Lexical Exercises

Section I

Text 1. The Fastest Growing Industry in the World

50 years ago, people hadn’t even heard of computers, and today we cannot imagine life without them.

Computer technology is the fastest-growing industry in the world. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today, its job can be done by a chip the size of pin head. And the revolution is still going on.

Very soon we’ll have computers that we’ll wear on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings. Such wearable computers are being developed in the USA.

Japan’s biggest mobile-phone company has just released its cleverest product so far, a mobile phone that allows you to surf the Internet as well as make calls. People are already using the phone to check the news headlines, follow the stock market and download the latest jokes. Soon they will be able to buy cinema tickets and manage their bank accounts.

The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic ‘neural networks’. Of course, they’ll be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, understand and control the world’s money markets, identify criminals and control space travel.

Computer revolution is changing our life and our language, too. We are constantly making up new words or giving new meanings to old ones. Most of computer terms are born in Silicon Valley, the world’s top computer-science centre.

Lexical Exercises

I. Find the translation of the following words in the vocabulary, transcribe them, read aloud and remember.

· Chip	· download
· wrist	· bank account
· release	· neural network
· develop	· Silicon Valley
· follow the stock market	· surf the Internet

II. Check your comprehension. Which variant is correct according to the text?

1. The smallest computers will soon be

a) in our glasses and earrings

b) in every doorbell

c) in Silicon Valley

d) in Japan’s biggest mobile phone company

2. The mobile phone that has been released by Japan’s phone company allows users to

a) see a person you speak to

b) surf the Internet

c) drive a car

d) control your health

3 Computer revolution makes people

e) spend time surfing the Internet

f) create new words

g) download the latest jokes

III. Answer the questions.

1. What was the size of the first computer? What is the size of the latest chip?

2. What device has been developed in Japan? What are the functions of this device?

3. What will the next generation of computers be able to do?

4. In which way does the computer revolution change our life?

5. What is Silicon Valley?

Grammar Focus

IV. Put the verb into the correct form (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

1. People already (to use) the phone to check the news headlines, follow the stock market and download the latest jokes.

2. Most of computer terms (to be born) in Silicon Valley, the world’s top computer-science centre.

3. Computer revolution (to change) our life and our language, too.

4. We constantly (to make) up new words or (to give) new meanings to old ones.

5. Three basic characteristics (to distinguish) a computer from other information-processing devices.

6. The existence of all these different types of computers (to raise) an important question.

7. This (to open up) a vast realm of possibilities for computers to solve everyday problems: at home, at school, at work.

8. The computer revolution still (to go on).

Speaking

V. Give a summary of the text.

VI. Say what you think about the following. Explain your opinion.

Twenty years ago it was difficult to imagine the impact computers would have on people. Ten years from now, our uses of computers may be very much different. What is your vision of computer use ten years from now?

Text 2. Kinds of Computers

There are many kinds of computers. Different computers operate at plants and universities, in hospitals, supermarkets and offices. These computers are special-purpose computers; that is, they serve specific functions. There are also general-purpose computers, which are able to handle all kinds of tasks. The existence of all these different types of computers raises an important question: What is a computer? A computer is simply a device that processes raw data into useful information. But from that perspective, a typewriter, a calculator, or even an abacus could be called a computer. Two basic characteristics distinguish a computer from other information-processing devices:

· A computer can remember information and retain it for future use. Computers do this on a temporary basis with memory circuits and permanently with storage devices such as magnetic disk.

· A computer is programmable. Unlike other devices built to perform a single function or limited range of functions, you can instruct a computer to do a variety of tasks. This opens up a vast realm of possibilities for computers to solve everyday problems: at home, at a university, at work.

The most common kind of general-purpose computer in use today is the personal computer. The use of personal computers has grown greatly during the last 30 years.

