Unit A Parts and Measurements

 

Vocabulary

to compute

computer

PC – Personal computer

 

desktop

 

part

device

hardware

 

drive

hard drive

floppy disk drive

CD-ROM drive

CD-rewriter

 

CD – compact disk

DVD – Digital Versatile Disk

 

tower

mouse

 

key

keyboard

 

peripherals

 

to store

storage

storage device

 

memory

RAM – Random Access Memory

ROM – Read Only Memory

 

unit

 

to measure

measurement

 

bit – binary digit

byte

kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte

 

hertz

megahertz, gigahertz

 

inch

 

speed

 

size

 

rate

 

to process

processor

CPU – central processing unit

 

to control

 

to perform

performance

 

to run

 

to move

to remove

movement

 

software

 

program

to program

programmer

 

to operate

operation

OS – operating /operation system

 

to display

display

 

to monitor

monitor

screen

 

to print

printer

 

to type

type

 

character

letter

graphics

image

picture

a) chose the correct translation:

1) to measure

a) обрабатывать

b) выполнять

c) измерять

d) запускать

 

2) device

а) экран

b) устройство

c) привод

d) память

 

3) to run

a) обрабатывать

b) выполнять

c) измерять

d) запускать

 

4) screen

а) экран

b) устройство

c) привод

d) память

 

5) drive

а) экран

b) устройство

c) привод

d) память

 

6) size

a) размер

b) скорость

c) память

d) привод

 

7) to perform

a) обрабатывать

b) выполнять

c) измерять

d) запускать

 

8) to process

a) обрабатывать

b) выполнять

c) измерять

d) запускать

 

9) speed

a) размер

b) скорость

c) память

d) привод

 

10) storage

а) экран

b) устройство

c) привод

d) память

 

b) Match the words with their meanings:

a) keyboard b) desktop c) unit d) performance e) operate f) device g) type h) process i) store j) part

1) набирать 2) устройство 3) работать 4) обрабатывать 5) клавиатура 6) хранить 7) блок 8) деталь 9) настольный 10) быстродействие

c) Match the words with their definitions:

a) character b) hardware c) megabyte   d) performance e) process   f) software g) store h) image i) device j) megahertz

1) how well or badly a computer, machine, etc. works or does smth 2) the programs used by a computer 3) a single letter, number or space that is typed in a computer document 4) a copy or picture of sth seen on a computer 5) the machinery and electronic parts of a computer system that you can touch 6) to keep information or data in a computer's memory 7) a unit for measuring the speed of a CPU. 8) a tool or a piece of equipment made for a particular purpose 9) a unit for measuring computer memory 10) (used about a computer) to read data and use it to perform a series of tasks (operations)

d) Make up two-word expressions:

to process to control to watch a binary an operation to type to measure to play to run a storage

movies a program games data hardware device digit system size letters

e) Make up three-word expressions:

Central Random Read Hard Digital

Access Versatile Only Processing Disk

Disk Drive Memory Memory Unit

f) Find synonyms:

character speed device keep image software storage operate part computer

picture machine work rate component store letter program hardware memory

g) Complete the sentences with the words from the box:

measure, CPU, graphics,movies, run, processes, RAM

1) Most computers ___ the Microsoft Windows OS.

2) We ___ the size of the hard disk in gigabytes.

3) Watching ___ on the Internet needs a faster ___.

4) The CPU controls how fast the computer ___data.

