LESSON 12 Computer Science
Ex 1. Find in the dictionary some means of the underlined words. Write out words and combinations of words from the text and find Russian equivalents for them: гибкий диск, печатная плата, память с произвольной выборкой, жесткий диск, набор инструкций, исполнять (команду), память для хранения программ, получить, добиться, (универсальная) вычислительная техника, постоянная память.
Ex 2. Make up sentences to the theme of the text below using words from the text.
Ex 3.Read and translate the text A.
TEXT A. СOMPUTER SIENCE
Computer science is a part of an applied mathematics. Computers are intended to improve the productivity of labour or scientists, designers, engineers, managers and other specialists. Through a computer they can receive quick and optimal solutions. The specialists use computer-aided-design (CAD) and computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM). CAD and CAM help to shorten the time between designing and manufacturing.
Computer can perform many functions: they can do mathematical and logical operations, mathematical operations including arithmetic and algebraic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division raising to a power differentiating and integrating. Logical operations include comparing, selecting, sorting and matching. Computers can be divided into simple and complex devices. Simple computers are calculators. A calculator can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Complex computers can do various logical operations and some of them even have artificial intelligence.
Complex computers can be divided into following main classes:
- supercomputers
- mainframes
- minicomputers (personal computers)
- microcomputers
A minicomputer is a computer manufactured on a single printed board which contains one or more chips. Most microcomputers are personal computers which have become so powerful through using CAD/CAM system. Microprocessors can obtain from memory and execute a limited set of instructions in order to perform addition or subtraction on a binary world and to input or output binary data.
Memory is a device for storing digital information. Memory should be small in size and large in capacity. It must take little power and work at the same speed as computer logic. All microcomputers use Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). Trough RAM the information can be put into or out of any single byte of memory. ROM is permanent memory for program storage. People know many types of memory units. Hard disks and floppy disks are widely used. Floppy disks (flexible plastic disks) are used in personal computers.
Thus in order to elaborate up-to-date and inexpensive programs as well as to defend them from viruses, it is important to know some programming languages: machine language (low-level programming language) and an assembly language and high-level languages such as FORTRAN, PASCAL, ADA, C, BASIC etc.
Modern personal computers are used for automation of individual labour places, information processing and training. Moreover, computers came in our life and to our houses and now we can solve our everyday problems with their help.
Words to the text:
a computer компьютер
a computer-aided-design (CAD) автоматизированное проектирование
a computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) автоматизированное производство
а mainframe универсальная вычислительная
машина
a printed board печатная плата
а microprocessor микропроцессор
a set of instructions набор инструкций
memory память
Random Access Memory (RAM) память с произвольной выборкой
Read Only Memory (ROM) память для хранения программ
a program storage постоянная память
a hard disk жесткий диск
a floppy disk гибкий диск
to elaborate (to work out) programs разрабатывать программы
a software программное обеспечение
to input data вводить данные
to output data получать данные на выходе
a case корпус
hardware аппаратное обеспечение
a monitor монитор
a keyboard клавиатура
a mouse мышь
a printer принтер
Ex. 4.Give answers to these questions and write these answers in the order like one in the text.
1. What high-level programming languages do you know ?
2. What are the computers used for ?
3. What operations can simple devices perform?
4. What classes are computers divided into?
5. What are RAM and ROM?
6. What are CAD/CAM systems intended to do?
Ex. 5. Complete the following sentences according to the text.
1. Computers are intended to improve…
2. Thus in order to elaborate up-to-date and inexpensive programs…
3. Computer can perform many functions…
4. Modern personal computers are used…
5. Computers can be divided into…
TEXT B GATEWAY 2000
There are many hardware pieces such as the system board, power supply, keyboard, mouse, hard drive, monitor, video card with its drivers in a computer system.
The system unit contenting power supply, system board, etc has the main part called the case. The case is a metal box that protects the delicate electronics inside, keeps electromagnetic emissions inside so your TV, cordless phone and stereo don’t go haywire when you power up the computer and can also hold the monitor. Don’t remove the case cover unless you need to do something inside the unit, and always replace the cover when you are done.
You communicate with your computer with the keyboard. You type instruction and commands for the computer with it information to be processed and stored. Many of the keys on the keyboard are like those on a typewriter; letter keys, punctuation keys, shift keys, tab and the spacebar. Your keyboard also has many specialized keys.
The instruction manuals for most software applications contain a section describing the functions of each key or combination of keys.
The mouse works by sliding it around (ball down) on a flat surface. The desktop is fine, but a ready-made mouse pad is the best surface to roll the mouse on. Its surface is flat and usually somewhat textured. If the surface is too smooth or rough, the ball inside can slip. As you glide the mouse, the ball inside moves in the direction of your movement. You will see the arrow on your screen moving in unison. The arrow is called a pointer, and the most important part is the very tip of its point. That’s the only part the computer pays attention to. To use the mouse, slide it on the mousepad until the pointer’s point is on something like a button or an icon.
Click – position the mouse pointer over an element, press and release the left mouse button one time.
Double-click – same as above except press the mouse button twice in a quick succession without moving the mouse between clicks. Usually you double-click on an icon to start the program.
Drag – position the mouse pointer over an element, press and hold the left mouse button, and drag the mouse across the screen. The pointer moves dragging the element. At the desired location, release the mouse button. The pointer lets go of whatever it was dragging.
Your computer is not complete without the monitor, a TV-like device that usually sits on top of the computer. The monitor displays text characters and graphics. It allows you to see the results of the work going on inside your system unit. The sharpness of the picture depends on the number and size of pixels (tiny dots). The more pixels, the sharper the image. This is called resolution.
There are three types of drives. The floppy drive provides a way to pass files to and from the hard drive or to and from another computer. Unlike the floppy drive, the hard disk drive is inside the computer case and you cannot see it. The smallest hard drives Gateway 2000 offers hold more information than 100 floppies! The size of a hard drive is measured in megabytes or MB for short. The CD-ROM drive is installed in the Gateway 2000. It can play music CDs as well as read software program CDs and the new Kodak photo CDs. A CD disk holds over 600MB of data. CD-ROM is just another hard drive, except that, although you can read from it, you can’t save anything to it. All of them have its drivers.
Ex. VI. Reread the text and write a short summery of it in English.
DIALOGUE BUYING A COMPUTER
Customer: Good morning.
Shop assistant: Good morning, sir. May I help you?
C. I want to buy a new computer and monitor.
S. Do you have anything special in mind?
C. Yes. I am a translator and must translate a lot. I need that my еyes don’t get tired.
S. I see. You can buy a computer “Pentium 4” and a monitor “CTX”. This computer system is right for you.
C. How much is it?
S. $ 800. It is a new model.
C. Tell me, please, can I buy it on credit?
S. Of course. You can get a charge card . Apply directly to the shop for these cards.
C. How much is the interest?
S. The interest can be as high as 15%. This means that you are paying much more than the cost of your purchase.
C. And what does the computer system consist of?
S. Computer system consists of the system board, power supply, keyboard, mouse, hard drive, monitor, video card with its drivers and printer.
C. Thank you for the information. I must go to the shop for credit cards.
S. You are very welcome.
C. Good bye!
S. Good bye!
Ex. VII. Read and translate this dialogue.
Ex. VIII. Learn this dialogues in parts.
Ex. IX. Make up your topic "Computer Science" and tell it.
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