Text 1
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
Vocabulary
device - устройство
to perform calculations – выполнять арифметические действия
to process - обрабатывать
handle a vast amount - обрабатывать огромное количество
To solve problems – решать проблемы
ancient - древний
data – данные, сведения
to control machines – управлять механизмами
provide entertainment – обеспечивать развлечения
performance – зд. работа
input device – устройство ввода
keyboard - клавиатура
storage unit – запоминающее устройство, блок памяти
control unit - блок управления
output devices – устройства вывода
Computer is an electronic device that performs calculations and processes information. It can handle a vast amount of facts and figures and solve complicated problems at high speed. The fastest computers can process millions of pieces of information in seconds.
A computer can process many kinds of information, from book titles to chemical formulas and word from ancient Greek texts. It handles all such data in the form of numbers.
The ability of a computer to do so many tasks makes it useful for a wide variety of purpose. Industrial plants use computers to control machines that produce chemicals, steel products and others. Computers are used as a navigation aid on airplanes, ships and spacecraft. Computers can be used as teaching machines. They even provide entertainment in the form of computerized game.
Although a computer can do many things it cannot think. A human operator has to instruct the computer what to do with the data it receives. Such instructions are called a program. Also, the operator must check the performance of the computer.
Computers differ greatly in size. The biggest ones can fill a large room. The smallest computers can be held in a person’s hand. No matter what their size, all computers have certain basic parts.
The typical computer has an input device, such as an electronic keyboard, through which the operator enters instructions and data. A storage unit, also called a memory, receives this information from the input device and holds it until it is needed. A control unit selects the instructions from the memory and directs the operations into arithmetic/logic unit. This unit processes the data by means of mathematical calculations and operations involving logic. An output devices then translates the processed data into a form understandable to the operator. Typical output devices are automatic typewriters, high-speed printers and visual display.
Упр. 1. Ответьте на вопросы.
1. What is a computer?
2. How many pieces of information in seconds can the fastest computers process?
3. What form does a computer handle data in?
4. What spheres of people’s life can computers be used in?
5. Can a computer think by itself?
6. Who instructs a computer what to do with data?
7. What is a programme?
8. What input devices do you know and what operations do they perform?
9. What do the output devices do?
10. Is a visual display an input or output device?
Упр. 2. Вставьте пропущенные слова.
1. Computers solve complicated problems at h__________ s___________.
2. A computer can p_____________ many kinds of i______________.
3. Computers can be used as t_________________ m_________________.
4. A human o_______________ has to instruct a computer what to do.
5. A typical i_____________ device is a k_______________.
6. A c____________ u____________ selects the instructions from the m_____________.
7. A control unit p______________ the data by means by m______________ c_____________.
Упр. 3. Подберите к глаголам в колонке А существительные в колонке В. Возможен
более, чем один вариант.
A B
to control the performance
to instruct information
to perform problems
to provide machines
to process calculations
to solve a computer
to enter entertainment
to check data
to handle instructions
Text 2
KINDS OF COMPUTERS
Vocabulary
to distinguish - отличать
to carry out - выполнять
to store – сохранять
general-purpose computers – компьютеры общего назначения
a mainframe computers – универсальная вычислительная машина
designed - сконструирован, создан
components – детали, узлы
handle the needs – удовлетворять нужды
simultaneoususers – одновременные пользователи
volumes of data – объемы данных
advanced - сложный
research organizations – исследовательские центры
customers - потребители
to dominate - господствовать
laptopand desktop computers – дорожные (портативные) компьютеры
There are many different kinds of computers in the world today. Computers are operating at the bank, in your car, and at the shop. But what distinguishes a computer from other information-processing devices are three basic characteristics:
- a computer is completely electronic. That is, all its functions are carried out with electrical signals.
- a computer can remember information and store it for future use.
- a computer can be instructed to do any task we tell it to do.
This opens us many possibilities for computers to solve problems for us in everyday life: at home, at school, or at work.
The most common type of computer today is the personal computer or microcomputer. The use of the personal computers has grown greatly during the last ten years. Only a few million personal computers were in use in 1980, now they are almost in every family. Microcomputers form the most common of the four classes of general-purpose computers.
The other three classes are minicomputers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers. Microcomputers are the smallest and are generally designed for a single user. Minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers all use processors built from a large number of components. Minicomputers (up to the size of a refrigerator) are intended for small groups of users in businesses and other organizations. Their processing abilities are better that those of microcomputers. Mainframe computers can take up a whole room and can handle the needs of many simultaneoususers while processing large volumes of data; they are most often used in large organizations and institutions. Supercomputers, the most advanced computers are designed for extremely high-speed processing of great amount of data, often using some processors working together. They are most often used for performing complex calculations by the government, research organizations, and large industrial groups.
As the computer industry grew, computer makers constantly tried to give customers more powerful machines. The typical microcomputer sold today can work with more than 200 times as much data as the first IBM PC. In fact, many of today’s laptopand desktop microcomputers are more powerful that the minis and mainframes that dominated the market only fifteen or twenty years ago.
Упр. 1. Ответьте на вопросы.
1. What distinguishes a computer from other information-processing devices?
2. What is the most common type of computer today?
3. What computers form the most common of the four classes of computers?
4. How many classes of general-purpose of computers are there?
5. How big can a mainframe computer be?
6. What computers are most often used for performing complex calculations?
7. How powerful is the typical microcomputer today?
Упр. 2. Определите, какие из приведенных ниже утверждений являются неправиль-