Передмова

Метою «Методичних вказівок» є формування впродовж 72 годин аудиторних занять у студентів (вхідний рівень володіння мовою – В1) вмінь та навичок читання, письма та говоріння за тематикою спеціальності «Програмне забезпечення автоматизованих систем» на ІІ курсі навчання ІКС (вихідний рівень володіння мовою – В2). За рахунок тренування і виконання читання автентичних текстів і комунікативних завдань студенти зможуть досягти практичного володіння англійською мовою за фахом.

Практичне володіння іноземною мовою в рамках даного курсу припускає наявність таких умінь в різних видах мовної комунікації, які дають можливість:

• вільно читати оригінальну літературу іноземною мовою у відповідній галузі знань;

• оформляти витягнуту з іноземних джерел інформацію у вигляді перекладу або резюме;

• робити повідомлення і доповіді іноземною мовою на теми, пов'язані з науковою роботою майбутнього фахівця;

• вести бесіду за фахом.

Кожний урок складається з тексту й комплексу мовних вправ, які розраховані на удосконалення навичок активізації мовної діяльності.

«Методичні вказівки» забезпечують підготовку до міжнародного усного і письмового спілкування англійською мовою для спеціальних цілей, а саме - оволодіння лексичними, граматичними і стилістичними навичками, а також умінням розмовляти, читати, переписуватися, перекладати, конспектувати, згортати і розгортати усну і письмову англомовну інформацію наукового функціонального стилю, що передбачено вимогами Програми вивчення іноземних мов у нефілологічному ВУЗі.

Автори

Lesson 1

Read the text: Network architecture

Computers communicate with other computers via networks. The simplest network is a direct connection between two computers. However, computers can also be connected over large networks, allowing users to exchange data, communicate via electronic mail (e-mail), and share resources such as printers.

Computers can be connected in several ways. In a ring configuration, data are transmitted along the ring and each computer in the ring examines this data to determine if it is the intended recipient. If the data are not intended for a particular computer, the computer passes the data to the next computer in the ring. This process is repeated until the data arrive at their intended destination. A ring network allows multiple messages to be carried simultaneously, but since each message is checked by each computer, data transmission is slowed.

One problem in computer architecture is caused by the difference between the speed of the CPU (Central processing unit) and the speed at which memory supplies instructions and data. Modern CPUs can process instructions in less than one nanosecond (one billionth of a second). A typical memory access, however, takes several times longer and each instruction may require multiple accesses. To compensate for this disparity, computer chips have been designed that contain small memories, called caches, located near the CPU. Because of their proximity to the CPU and their small size, caches can supply instructions and data faster than normal memory. Cache memory stores the most frequently used instructions and data and can greatly increase efficiency.

Although a larger cache memory can hold more data, it also becomes slower. To compensate, computer architects employ designs with multiple caches. The design places the smallest and fastest cache nearest the CPU and locates a second larger and slower cache farther away. This arrangement allows the CPU to operate on the most frequently accessed instructions and data at top speed and to slow down only slightly when accessing the secondary cache. Using separate caches for instructions and data also allows the CPU to retrieve an instruction and data simultaneously.

Another strategy to increase speed and efficiency is the use of multiple arithmeticlogic units for simultaneous operations, called superscalar execution. In this design, instructions are acquired in groups. The control unit examines each group to see if it contains instructions that can be performed together. Some designs execute as many as six operations simultaneously. It is rare, however, to have this many instructions run together, so on average the CPU does not achieve a six-fold increase in performance.

Multiple computers are sometimes combined into single systems called parallel processors. When a machine has more than one thousand arithmeticlogic units, it is said to be massively parallel. Such machines are used primarily for numerically intensive scientific and engineering computation. Parallel machines containing as many as sixteen thousand computers have been constructed.

Multicore processors use the same concept as parallel processors, but instead of having multiple separate CPUs, all of the CPUs (called cores) are combined into one chip. In theory, having a multicore processor with two cores would double the speed of the computer, since twice as many instructions could be carried out at the same time. However, using multicore processors as designed requires software that has been specially programmed to take advantage of the multiple cores.

Exercise 1. Learn the following words and word-combinations:

to share resources, to pass the data, destination, access, to retrieve, advantage, carry out

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1) How are multiple computers combined?

2) What do multicore processors use?

3) What does the control unit do?

4) How can modern CPUs process instructions?

5) What is called caches?

Exercise 3. Match the right column with the left:

a) six-fold increase	1) скористуватися перевагою
b) disparity	2) подвоїти швидкість
c) simultaneous operations	3) принцип
d) concept	4) різниця
e) to take advantage	5) збільшення в 6 разів
f) to double the speed	6) одночасні операції
g) to process	7) обробляти

Exercise 4. Ask questions to the given answers:

1) Question: ________________________

Answer: Cash memory stores the most frequently used instructions.

2) Question: ________________________

Answer: Some designs execute as many as six operations simultaneously.

3) Question: _______________________

Answer: The simplest network is a direct connection between two computers.

4) Question: ________________________

Answer: Multicore processors use the same concept as parallel processors.

5) Question: _________________________

Answer: On average the CPU does not achieve a six-fold increase in performance.

Exercise 5. Compose a story on one of the topics (up to 100 words):

1) Some ways computers can be connected.

2) Parallel processors.

3) Multicore processors.