Lexical Exercises

I. Find the translation of the following words in the vocabulary, transcribe them, read aloud and remember.

· operate	· temporary basis
· perform	· memory
· special-purpose computer	· circuit
· general-purpose computer	· storage device
· process	· programmable
· processing	· handle
· processor	· raw data

II. Check your comprehension. Which variant is correct according to the text?

1. This device cannot be called a computer:

a) notebook

b) mainframe

c) calculator

d) desktop

2. Computers can remember information on a short temporary basis by using

a) storage devices

b) magnetic disks

c) hard disks

d) memory circuits

3. Unlike other devices a computer can perform

a) only a single function

b) a limited range of functions

c) a variety of functions

d) two main functions

III. Answer the Questions.

1. What is a computer?

2. What kinds of computers are described in this text?

3. What characteristics distinguish a computer from other information processing devices?

4. What is the most common kind of a general-purpose computer?

5. What functions do special-purpose computers serve?

Grammar Focus

IV. Put the verb into the correct form (Past Simple or Present Perfect).

1. The first computer (to be) the size of a minibus and (to weigh) a ton.

2. Japan’s biggest mobile-phone company just (to release) its cleverest product so far, a mobile phone that allows you to surf the Internet as well as make calls.

3. The use of personal computers (to grow) greatly during the last 30 years.

4. Twenty years ago personal computers (to be) a relative novelty.

5. The plant already (to install) an automated testing system.

6. Last year our computer engineers (to develop) a new program for distance technical support of the users.

7. A producer from the UK (to introduce) new software for the production of an advanced inspection system.

8. The facility (to begin) operating in August, 2003.

9. Widespread adoption of digital technology in steel plants (to create) more information than ever before.

Speaking

V. Give a summary of the text.

VI. Think and complete the following sentence. Develop the idea.

This text focuses on a definition of a computer, its difference from……and…...

Text 3. Computer Hardware

Computers and all the machinery and equipment connected with them are called hardware.

Hardware includes the computer itself, disk drives, keyboards, monitors, and any other related physical devices.

All computers use the same techniques for carrying out the tasks. Computers take in data through input devices, manipulate data according to instructions, then output the results of the processing, and store the data for later use. These four processes together are known as the computing cycle.

Input is the process of entering data into a computer. The most common input device is the keyboard. Computer keyboards include many special commands and function keys as well as the usual typewriter layout. These special keys often perform specialized input tasks. Other input devices include a mouse, which manipulates a pointer on the computer screen for giving commands and entering data, (using a mouse, you can do a number of things, for example, by clicking on different icons), scanner, which reads graphic images and pages of text and sends them to the computer, and a modem, which receives data over phone lines.

Data in a computer is processed: microprocessors perform all calculations and manipulations necessary to transform data into meaningful information. The computer’s memory is used for storing data and programs while they’re being used by the processor.

Getting processed data out of the computer is the job of output devices. Most often computers display data on a monitor. There are several types including color or monochrome, flat panel or picture tube, desktop or portable. You can also send data to a printer or plotter to make a paper copy, use the modem to send the data over a phone line to another computer, or use any number of specialized output devices.

If you want to keep the data in a permanent form you should use a storage device. Storage devices hold data for later retrieval. Computers typically store data magnetically on disks or tape. Each type of disk is used by its corresponding disk drive to read and write information. Floppy disks are used for easy, portable storage. Built-in hard disks are generally used to store larger amounts of data and programs with the computer system for fast access. Another common storage device is the optical disk (such as the CD-ROM).

Lexical Exercises

I. Find the translation of the following key words in the vocabulary, transcribe them, read aloud and remember.

· disk drive	· information
· keyboard	· computing cycle
· monitor	· input
· instruction	· output
· software	· enter

