Then and now

Twenty years ago few people ⁽¹⁾ __realized__ (realize) that computers were about to become part of our daily lives. This short period of time ⁽²⁾ __has seen___ (see) enormous changes, in business, education and public administration. Jobs which ⁽³⁾ _________ (take) weeks to complete in the past, are now carried out in minutes. Clerks who ⁽⁴⁾ _________ (spend) all day copying and checking calculations are now freed from these tedious tasks. In offices, the soft hum and clicking of word processors ⁽⁵⁾ _________ (replace) the clatter of typewriters. Schoolchildren ⁽⁶⁾ _________ (become) as familiar with hardware and software as their parents ⁽⁷⁾ __________ (be) with pencils and exercise books. Computerisation of public records ⁽⁸⁾ __________ (enable) government departments to analyse the needs of citizens in detail. Some of us may wonder, however, whether life ⁽⁹⁾ __________ (really/improve) as a result of these changes. Many jobs ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ (disappear) , for example, when intelligent machines ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ (take) over the work. Employers complain that clerical staff ⁽¹²⁾ __________ (become) dependant on calculators and cannot do simple arithmetic. There are fears that governments ⁽¹³⁾ __________ (not/do) enough to ensure that personal information held on computers is really kept secret. Certainly, many people may now be wondering whether the spread of computers ⁽¹⁴⁾ __________ (bring) us as many problems as it ⁽¹⁵⁾ __________ (solve).

Exercise 9.

a) Read this application letter. There are 7 grammar mistakes in it. Find and correct them.

Dear Mr Aziz,

I would like to apply for the job of shop manager which I see advertised in the local paper.

I am twenty years old. I was born in France but my family moved to England when I was twelve and I am living here ever since. I have left school for three years and since then I am having several jobs in shops. For the past six months I am working in Halls department store. The manager has been saying that he is willing to give me a reference.

I speak French and English fluently and I have learnt German since I left school, so I speak some German too.

I hope you will consider my application.

Yours sincerely,

Louise Brett

4. * Write an application letter for this job. You may write for yourself or you may invent an applicant.

B right, helpful person required to help for two months in souvenir shop this summer. Must speak some English in addition to at least one other language. Experience and qualifications not essential, but desirable. Excellent pay and conditions. Write, giving details, + one referee, to: Ms J. Sparks, “The Old Shop”, High St., Cherley, Yours.

Exercise 10. Write true sentences about yourself, using used to or didn’t use to and one of the words in the box.

holidays friends music

television restaurant cinema grandparents

homework lipstick jeans

Examples 1) I used to go on holidays with my parents, but now I go with my friends.

2) I didn’t use to wear jeans when I was a child.

Exercise 11. In pairs, ask and answer questions using the prompts as in the example.

e.g. SA: Did you use to play with your friends when you were five?

SB: Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.

1 2 3 4 5

play with your friends? watch many cartoons? go to bed late? cry a lot? make your bed?

6 7 8 9 10

listen to fairy-tales? have a bath every day? drink milk? dress yourself? get pocket money?

* Exercise 12. Complete each of the sentences by using the past form of one of the verbs on the left and combining it with one of the words on the right. Use each verb once only. Some words on the right are used more than once.

break build go sell

shut take hear ring

back down up from

off on out

1. She _____ her business _____ from one small shop to a chain of department stores.

2. The racking equipment ______ ______ and production was halted for an hour.

3. The new range was so popular that the shop ______ ______ in 2 days.

4. Last year they _______ _______the factory for three weeks and everybody had to have their holiday at the same time.

5. She _______ _______ working even though the others had stopped.

6. I ________ ________ immediately saying I was interested in their offer.

7. My plane ______ _______ four hours late because of fog.

8. I finally _______ _______ our agent in Turkey. He phoned last week.

Exercise 13. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

1. We (reach) our target last year. 2. Contracts have been signed but work (not begin) yet. 3. The marketing department (recruit) two new assistants so far this year. 4. We (start) the advertising campaign last month and since then sales (rocket). 5. Our research was carried out last year but I still (not see) the results. 6. Turnover (rise) dramatically since we were founded. 7. We (expect) a fall in profits last year as our costs nearly (double). 8. We already (sell) more units this year than we (do) in the whole of last year. 9. They (acquire) two US companies in 1993. In addition they (buy) several smaller European enterprises in the same year. 10. We (install) a new computer network two years ago. 11. She (leave) the country at 14.00 on Tuesday. 12. The bank (decide) to make extra provision against bad debts this year. 13. Contrary to expectations, our sales figures (go) down last month.

Exercise 14. In some of these sentences you can use used to (used to work / used to play / used to be, etc.) instead of the PAST SIMPLE (worked / played / was, etc.). Where possible rewrite the sentences using used to.

1. Every summer, Eileen stayed with her grandparents while her parents were away on holiday.

Eileen used to stay with her grandparents…

2. Bruce drove the new lorry to Scotland, stopping one night in the north of England.

NO CHANGE

3. My aunt had a dog which she had rescued from drowning when it was a puppy.

4. As Mary was getting out of the boat her foot slipped and she fell into the river.

5. Before the new shopping mall was built, there was a football pitch here for the local children.

6. Jasper grumbled that bread didn’t taste like cardboard until the supermarkets started making it.

7. During our voyage across the Atlantic I took several photos of the great seabirds which followed the ship, riding on currents in the air.

8. While I was waiting for the bus I noticed a group of tourists who were listening intently to a guide.

9. The punishments at our school were very harsh before the new head teacher was appointed.

10. As children we spent a lot of time helping with the household chores, but we didn’t help in the garden.

11. The politicians made innumerable promises before the election, but kept none of them, as usual.

Exercise 15. Translate into English.

1. Я написал письмо, но еще его не отправил. 2. Я видел Джона вчера, а сегодня я его не видел. 3. Мне всегда хотелось путешествовать по разным странам. 4. Организация конференции была превосходной. 5. Цены снизились на 7 %. 6. Когда вы вернулись из командировки? 7. Вы ответили уже на все письма? 8. Вы уже встречались, не так ли? 9. Группа разделилась на две части. Одни хотели поехать в музей, а другие в парк. 9. Компьютер изменил нашу жизнь. 10. У меня не было времени тебе позвонить. 11. Моя сестра только что получила работу в банке.