Read the passage mark letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 5. ⇱
Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the idea for a computer had been worked out over two centuries ago by a man ___(1)___ Charles Babbage. Babbage was born in 1791 and grew up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines which he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he ___(2)___ building some of these, he never finished any of them. Over the years, people have argued ___(3)___ his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science Museum in London has finished building ___(4)___ engine based on one of Babbage’s designs. ___(5)___ has taken six years to complete and move than 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 remind people of Babbage’s work