II. Check your comprehension. Which variant is correct according to the text?

1. Hardware is a

a) program

b) physical device

c) computing cycle

d) image

2. Disk drives, keyboards, monitors are known as

a) software

b) hardware

c) technique

d) records

3. Input is the process of

a) getting processed data out of the computer

b) performing calculations

c) entering data into a computer

d) carrying out tasks

4. The task of a microprocessor is to

a) display information

b) store data

c) perform all calculations

d) select commands

III. Answer the questions.

1. What devices does hardware include?

2. Why are instructions necessary?

3. What does hardware do?

4. What processes does a computing cycle consist of?

5. What is input?

6. What is output?

7. What input devices are described in the text? What are their functions?

8. What is the most common input device?

9. What devices process data?

10. What is the computer’s memory used for?

11. What output devices get processed data out of the computer?

12. Where does the computer store data?

Grammar Focus

IV. Choose the correct form of the verb (Past Continuous or Past simple).

1. When the teacher came into the computer classroom the students (were typing/typed) English texts.

2. People first (were using/used) personal computers more than 30 years ago.

3. The 1^st-generation computer system (employed/was employing) vacuum tubes.

4. At that time yesterday I (was writing/wrote) a program for my computer.

5. The model of creative process in computers (gave/was giving) birth to the term “artificial intelligence”.

6. When I saw him he (discussed/was discussing) some problems with his instructor.

7. Chebyshev P.L, academician, (made/was making) a valuable contribution to the field of computing machine.

Speaking

V. Give a summary of the text.

VI. Complete the following sentence. Add more information about computer hardware.

The computing cycle includes four kinds of hardware devices: input, processing, output and …

Text 4. Computer Software

As well as hardware (the machines), you also need software (the programs needed to work the machines).

Computers are of little value without instructions. Instructions, known as software, tell computers what tasks to perform and what information to work on. Software also allows you, the user, to tell the computer what work to perform.

A program is a set of instructions designed to control a computer. Software can be a single program or a group of programs that work together. Because their meanings are very similar, the terms software (or a piece of software) and program are often used interchangeably.

Two types of software (operating system and application software) are necessary to make the computer capable of performing useful work. Operating systems software contains basic instructions that tell the CPU how to use other hardware devices, where to find data, and how to load and keep track of programs in memory. Because it includes basic instructions that are vital to the internal functioning of the computer, the operating system is the first program to be processed when the computer is turned on. The operating system remains in memory until the computer is turned off.

To perform useful tasks a computer needs application software in addition to the operating system. An application is a job that a computer can perform, such as creating text documents, manipulating sets of numbers, creating graphic images, and communicating with other computers. Application software is the term used to describe programs that tell the computer how to perform such jobs. The six most common types of application software are

· Word processing software.

· Graphics software.

· Desktop publishing software.

· Spreadsheet software.

· Database management software.

· Communications software.

Application software is what makes a computer a useful tool for performing tasks at a university, at home, or at the office.

Lexical Exercises

I. Find the translation of the following key terms in the vocabulary, transcribe them, read aloud and remember.

· application	· software
· program	· operating system

II. Check your comprehension. Which variant is correct according to the text?

1. Because their meanings are very similar, the terms ‘software’ and ___________ are often used interchangeably.

a) hardware

b) operating system

c) input device

d) program

2. The six most common types of application software are word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, database, desktop publishing and ___________ software.

a) communications

b) games

c) utility

d) drawing

3. The two types of software necessary to make the computer capable of performing useful work are

a) application software and utility software

b) utility software and operating system software

c) application software and operating system software

d) application software and word processing software

III. Answer the questions.

1. What is a program?

2. Is software a single program?

3. What is necessary to make the computer capable of performing useful work?

4. What does operating system software contain?

5. Which program is the first to be processed when the computer is turned on?

6. How long can the operating system remain in memory?

7. What does the computer need to perform useful tasks?

8. What is application?

9. What does the term ‘application software’ describe?

10. What makes a compute a useful tool for programming tasks?

Grammar Focus

IV. Put the verb into the correct form (Past Simple or Past Perfect).

1. The development of mechanical calculating machines (to make) the digital computers necessary.

2. By the end of the 1930s computing engineering (to begin) the new era.

3. A major advance in the development of computer technology (to be) the creation of microprocessors and microcomputers.

4. By the time a new computer (to be) installed they already (to write) the program.

5. When I got home, I found that someone (to turn on) my computer.

6. It was my first time to send E-mail letter. I was very nervous because I (not to do) it before.

7. The first modern automatic computer (to begin) to work in 1944.

Speaking

V. Give a summary of the text.

VI. Complete the following sentences. Add more information about computer software.

1. To be capable of performing useful work, a computer also needs two kinds of software: the operating system and …

2. The six most common types of application software are word processing, graphics, desktop publishing, spreadsheet, database, and …

Text 5. The Computing Cycle

Whatever personal computer you use, its computing process always consists of four key steps. It may be a personal computer used at home or at the office. It may be a computer used at a metallurgical plant to control manufacturing operations or a computer at a university used to register students and keep track of student records. Each of these computers uses the same four-step process – input, processing, memory, and output.

