Train Technical English

Number 23                                                                                   July 2010

Editorial

Articles in English, even though their usage is much simpler in comparison with other European languages (German, French, Italian) pose great problems for non native English speakers, especially if their native language doesn´t have any articles. People simply forget about articles, which is particularly perceived when they write (see, for example, Students do not care about articles). Thus any revision of this topic can´t be needless, on the contrary it is always profitable.

There are some rules about articles. You can find a good review of the rules in Raymond Murphy English Grammar in Use, 3^rd edition, units 69 to 78, in the Guide to Countable and Uncountable Nouns (Countable and Uncountable Nouns Explained), in Articles . Moreover, following links in Russian could be recommended too:

Общие сведения об артиклях
Неопределенный артикль
Определенный артикль
Случаи употребления неопределенного артикля
Случаи употребления определенного артикля
Случаи отсутствия артикля

Some details concerning a (an) and the  may be helpful for those, who are interested in details about articles.

So, Exercise 1, as usually based on the technical text below, concerns English articles and offers practising them. As for Exercise 2, practising of verb structures is proposed there. Exercise 3 brings another opportunity to practice English Word Order in affirmative (positive) English sentences. Look through Basic word order in English and Number 15 – SVOMPT (Word Order) / November 2009  when doing this exercise.

Enjoy studying the text and doing the exercises!

Beginnings of Electronic Ink    

With a world full of monitors and electronic displays made with liquid crystals, light-emitting diodes and gas plasma, you probably don’t think of paper as being a revolutionary display technology. When the Chinese invented paper in 105 A.D. it forever changed the way the world communicates. Without it, books might still be printed on silk scrolls that only the wealthy could afford, making literacy a rare skill.

For nearly 2,000 years, ink on paper was the only way to display words and images, and it still beats computer displays when it comes to portability and price. Paper also doesn’t require an external power supply. Yet it has some limitations: once you’ve printed words on paper, those words cannot be changed without at least leaving some marks, and it is also difficult to carry around a large number of books.

Scientists are now close to developing a revolutionary technology called electronic ink that could replace paper. You could find out about how electronic ink is made, how it allows you to carry a whole library in one book and how it could be used for cheaper computer displays in How Stuff Will Work.

References: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  http://en.wikipedia

Vocabulary

Exercises

Exercise 1  Put a, an or the into gaps if necessary. If not necessary, put +:

1. With … world full of electronic displays you don’t think of … paper as a revolutionary display technology.
2. When … Chinese invented … paper in 105 A.D., it forever changed … way the world communicates.
3. Without … paper, … books might still be printed on … silk scrolls that only … wealthy could afford, making … literacy a rare skill.
4. For nearly 2,000 years, … ink on … paper was … only way to display … words and … images.
5. Paper still beats … computer displays when it comes to … portability and … price.
6. Paper also doesn’t require … external power supply.
7. Scientists are now close to developing … revolutionary technology called … electronic ink that could replace … paper. 

Exercise 2  Use the word in capitals given in brackets at the end of each line to form a related word that fits in the space in the same line:

1. With the world full of electronic displays you … of paper as a revolutionary display technology.    (NOT THINK)
2. When the Chinese … paper in 105 A.D., it forever … the way the world communicates.    (INVENT, CHANGE)
3. Without paper, books might still be printed on silk scrolls that only the wealthy could afford, … literacy a rare skill.    (MAKE)
4. For nearly 2,000 years, ink on paper … the only way to display words and images.   (BE)
5. Paper still … computer displays when it … to portability and price. (BEAT, COME)
6. Paper also … an external power supply.    (NOT REQUIRE)
7. Scientists are now close to … a revolutionary technology … electronic ink that could replace paper.    (DEVELOP, CALL) 

Exercise 3  Make sentences putting the given words into a correct order: 

1. world – With the – revolutionary – technology – don’t think of – electronic – full of – display – you – paper as a – displays –.
2. it – paper in – When the – changed the – world – communicates – 105 A.D., – forever – Chinese – way the – invented –.
3. still – silk – paper – Without – books – scrolls – on – printed – be – might –.
4. display – nearly – images – 2,000 – ink on – and – words – way to – was the – only – For – paper –.
5. portability – and – as to – beats – computer – still – Paper – price – displays –.
6. also – an – doesn’t – Paper – supply – power – require – external –.
7. electronic – technology – Scientists – called – revolutionary – close to – are – ink – developing a – now –.

Find keys to the exercises in Keys to Newsletters from Number 19 up to Number 23

 For being better at usage articles do quizzes:

• Countable and Uncountable Nouns Quiz 1
• Definite and Indefinite Article English Grammar Review Quiz  –     Take this 30 question quiz and try to beat the clock!

Good luck!