5) Programs with a lot of ___ need a large ___to run well

h) Guess what it is:

1) a device that can read and write to writable disks

2) a tool or a piece of equipment made for a particular purpose

3) the part of the computer that reads and stores information on disks

4) a machine that is connected to a computer and that prints on paper

5) the set of buttons (keys) that you press to operate a computer

6) a separate part of a PC with a large screen that shows information from the computer

7) a small device that you move across a surface with your hand to control the movement of the cursor

8) the general term used for a computer, which usually consists of a monitor, a tower, a keyboard and a mouse

9) any piece of hardware (= machinery, etc. that forms part of or is connected to a computer) apart from the CPU and the working memory (RAM)

10) a metal box that contains the CPU, hard disk drive and power supply for a PC

Reading

a) Read the text quickly. Match the headings (a-d) with the paragraphs (1-4):

 

a Memory b Speed c PCs and Notebooks d Hardware/ Software

 

1. The parts of a computer you can touch, such as the monitor or the Central Processing Unit (CPU) are hardware. All hardware except the CPU and the working memory are called peripherals. Computer programs are software. The operating system (OS) is software that controls the hardware. Most computers run the Microsoft Windows OS. MacOS and Linux are other operating systems.

2. The CPU controls how fast the computer processes data, or information. We measure its speed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). The higher the speed of the CPU, the faster the computer will run. You can type letters and play computer games with a 500 MHz CPU. Watching movies on the Internet needs a faster CPU and a modem.

3. We measure the Random Access Memory (RAM) of the computer in megabytes (MB). RAM controls the performance of the computer when it is working and moves data to and from the CPU. Programs with a lot of graphics need a large RAM to run well. The hard disk stores data and software programs. We measure the size of the hard disk in gigabytes (GB).

4. Computer technology changes fast, but a desktop PC (Personal Computer) usually has a tower, a separate monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. The CPU, modem, CD-ROM and floppy disk drives are usually inside the tower. A notebook is a portable computer with all these components inside one small unit. Notebooks have a screen, not a monitor, and are usually more expensive than desktops with similar specifications.

(W)

b) Look at these words. Write H (hardware), P (peripheral), S (software) or M (measurement) next to each one:

1 CPU 2MacOS 3 megabyte (MB) 4 printer 5 RAM 6 megahertz (MHz) 7 mouse 8 modem 9 Linux 10 scanner 11 gigabytes (GB) 12 floppy disk

c) Match the highlighted words and phrases in the text with the definitions (1-7):

1. parts 2. pictures and images 3. reads and uses data

4. measurements 5. use a computer program 6. keeps data in the memory 7. how well a computer does something

 

Приставки для образования десятичных кратных и дольных единиц

 

Наименования десятичных кратных и дольных единиц образуются присоединением нижеуказанных приставок к наименованиям исходных единиц.

 

da – deca (дека – да) = 101 h - hecto (гекто – г) = 102 k – kilo (кило – к) = 103 M – mega (мега – М) = 106 G – giga (гига – Г) = 109 T – tera (тера – Т) = 1012 P – peta (пета – П) = 1015 E – exa (экса – Э) = 1018

d – deci (деци – д) = 1-0-1 c – centi (санти – с) = 10-2 m – milli (милли – м) = 10-3 - micro (микро – мк) = 10-6 n – nano (нано - н) = 10-9 p – pico (пико – п) = 10-12 f – femto (фемто – ф) = 10-15 a – atto (атто – а) = 10-18

 

 

Unit B What is a Computer?

 

Vocabulary

 

to accept

 

step

 

to involve

 

to feed (fed)

 

set

to set

set-up

 

to put

to input

to output

 

to make

to make up

make-up

 

to call

 

to consist

 

main

main memory

 

influence

to influence

influential

 

to execute

executive

 

to hold (held)

to hold down

 

current

currently

 

to attach

attachment

 

to provide

 

permanent

 

to equip

equipment

 

socket

 

to connect

connection

 

handle

to handle

 

able

to enable

 

common

 

to extract

 

means

by means of

 

to plug

 

range

 

general

generally

a) chose the correct translation:

1) consist

а) прикреплять

b) состоять

c) извлекать

d) составлять

 

2) extract

а) прикреплять

b) состоять

c) извлекать

d) составлять

 

3) step

а) шаг

b) набор

c) влияние

d) средство

 