Input

A human perceives data as a series of complex thoughts and ideas. To a computer, data are made up of a series of electrical signals. To convert data that a human can use into a form a computer can understand, each number, letter, or any other symbol must be converted into a specific combination in a binary format

A signal in binary format instructs the computer that an electrical impulse is either on or off, connected or not connected, opened or closed. The binary system used by a computer uses only two values, zero and one, to represent all numbers, letters, or other symbols. This binary system is perfect for computers, which can understand only two states. The number zero represents an off signal and the number one represents an on signal. The number three in the binary system consists of two ones – 11, that is, a series of two on electrical signals. Similarly, one on and one off electrical signal convert to a one followed by zero. This binary number 10 is equal to the number 2 in the base - 10 numbering system.

As regards all the letters, punctuation marks, keystrokes, and so on, computer code simply combines each of these into a unique combination of ones and zeros.

Each zero or one, the smallest piece of data used by the computer, is known as a bit – short for binary digit. Data from an input device enter the computer in groups of bits called a byte. For this reason, computer code generally assigns each letter, number, and symbol a unique combination of zeros and ones.

The computing cycle begins with input from any one of a series of devices. Input devices include a keyboard, a mouse, light pens, touch screens, scanners, and modems. While input devices differ, the function is the same – to send data into the computer for processing in binary form.

Processing

After data are converted into a binary form, they are available for processing. The central processing unit (CPU) performs this activity in conjunction with memory and storage. The CPU, the “brains” of the computer system, consists of a control unit and an arithmetic/logic unit (ALU).

· The control unit manages the computer system, acting like a traffic cop directing the flow of data throughout the system.

· The ALU performs all mathematical and logical functions.

One of the fundamental components linked to the CPU is memory. Just as a human requires memory to perform meaningful tasks, so does a computer. Memory is the area of the computer that stores data for processing. It comes in two forms, random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). RAM temporarily stores the data needed for the current processing task. When power to computer is turned off, data in RAM vanish. We call RAM user memory. It is the memory where your term paper resides when you write it with word processing software. ROM is permanent memory that provides the basic set of instructions for starting the computer. It contains the instructions that give meaning to keys on a keyboard, basic sounds, and access to storage devices.

Output

The result of processing is called output. Just as there are several input devices to convert human data into a form usable by the computer, there are also several output devices that convert computer information into a form usable by humans. Some of the most popular types of output devices are monitors, printers, plotters, speakers, and modems.

S torage

Because RAM is volatile (it is erased whenever you turn off the computer), you must store the contents of RAM in a more permanent form. This is the function of storage (sometimes called secondary memory). Typically, storage works in close conjunction with RAM. For example, you may type a 30-page term paper into RAM, but unless you store it somewhere (typically a disk), you will lose your work. Therefore, saving the contents of RAM to a disk is a vital part of the computing cycle.

How the Computing Cycle Works

The computing cycle consisting of input, processing, output, and storage involves several steps in the flow of data. Data typically flow through the system in the following manner.

1. The control unit of the CPU directs the transfer of data from an input device to memory or storage. For example, the text that appears on the screen as you type goes into random access memory.

2. Data in storage remain in storage until needed for the next processing task. Then the control unit transfers data from storage to memory. When you select a spreadsheet program and a budget report, for example, they are loaded from storage to memory.

3. The control unit sends the required data from memory to the arithmetic/logic unit. For example, the formula and data you need to calculate the return on an investment are placed in the ALU.

