Word and word-combinations

Count v — рахувати Almost — майже

A few — декілька Device n — прилад

Memory n — пам’ять Still — все ще

Until — до тих пір, поки не Order n — порядок

Purpose n — мета Input — вхід

Navigate v — плавати на кораблі Output — вихід

Alone — одинокий Weight n — вага

Solve v — вирішувати By means of — за допомогою

Take up v — займати (чого)

Become v — ставати To retrieve — відновити,

Remote — дистанційний відшукати

To estimate — підраховувати, To underpin — підкріплювати

оцінювати Via the Internet — через

To withstand — витримати інтернет

Seamless — цілісний To browse — переглядати

Via hypertext — через гіпертекст

Text 10a Computers in our Life

A computer is really a very specific kind of a counting machine. It can do arithmetic problems faster than any person alive. By means of electronic processes it can find the answer to a very difficult and complicated problem in a few seconds.

A computer can “remember” information you give it. It keeps the information in its “memory” until it is needed.

There are different kinds of computers. Some can do only one job. There are special-purpose computers. Each specific problem requires a specific computer. One kind of computer can help us build a spaceship; another kind can help us navigate it. A special-purpose computer is built for this purpose alone and cannot do anything else.

But there are some computers that can do many different jobs. They are called the general-purpose computers. There are the big “brains” that solve the most different problems of science.

We need to think of a computer as a large machine that took up a whole room. But today computers are becoming smaller and smaller. Though these small devices are called microcomputers or minicomputers, they are still true computers.

The most important parts of a general-purpose computer are as follows: 1) memory, where information is kept; 2) an arithmetic unit for performing calculations; 3) a control unit for the correct order of operations; 4) input device; 5) output devices for displaying the results of calculations. The input and output devices are called peripherals.

There are several advantages in making computers as small as one can. Sometimes weight is particularly important. A modern plane carries many heavy electronic apparatus. If it is possible to make any of them smaller, it can carry a bigger weight. But weight is not the only factor. The smaller the computer, the faster it can work. The signals go to and fro at a very high but almost constant speed.

Some of the first computers cost millions of dollars, but people quickly learned that it was cheaper to let a million dollar computer make the necessary calculations than to have a hundred clerks trying to do the same by hand. Scientists found that computers made fewer mistakes and could fulfill the tasks much faster than almost any number of people using usual methods. The computers became popular. As their popularity grew the number of factories producing them also grew.

Supercomputers are mostly used for highly complex scientific tasks, such as analyzing the results of nuclear physics experiments and weather forecasting. Microcomputers now come in a range of sizes from battery-powered pocket PC’s and electronic organizers, notebook and laptop PC’s to floor-standing tower systems that may serve local area networks or work as minicomputers. Indeed, most minicomputers are now built using low-cost microcomputers, and large-scale computers built out of multiple microprocessors are starting to challenge traditional mainframe and supercomputer designs.

Завдання до тексту 10A.

Перекладіть на рідну мову наступні вирази.

• Scientific tasks, to analyze the results, weather forecasting, battery-powered pocket PC’s, laptop PC’s, special-purpose computer, to require a computer, correct order of operations, output device, indeed, low-cost microprocessors.

Знайдіть в тексті англійські еквіваленти до наступних словосполучень.

• Складна проблема, «великий мозок», наступний, керуючий вузол, виконувати обчислення, пристрій вводу, декілька переваг, такий малий як, особливо, постійна швидкість, робити вручну, виконувати завдання, діапазон розмірів.

Закінчіть речення.

1. These small devices are still t…c……..

2. The i…. and o….. Devices are called p……….

3. A modern plane carries many h…..e…….a……

4. Supercomputers are mostly used for h…..s……..t….

5. The floor-standing tower systems may serve l….a…n…

Дайте відповіді на запитання.

1. What is a computer?

2. How long does the computer keep the information?

3. Are there different kinds of computers?

4. What can the general-purpose computer do?

5. What are the most important parts of a general-purpose computer?

6. Why is the weight so important?

7. Why can a computer replace a hundred clerks?

8. Where are supercomputers used?

9. What are multiple microprocessors starting to challenge?