Emma: Oh, it’s an old scientific journal. I found it in the attic.
Steve: It looks ancient.
Emma: And it is. But I like the way the scientific things are explained in it. They used quite a simple language to make complicated theories and hypotheses understandable to the public.
Steve: And the journal was published in the last century, wasn’t it?
Emma: Yes. Lots of discoveries have been made since that time. Look, this is an article on a solar eclipse. It’s a shame the photos are black-and-white.
Steve: And what’s this, in this picture?
Emma: It’s one of the first computers.
Steve: But it’s huge and it reminds me of something from an old power station! I can’t understand how it operates — there’s no keyboard, and no monitor either.
Emma: You’ll probably understand it if you read the article. It’s quite interesting and reveals some facts about the history of computing since 1939. You can borrow the journal if you like.
Steve: Thanks. I will. I want to show it to my brother-he has aways been curious about old journals of all kinds.
II(a) Liz is not trying to fix her washing machine. (b) Is Liz trying to fix her washing machine? We were not having lunch when our uncle came. (b) Were we having lunch when our uncle came? (a) She has not started her new job. (b) Has she already started her new job? (a) By the end of the year he had not learnt to speak French. (b) Had he learnt to speak French By the end of the year? (a) My secretary has not been typing the report for five hours. (b) Has my secretary been typing the report for five hours?IIIAunt Betty is talking to the butcher in the kitchen. Is Aunt Betty talking to the butcher in the kitchen? Is Aunt Betty talking to the butcher in the kitchen or in the living room? What Aunt Betty is doing in the kitchen? Aunt Betty is talking to the butcher in the kitchen, isn't she? It was raining heavily yesterday morning. Was it raining heavily yesterday morning? Was it raining heavily yesterday morning or evening? What was the weather like yesterday morning? It was raining heavily yesterday morning, wasn't it? They hadn't completed the test when the teacher came. Had they completed the test when the teacher came? Had they completed the test when the teacher came or even before it? What had they completed when the teacher came? They hadn't completed the test when the teacher came, had they? By the end of the autumn, they will have built a new skating-rink in this district. Will they have a new skating-rink built in this district by the end of the autumn? Will they have a new skating-rink or a skate park built in this district by the end of the autumn? What will they have built in this district by the end of the autumn? By the end of the autumn, they will have built a new skating-rink in this district, won't they? They had been watching TV for half an hour when their parents came. Had they been watching TV for half an hour when their parents came? Had they been watching TV or browsing the Net for half an hour when their parents came? What had they been doing TV for half an hour when their parents came? They had been watching TV for half an hour when their parents came, hadn't they? IV Past Simple or Past Progressive: My hat flew off when I was crossing the bridge. Past Simple or Present Perfect: I bought a new car last summer, but I haven't sold my old car yet, so now I've got two cars. Present Simple or Future Perfect: The party will have begun by the time we come. Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive: She has been reading this book for three days and has read 300 pages already. Past Simple or Past Perfect Progressive: How long had they been waiting for a taxi before it came?
Steve: What are you reading?
Emma: Oh, it’s an old scientific journal. I found it in the attic.
Steve: It looks ancient.
Emma: And it is. But I like the way the scientific things are explained in it. They used quite a simple language to make complicated theories and hypotheses understandable to the public.
Steve: And the journal was published in the last century, wasn’t it?
Emma: Yes. Lots of discoveries have been made since that time. Look, this is an article on a solar eclipse. It’s a shame the photos are black-and-white.
Steve: And what’s this, in this picture?
Emma: It’s one of the first computers.
Steve: But it’s huge and it reminds me of something from an old power station! I can’t understand how it operates — there’s no keyboard, and no monitor either.
Emma: You’ll probably understand it if you read the article. It’s quite interesting and reveals some facts about the history of computing since 1939. You can borrow the journal if you like.
Steve: Thanks. I will. I want to show it to my brother-he has aways been curious about old journals of all kinds.