf and hard-of-hearing students technical and professional training.

This 51 woman became the first black deaf female in the world to receive her Ph.D. She made  52 in 1992,  53 she received the highest degree in education from the University of Rochester in New York.

Dr. Shirley Jeanne Allen has traveled many roads and 54 many rainbows searching for her dream. With courage and 55, she never gave up.

1.

A.job

B.interest

C.dream

D.duty

 

2.

A.changed

B.disappeared

C.stopped

D.ended

 

3.

A.said

B.agreed

C.found

D.thought

 

4.

A.allowed

B.caused

C.encouraged

D.enabled

 

5.

A.almost

B.totally

C.actually

D.gradually

 

6.

A.played

B.loved

C.performed

D.remembered

 

7.

A.and

B.so

C.but

D.even if

 

8.

A.career

B.interest

C.life

D.attitude

 

9.

A.information

B.help

C.a job

D.an assistant

 

10.

A.happy

B.independent

C.free

D.confident

 

11.

A.However

B.Therefore

C.Then

D.Besides

 

12.

A.worked

B.studied

C.lived

D.played

 

13.

A.attend

B.observe

C.describe

D.advertise

 

14.

A.interested in

B.busy with

C.concerned about

D.ready for

 

15.

A.teaches

B.promises

C.pays

D.offers

 

16.

A.amazing

B.strict

C.wealthy

D.beautiful

 

17.

A.progress

B.history

C.suggestions

D.excuses

 

18.

A.after

B.while

C.until

D.when

 

19.

A.found

B.watched

C.followed

D.appreciated

 

20.

A.determination

B.intelligence

C.strength

D.pride

 

(BBC)The "father of the personal computer" who kick-started the careers of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen has died at the age of 68. Dr Henry Edward Roberts was the inventor of the Altair 8800, a machine that led to the home computer age.

Gates and Allen contacted Dr Roberts after seeing the machine on the front cover of a magazine and offered to write software for it. The program was known as Altair-Basic, the foundation of Microsoft's business. "Ed was willing to take a chance on us - two young guys interested in computers , and we have always been thankful to him," the Microsoft founders said in a statement.

 Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told technology website CNET that Dr Roberts had taken " a critically important step that led to everything we have today". [来源:学,科,网Z,X,X,K]

Dr Roberts was the founder of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), originally set up to sell electronics parts to model rocket hobbyists. The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts, but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms.

In the mid-1970's, with the firm struggling with debt, Dr Roberts began to develop a computer kit(配套零件) for hobbyists. The result was the Altair 8800. The $395 kit (around £1,000 today) was featured on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975, resulting in a flood of orders.

Amongst those interested in the machine were Paul Allen and Bill Gates. The pair contacted Dr Roberts, offering to write software that would help people program the machine. The pair finally moved to Albuquerque - the home of MITS - where they founded Micro-Soft, to develop their software.

Dr Roberts sold his company in 1977. He died in hospital on 1 April after a long period of pneumonia.(肺炎)

 

1.Why did Dr Roberts probably decide to sell his company?

A. Because he was in heavy debt in the mid-1980's .

B. Because he wanted to take a chance on Gates and Allen.

C. Because he wanted to develop a computer kit for hobbyists.

D. Because he had difficulty competing with big companies. 

2.What do we know about MITS?

A. It was set up by Steve Wozniak.

B. It sold electronics parts to big firms.

C. It is located in Albuquerque.

D. It is a technology website.

3.We can learn that Popular Electronics is likely to be  ____.

A. a newspaper   B. a magazine   C. a Website   D. an organization

4.What is the best title of this passage?

A. The story of the Altair 8800

B. The founder of MITS

C. Father of the personal computer died

D. The story of Dr Roberts

 

The whole world was talking about Octopus(章鱼)Paul Allen since it had a 100%correct prediction record of the matches,including Germany in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010.The question was whether there be a prediction of the grand final, since it did not include Germany.

 The answer to that much awaited question is yes. Celebrity Octopus Paul Allen does have a winner. It has picked Spain over Holland to lift the wishful prize. In a live television show all over Europe, Paul picked out a mussel(蚌)from the tank with the Spanish flag, ignoring the tank that had the Dutch flag. This means the prediction is that Spain will be FIFA World Cup 2010 champion.Regarding the place 3 and 4 playoff, Octopus Paul A11en has predicted that Germany will beat Uruguay to take the 3 rd place, which was right.

 Octopus Paul Allen has become a worldwide celebrity after it has predicted with 100% accuracy all of Germany’s World Cup games’ outcomes. It even stopped critics and experts when it correctly predicted a Serbia win over the strong Germans. Much to the sorrow of German fans,it also rightly predicted Spain having an advantage over Germany in the semifinals. And when this came true,there were many calls from angry and sad Germans fans to kill and eat it.Now let’s wait and see if this final prediction by Octopus Paul Allen comes true and its 100%accuracy record stays the same.It goes without saying. Spain will be smiling, at least right now!

1. Octopus Paul Allen became a hot topic because__________.

A. it predicted records of FIFA World Cup 2010 matches correctly

B. it was the mascot of FIFA World Cup 2010

C. it took part in the game with Germany and other teams

D. it lent a helping hand to Germany to win the game

2. From the second paragraph we know that the third place in FIFA World Cup 2010 was______.

  A. Spain    B. Holland    C. Germany    D. Uruguay

3.. According to the passage, when this news is released,_______.

A. FIFA World Cup 2010 has come to an end

B. Spain has already beaten Germany in the semifinals

C. Spain has already won the World Cup 2010 champion

D. the sad German fans have killed Octopus Paul Allen

4.. By saying “It goes without saying”, the writer means_______.

A. Spain will be FIFA World Cup 2010 champion 

B. Octopus Paul Allen won’t predict anything in the future

C. Octopus Paul Allen will surely leave

D. everything goes on well

 

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