3.
EXERCISES:
MAIN IDEAS
best expresses the main idea. Circle the letter of that statement.
Each paragraph is followed by four
statements. Select the statement
The fact that electronic computers are now used for data processing has led the general
public to believe that it is a mysterious, complicated science and that the computers are
giant brains. Both of these ideas are false. A computer is basically just a high-speed adding
machine that performs the functions it is told to. If the input data are varied even a little,
the computer is unable to operate until it is programmed to accept the variations. The
business operations it performs are impressive only because of the extremely high speed of
manipulation, but most of these operations have been used for decades. Unlike man, the
computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored.
a A computer is a high-speed adding machine.
b. A computer is a mysterious giant brain.
c. A computer is impressive because of its high speed.
d. A computer is superior to man in many ways.
The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire
history
of the United States
. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided
territory from which fourteen
new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave
us control over the mouth of
the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade.
Prior to the purchase, the waterway
had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the
approval of Napoleon. The land
that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural
resources of many kinds.
Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the
total of $15 million amounted to about
four cents an acre.
a. The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.
b. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals.
c. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.
d. Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.
