Page 21 - 67 READING COMPREHENSION LESSONS - ENGLISH 9

42. Choose the best option to fill each of the blanks to make a meaningful

passage:

Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age.
But actually the idea for a computer was (1) _______ out over two centuries ago by a man (2) _______
Charles Babbage.
Babbage was born in 1791 and (3) _______ up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans
for several calculating machines (4) _______ he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he (5) _______
building some of these he never finished any of them. Over the years people have argued (6) _______ his
machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building (7)
_______ engine (8) _______ on one of Babbage’s. designs.
It has taken six years to complete and more (9) _______ four thousand parts have been specially
made. Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science
Museum to (10) _______ people of Babbage’s work.

1. A. turned B. thought C. invented D.worked
2. A. known B. recognized C. called D.written
3. A. developed B. grew C. brought D.expected
4. A. which B. who C. there D.whose
5. A. wanted B. made C. started D.missed
6. A. until B. whether C. while D.though
7. A. an B. the C. some D.that
8. A. depended B. based C. insisted D.influenced
9. A. than B. therefore C. when D.then
10. A. remind B. say C. inform D.encourage

43. Read the text then answer true or false

People use many sources of energy. Ancient people used only their arms, hands, and simple tools
until they discovered fire. Later, people learned to use the energy of the wind to sail ships. Then they
learned to use animals to do work. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, people began to use
machines. The first machines used steam. They burned coal to heat water. The hot water turned into
steam, and the steam engine did the work. Later, people began to use the gasoline engine, and today
people are using nuclear energy.
Energy is one of the basic concepts, or ideas, of physics. It is the ability to do work. Without
energy we could live. We need energy to work, and scientists are always looking for new sources of
energy.

1. .............. None of the world’s energy comes from the sun.
2. .............. Wind, steam, and gasoline are sources of energy.
3. .............. People have never used nuclear energy.
4. .............. Energy is the ability to do work.
5. .............. We need new sources of energy.