阅读理解 The uses of computers Not very long ago, the computer was a strange machine

阅读理解

The uses of computers

Not very long ago, the computer was a strange machine．Not many people understood it．Not many people said yes to it．Today much of that is changing．The first computer system(系统)was introduced for use in business in the mid-1950s．Since then, the number of computer systems used in business, government offices, and institutions has grown rapidly．In 1975, about 250 000 systems were in use in the United States．This is growing by tens of thousands every year．

The electric computer is an important factor(因素)in our lives．Each year we use computer more and more to help us to collect data(数据)and to provide us with information．At one time people thought computers were only useful to banks, department stores, and governments．But today the rapidly increasing number of computers are used for many other purposes．Have you ever stopped to think how you are affected(影响)by a computer? The clothes you wear were probably made with the help of a computer．The newspaper you read could have been edited(编辑)and typed by a computer．Even radio programmes are often prepared by computers．

Computers today are playing important roles(作用)in education, transportation(交通)and medicine．They are used to predict(预报)the weather, to examine the ocean, and to develop defense systems．They are being used by businesses, governments, and institutions．There is no reason to think that their uses will become a greater part of our lives．

The influence(影响)of the computer is great．The list of its uses could go on and on．Computers now affect millions of people in countless(无数的)ways every day．

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