Вариант 13.

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Windows (3).

As more and more application programs are written to run with Windows, it’ll be easier for anyone to learn how to use new programs. This is because all application programs that run in Windows use similar commands and procedures.

Windows comes supplied with a few of its own handy programs. There’s a word-processing program called Write, a drawing program called Paintbrush, a communications program called Terminal for connecting to outside information services over phone lines, small utility programs that are helpful for keeping track of appointments and notes, a couple of games to help you escape from your work, and a few others.

Years of research went into developing the prototype of today’s popular user interfaces. It was shown in the early 1980s that the graphical user interface, in conjunction with hand-held pointing device (called now the mouse), was much easier to operate and understand than the older-style keyboard-command approach to controlling a computer. A little-known fact is that this research was conducted by the Xerox Corporation and first resulted in the Xerox Star computer before IBM PCs Macintoshes existed. It wasn’t until later that the technology was adapted by Apple Computer for its Macintosh prototype, the Lisa.

Questions:

1. Why will it be easier for anyone to learn how to use new programs?

2. What do application programs that run in Windows use?

3. What is called Write and Paintbrush?

4. What does a communication program called Terminal do?

5. What task do games fulfill?

6. What happened in 1980s?

7. What was easier to operate and understand?

Вариант 14.

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MS-DOS Overview.

This section introduces MS-DOS and shows how it helps you to use your computer easily. MS-DOS has a number of powerful features and the paragraphs below contain cross-references to further details later in the manual.

MS-DOS is an operating system, a piece of software which looks after the running of your computer. It lets you create and keep track of files, run and link programs, and make use of peripheral devices attached to your computer.

Because your computer can run with one of several different operating systems, the operating system is not built into the computer. Instead it is loaded from disk when the computer is started up.

Once the operating system has been loaded into computer’s memory, the disk from which it was loaded may be removed if required. The operating system needs to be reloaded only if part has been overwritten (when using very large programs) or when the computer is restarted.

A disk is a data storage medium consisting of a flat, circular, magnetic surface on which information can be recorded. You will receive several disks with your computer. They already contain information and programs and are ready to use.

Blank disks can be used to store your on information and programs, but these disks must be formatted before they can be used.

Questions:

1. Give the definition of MS-DOS.

2. What does MS-DOS let you do?

3. What kind peripheral devices does MS-DOS make you use?

4. Why is the operating system not built into the computer?

5. Where is the operating system loaded from?

6. Under what circumstances does the operating system need to be reloaded/

7. What is a disk?