A Content review

Try to think of a definition for each of these items before checking them in the Glossary. Then complete the following statements with the appropriate words. (Some can be used more than once.) Make sure you use the correct form, i.e. singular or plural.

microcomputer semiconductor chip

microprocessor circuit board primary memory

minicomputer micro memory

1................................. are often referred to as...............................

for short.

2. A................................ system is composed of a

...............................,................................ and peripheral

equipment.

3. The................................ of a microcomputer is usually built as a

single............................... device known as a................................

4. Microcomputers have small..............................

............................... and cannot be hooked up to as many

peripherals as.................................

5. A few................................................................ are normally used

for the processor, memory and electronic controls of peripherals for microcomputers.

B Content review

Summarize the texts on 'Mainframes', 'Minicomputers' and 'Microcomputers' (Units 6, 7 & 8), by completing the following table.

FOCUS F

Making comparisons

Kinds of Computers
When developed	MAINFRAMES	MINICOMPUTERS	MICROCOMPUTERS
		developed in the 70s
Usage			used in fixed applications
Memory speed and capacity	\	most primary memory ranges from 32-S12K bytes
Electrical power method			consumes little electrical power
Price	extremely high prices
Size			small portable size
Complexity of instructions	very complex instructions which can be executed quickly
Number of users			single user-personal computer
Type of processing	allows batch as well as real-time processing		^^mSsIliUmSm^^i

Formation

There are several ways of showing that similarities or differences exist between or amongst things. The regular comparative and superlative of descriptive words, whether these are adjectives or adverbs, is formed as follows:

1. by adding the ending -er and -est to words of one syllable Examples

Adjectives	ABSOLUTE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
new old big	newer older bigger	newest oldest biggest
Adverbs	soon late	sooner later	soonest latest

2. by placing the words more and most in front of words with three or more syllables

Examples

Adjectives	ABSOLUTE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
interesting convenient beautiful	more interesting more convenient more beautiful	most interesting most convenient most beautiful
Adverbs	easily carefully	more easily more carefully	most easily most carefully

3. words with two syllables may be like 1 or 2 above in that they will add the ending -er and -est if they end in -y or -ly, -ow, -le and -er. Most of the remaining words take more and most in front of them.

Example

-y	ABSOLUTE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
happy funny	happier funnier	happiest funniest
-ly	early friendly	earlier friendlier	earliest friendliest
-ow	shallow narrow	shallower narrower	shallowest narrowest
-le	able gentle	abler gentler	ablest gentlest
-er	clever	cleverer	cleverest

N.B. Two-syllable adverbs ending in -ly take more or most

Example

quickly more quickly most quickly

slowly more slowly most slowly

badly more badly most badly

ABSOLUTE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
polite	politer more polite	politest most polite
quiet	quieter more quiet	quietest most quiet

5. There are a small number of adjectives and adverbs that form the comparative and superlative using a different stem. These irregular comparisons are as follows:

Example

Adjectives	ABSOLUTE	COMPARATIVE	SUPERLATIVE
bad far good many	worse further/farther better more	worst furthest/farthest best most
Adverbs	badly far little much well	worse further/farther less more better	worst furthest/farthest least most best

Example

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