9. Practice asking the questions: ask all possible questions to the different

parts of the sentences:

1.The transistor, a small piece of a semiconductor with three electrodes, had great

advantages over the best vacuum tubes.

2. IС greatly reduced the size of devices, decreased man­ufacturing costs and at the

same time they provided high speed and increased reliability.

3. The development of a large variety of tubes designed for spe­cialized functions

made possible the progress in radio commu­nication technology before the World

War II and in the creation of early computers during and shortly after the war.

10. Speak on the topic using the following word-combinations:

Electronics, application of electronic circuits, storage of information, electronic devices, scientific research, industrial designing, to control the work of power station, invention of vacuum tubes, the starting point, rapid growth, specialized functions, communication technology, creation of computers, replacing vacuum tubes, transistors, piece of a semiconductor, great advantages, to reduce weight, cost, power consumption, high reliability, electronic circuits, high speed computers, semiconductor technology, assembling discrete components, batch processing, to decrease manufacturing cost.

Text B

1. Read the text and be ready to answer the questions:

1. Why the de­velopment of electronics is called a revolution?

2.What is microelectronics?

3. What technics does microelectronics use?

4. What is the benefit of reducing the size of circuit elements?

5. What does the speed of the signal response depend on?

6. What advantages of microelectronics are there?

7. How are microelectronics techniques developing?

MICROELECTRONICS AND MICROMINIATURIZATION

The intensive effort of electronics to increase the reliability and performance of its products while reducing their size and cost led to the results that hardly anyone could predict. The evolution of electronic technology is sometimes called a revo­lution: a quantitative change in technology gave rise to qualita­tive change in human capabilities. There appeared a new branch of science — microelectronics.

Microelectronics embraces electronics connected with the realization of electronic circuits, systems and subsystems from very small electronic devices. Microelectronics is a name for extremely small electronic components and circuit assemblies, made by film or semiconductor techniques. A microelectronic technology reduced transistors and other circuit elements to dimensions almost invisible to unaided eye. The point of this extraordinary miniaturization is to make circuits long-lasting, reduce in cost, and capable of performing electronic functions at extremely high speed. It is known that the speed of response depends on the size of transistor: the smaller the transistor, the faster it is. The smaller the computer, the faster it can work.

One more advantage of microelectronics is that smaller de­vices consume less power. In space satellites and spaceships this is a very important factor.

Another benefit resulting from microelectronics is the reduc­tion of distances between circuit components. Packing density increased with the appearance of small-scale integrated circuit, medium-scale IС, large-scale IС and very-large-scale 1С. The change in scale was measured by the number of transistors on a chip. There appeared a new type of integrated circuits, micro­wave integrated circuit. The evolution of microwave IС began with the development of planar transmission lines. Then new IС components in a transmission line appeared.

Other more exotic techniques, such as dielectric waveguide integrat­ed circuits emerged.

Microelectronic technique is continuing to displace other modes. Circuit patterns are being formed with radiation having wavelength shorter than those of light.

Electronics has extended man's intellectual power. Micro­electronics extends that power still further.

2. Make a plan of the text.

3. Translate the part of the text in italics in a written form.

4. Retell the text according to your plan.

Text C

1. Listen and remember the following words and word-combinations:

advantages - переваги

in comparison with – у порівнянні з

vacuum tube – вакуумні трубки

absence of filament power loss – відсутність енергії на нитці розжарення

damages - збитки

electronic circuitry – електронна схема

average – середній, звичайний

ruggedness - міцність

2. Listen to the text “The Invention of Transistor” and define if the statements are True or False:

1. Light sources and lasers are built on the basis of transistors.

2. Because of their small size, the absence of heating and other properties, transistors

make it pos­sible to produce compact, small-dimensioned electronic devices which

consume very little power.

3. Transistors replaced batteries due to their numerous advantages.

4. They are also used to convert radiant energy into elec­tricity with the help of

photocells or electronic tubes.

5. One of the principal causes of damages in electronic circuitry is high temperature.