5. Read the text and choose the best answer (a, b, c or d) to the questions 1-3. Artificial intelligence

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was first used by Professor John McCarthy in 1956. However, the idea of creating ‘thinking machines’ appears over and over again throughout history. In the 3^rd century BC, a Chinese engineer called Mo Ti made mechanical birds, dragons and soldier and much later, in 18^th century Europe, the nobility were delighted by mechanical figures which moved by clockwork. It seemed that making machines that moved and looked like human beings was easy. The difficult part would be to create a machine that could think like a human being.

When computers appeared in the 1950s, many people thought that it would not be long before these impressive machines started talking, thinking for themselves and taking over the world. People predicted all kinds of things, from robot servants to computerized houses. None of it happened. Despite the billions of dollars and years of research given to developing artificial intelligence, computers are still unable to hold a normal conversation with a human being. In fact, although computers today can process information thousands of times faster than they could fifty years ago, they are only two or three times better at using human language than they were back then. In addition, the huge increase in computer use has proved that today’s computers, with their windows, mice, icons and commands, do not operate in the same way as the human brain. If this were not true, there would be no need for the thousands of tech support staff employed by call centres.

1. According to the text, people have been trying to create thinking machines …

A since the third century BC

B since the 1950s

C since the 18^th century

D since history began

2. In the 18^th century, mechanical figures …

A were operated by engines

B amused wealthy people

C were difficult to make

D could be used to tell the time

3. People expected computers to be able to talk because …

A they were very expensive

B they were impressed by computers

C they wanted mechanical servants

D they believed computers would take over the world

KEYS

Unit I

Вариант 1

1. Sweden

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
C	F	G	A	E	H	D

2. Mount Vesuvius

1	2	3	4	5	6
D	C	G	F	A	B

3. The Joy And Enthusiasm Of Reading

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	C	D	D	B	D	D

4. The ‘All Blacks’

1. was played 2. was called 3. men

4. first 5. doesn’t mean

6. living 7. youngest

5. Invention of Bubble Gum

1. usually 2. different

3. sticky 4. possibility

5. demonstration 6. successful

6. Harrods

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	C	D	A	B	C	B

Вариант 2

1. Belgium

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
C	E	G	A	H	D	F

2. Hollywood

1	2	3	4	5	6
C	E	G	D	A	B

3. To Become Wealthy

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
A	D	C	A	B	A	A

4. New Seven Wonders of the World: the Forbidden City

1. most popular 2. was built 3. had ruled (had been ruling)

4. covers 5. have invested

6. kept 7. is visited

5. Invention of Computer

1. calculation 2. discovery

3. scientist 4. similarity

5. unknown 6. impossible

6. The Qualities of Great Children’s Films

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	A	B	D	C	C	A

Вариант 3

1. Kinds Of Sport

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
A	E	B	G	C	F	H

2. Hi-Tech Brings Families Together

1	2	3	4	5	6
F	A	D	G	B	C

3. A Busy Saturday

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	A	C	B	D	A	C

4. New Seven Wonders of the World: Teotihuacan

1. largest 2. is known 3. became

4. lived 5. was been (had been)

6. has seen 7. will remain

5. Invention of Crossword Puzzle

1. really 2. appearance

3. journalist 4. different

5. popularity 6. impossible

6. New York City: Nostalgia for the Old Neighbourhood

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	A	D	C	B	A	C

UNIT II

Вариант 1

1. Memories And Reality

1. saying 2. best

3. financial 4. boredom

5. exciting 6. helpless

7. misunderstood 8. acceptable

2. Jeans

1. had 2. making

3. didn’t have 4. went

5. were born 6. was used

7. stronger 8. have become

3. Alfred Nobel

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
B	D	C	A	B	A	C

4. A New Way To Find A Job

1	2	3	4	5	6
D	B	G	E	C	F

5. Bali revisited

1	2	3
A	D	B

Вариант 2

1. Finland

1. attractive 2. natural

3. unpolluted 4. variety

5. friendly 6. useful

7. really 8. tourists

2. Who Discovered Australia?

1. were 2. found

3. was sent 4. lay

5. had sailed 6. called

7. were made 8. thought

3. The Circus

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
D	B	D	B	D	B	A

4. Not Enough Viola Players

1	2	3	4	5	6
E	G	C	F	A	D

5. The History Of The English Pound

1	2	3
B	C	C

Вариант 3

1. www.oxford.com

1. learning 2. wondered

3. incorrect 4. additional

5. explanations 6. famous

7. unusual 8. better

2. History Of Washington, D.C.

1. including 2. were proposed

3. passed 4. giving

5. was called 6. chose

7. stands 8. had fought

3. Alaska

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
C	A	C	A	D	D	A

4. Happiness

1	2	3	4	5	6
D	A	G	C	F	B

5. Artificial Intelligence

1	2	3
D	B	B

38