4. The ALU makes the necessary mathematical and logical computations as you enter data and formulas.

5. When all calculations are completed, the control unit sends the results to memory (RAM).

6. The control unit sends the output from memory (RAM) to a monitor and/or printer.

7. The control unit can also send all or part of the contents of memory (RAM) to storage (disk) for future use. The control unit can also erase data from memory when instructed to do so or when power to the computer is turned off.

Lexical Exercises

I. Find the translation of the following key terms in the vocabulary, transcribe them, read aloud and remember.

· binary format	· arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
· bit	· random access memory (RAM)
· byte	· read-only memory (ROM)
· central processing unit (CPU)	· storage

II. Check your comprehension. Which variant is correct according to the text?

1. To the computer, data is made up of a series of

a) letters

b) numbers

c) symbols

d) electrical signals

2. The smallest piece of data used by the computer is known as a

a) byte

b) bit

c) binary digit

d) both b) and c)

3. Input devices include a keyboard, a mouse, light pens, touch screens, scanners and

a) memory

b) display

c) modem

d) storage device

4. The ALU performs

a) processing

b) all mathematical and logical functions

c) control of the data flow

d) typing on the keyboard

III. Answer the questions.

1. What is the meaning of the term ‘CPU’?

2. What is the distinction between RAM and ROM?

3. What are the processes that make up the computing cycle?

4. What is a bit and what is a byte and how are they related?

5. What must be done to convert data into a form a computer can understand?

Grammar Focus

IV. Put the verb into the Future Simple.

1. Very soon we (to have) computers that we (to wear) on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings.

2. People (to use) the phone to check the news headlines, follow the stock market and download the latest jokes.

3. Soon they (to be able) to buy cinema tickets and manage their bank accounts.

4. The next generation of computers (to be able) to talk and even think for themselves.

5. These computers (to contain) electronic ‘neural networks’

6. Such computers (to help) to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, understand and control the world’s money markets, identify criminals and control space travel.

7. Of course, they (to be) still a lot simpler than human brains, but it (to be) a great step forward.

8. In the continuous casting process water sprays (to be directed) onto the shell of a slab or bloom.

Speaking

V. Say what you have learned from the text about:

1. input

2. processing

3. output

4. storage

5. how the computing cycle works

VI. Give a summary of the text.

Text 6. Processors

The system unit or the processing unit contains processing devices, various electronic circuits, and other components.

Chips, Printed Circuit Boards, and Slots

Many of the operating parts of a computer, such as the CPU and memory, consist of tiny silicon chips, also called semiconductors or integrated circuits (IC). Chips are enclosed by a carrier package called a DIP (dual inline package). Users commonly do not distinguish between DIPs and chips; generally, the entire enclosed package is referred to as a chip.

Each enclosed chip plugs into a socket on a printed circuit board (PC board, sometimes called a card). A series of metallic lines are embedded on each board that act like wires; these provide the hard-wired (directly connected) connections between different circuit elements.

The printed circuit board containing the CPU is called the system board or motherboard. A motherboard on a microcomputer can have a number of slots built into the board. These slots are called expansion slots. Each of these expansion slots can hold an additional printed circuit board. The additional printed circuit boards are called expansion boards, plug-in boards, or cards and can hold several different types of chips. When computer manufacturers allow users to open the box and add components, it is called open architecture. Computers with an open architecture allow users to add their own expansion boards and add new chips with different functions.

The Central Processing Unit

As stated earlier, microcomputers use a CPU for controlling the process within a computer system. The CPU has three components – one for controlling the computer, called the control unit; one for performing arithmetic and logical operations, called the arithmetic logic unit; and one for storing data immediately prior to and following an operation, called registers.

The control unit manages the computer system using a four-step process: fetching, decoding, executing, and storing. Before the ALU can perform an arithmetic or logical operation, it must first have an instruction. Fetching is the process of retrieving an instruction from memory. It places the instruction in a special type of memory internal to the CPU called a register. After an instruction is retrieved and placed in a register, it must be translated into a format the ALU can use. This process is known as decoding. Executing is the actual process used by the ALU to execute the command. Finally, when the ALU completes the execution of the command, the control unit uses storage to move data from the ALU back to memory. The control unit repeats this process for every operation in the computing cycle.