4) involve

а) предоставлять

b) вовлекать

c) устанавливать

d) делать

 

5) set

а) шаг

b) набор

c) влияние

d) средство

 

6) influence

а) шаг

b) набор

c) влияние

d) средство

 

7) attach

а) прикреплять

b) состоять

c) извлекать

d) составлять

 

8) provide

а) предоставлять

b) вовлекать

c) устанавливать

d) делать

 

9) means

а) шаг

b) набор

c) влияние

d) средство

 

10) make up

а) прикреплять

b) состоять

c) извлекать

d) составлять

 

b) Match the words with their meanings:

a) main b) execute c) enable d) hold e) equipment f) connect g) common h) call i) range j) currently

1) оборудование 2) называть 3) главный 4) в настоящее время 5) давать возможность 6) диапазон 7) держать 8) распространенный 9) соединять 10) выполнять

c) Match the words with their definitions:

a) able b) execute c) influence d) general e) current f) hold g) permanent h) step i) by means of j) plug

1) clever, having or showing knowledge or skill 2) now passing, of the present time 3) have or keep in one’s possession 4) one action in a series of actions 5) carry out 6) make a connection 7) not special or particular 8) through, with the help of 9) not expected to change, going for a long time 10) power to affect, action of some force

d) Make up two-word expressions:

to accept main storage optical input physical computer to process finished permanent

data devices units product drive system storage memory data devices

e) Find synonyms:

a) set up b) hold c) step d) feed e) execute f) via g) currently h) attach i) provide j)main

1) connect 2) input 3) chief 4) contain 5) by means of 6) give 7) now 8) install 9) perform 10) operation

Reading

a) Read the text:

What is a Computer?

 

Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results of processing in a specified format as information.

Three basic steps are involved in the process: First, data is fed into the computer’s memory. Then, when the program is run, the computer performs a set of instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output) on the screen or in printed form.

Information in the form of data and program is known as software, and the electronic and mechanical parts that make up a computer system are called hardware. A standard computer system consists of three main sections: the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the main memory and the peripherals.

Perhaps the most influential component is the Central Processing Unit. It is to execute program functions and to coordinate the activities of all the other units. In a way, it is the ‘brain’ of the computer. The main memory holds the instructions and data which are currently being processed by the CPU. The peripherals are the physical units attached to the computer. They include storage devices and input/ output devices.

Storage devices (floppy or hard disks) provide a permanent storage of both data and programs. Input devices enable data to go into the computer’s memory. The most common input devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the finished product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output on the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.

On the rear panel of the computer there are several ports into which we can plug a wide range of peripherals – modems, fax machines, optical drives and scanners.

These are the main physical units of a computer system, generally known as the configuration.

 

b) Use the information in the text to help you match the terms hi the box with the appropriate explanation or definition below:

a) software; b) floppy disk; c) output;

d) peripheral devices; e) hardware; f) Central Processing Unit

g) monitor; h) input; i) port.

 

1. The brain of the computer.

2. Physical parts that make up a computer system.

3. Programs which can be used on particular computer system.

4. The information which is presented to the computer.

5. Results produced by a computer.

6. Hardware equipment attached to the CPU.

7. Visual display unit.

8. Small device used to store information. Same as ‘diskette’.

9. Any socket or channel in a computer system into which an input/output device may be connected.

c) Complete the sentences with the words from the box:

 

software process type hardware output operate

 

1) Computers are electronic machines that … information.

2) Computers … quickly and accurately in solving problems.

3) After processing the information, they … the results.

4) You can … and print any kind of document – letters, memos, or legal documents.

5) … is a set of devices and … is a set of programs.

 

Summing-up

1. What do we mean when we say “a computer”?

2. What parts make up a computer system?

3. What are the main units of measurement in computer science?

4. What is hardware?

5. What is software?

6. Why is the central processor called “a brain of a computer”?

7. What do we use to input data?