The Fetch, Decode, Execute, and Storage Process

1. Fetch an instruction from memory and store it in a register.

2. Decode the instruction into a form usable by the ALU.

3. Send a command to the ALU to execute the decoded instruction.

4. Send the results of the executed instruction to a register.

5. Move the results to memory.

6. Repeat the process for the next instruction.

The ALU does all the work in a binary representation (zeros and ones). This is the reason that decoding is an important function with the control unit. The ALU is capable of changing a zero to a one and a one to a zero. It is actually a simple process in which the ALU performs one task at a time, but at a very high speed.

Registers are high-speed storage areas directly linked to the ALU and managed by the control unit. In many cases there are several different types of registers. For example, some storage registers temporarily hold data prior to it being executed by the ALU. Address registers hold only the address locations of the data the ALU needs to perform an operation. An accumulator register holds data processed by the ALU. Instruction registers hold instructions for the control unit. Finally, there are program-counter registers that hold the address of the next executable instructions. Each register exists to guide the flow of data and instructions to and from the ALU.

Microprocessor Chips

The fundamental difference between a personal computer and a mainframe computer is that a microcomputer’s CPU (ALU, control unit, and registers) is contained on one chip. This chip is called a microprocessor. Various manufacturers produce microprocessors with differing capabilities and capacities. A microprocessor’s capacity is based on the number of bits it can process at one time and the speed with which it performs operations.

The number of bits a CPU can process at one time is known as a computer word. The number of bits held by registers and processed together makes up the computer word. For example, a microprocessor, which uses a 4-bit word, has registers that allow 4 bits to be processed together by the ALU. A 64-bit microprocessor contains registers that allow 64 bits to be processed by the ALU.

Computer words are important because they affect the speed and performance of the computer system. If everything else is the same between two CPUs, a 32-bit CPU will process twice as much data as a 16-bit CPU in the same amount of time. In theory, a 64-bit CPU is twice as fast as a 32-bit CPU, which is twice as fast as a 16-bit CPU, which is twice as fast as an 8-bit CPU.

System Bus

As data move through the computer system, they travel along paths on the PC boards in a prescribed format. The electrical pathway used to transport data from one location to another is called a bus (also called a system bus or bus line). The bus consists of a series of parallel wires on the motherboard that connect the CPU with memory, other control chips, and expansion boards. The first 8-bit microprocessors used a bus with eight wires (an 8-bit bus). Most 16-bit microprocessors used a 16-bit bus and so on. Each computer also has a system clock. The system clock sends a continuous rhythmic series of electrical pulses, much like a metronome, that other circuits use to stay in synchronization with each other. The speed of the clock’s pulses sets the operation speed of the computer: the faster the clock pulses, the faster the computer can process data. Clock speed is measured in megahertz (MHz, 1 MHz equals one million cycles per second). Early computers, such as the Apple and Apple II, used a clock that ran at 1 MHz. Today’s computers operate at speeds exceeding 1000 MHz.

These two factors, the width of the bus and the speed of the clock, help to determine the power of a computer. Think of the bus as a high way. The number of bits a bus can carry at one time can be thought of as the number of highway lanes. Clock speed can be thought of as the speed limit. With a higher speed limit, the bits can travel faster; with more lanes, more bits can travel simultaneously. The processing power of a computer is largely the product of clock speed and the number of bits processed simultaneously. However, the question “How fast is the computer?” is still difficult to answer. Speed is a somewhat elusive term when you are dealing with computers. It is influenced by the microprocessor, the clock speed, the bus, the amount of time needed for information to flow from a disk drive to RAM, the amount of time it takes to move data from RAM through the CPU, and even the amount of time required to display information on a monitor. Leading trade journals often provide comparison tests of computer speed in processing text and numeric data, manipulating databases, displaying graphics, and transmitting data to and from peripheral devices. These tests give consumers and business users important performance information.

Lexical Exercises

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26