Unit 4 what is a computer?

The term computer is used to describe a device made up of a combination of electronic and electromechanical (part electronic and part mechanical) components. Computer has no intelligence by itself and is referred to as hardware. A computer system is a combination of five elements:

• Hardware

• Software

• People

• Procedures

• Data/information

When one computer system is set up to communicate with another computer system, connectivity becomes the sixth system element. In other words, the manner in which the various individual systems are connected – for example, by phone lines, microwave transmission, or satellite – is an element of the total computer system.

Software is the term used to describe the instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. Without software instructions, the hardware doesn't know what to do. People, however, are the most important component of the computer system: they create the computer software instructions present.

The basic job of the computer is the processing of information. Computers accept information in the form of instruction called a program and characters called data to perform mathematical and logical operations, and then give the results. The data is raw material while information is organized, processed, refined and useful for decision making. Computer is used to convert data into information. Computer is also used to store information in the digital form.

Vocabulary:

characters –символи

data - дані

device- пристрій

hardware - обладнання

intelligence - розум

manner – манера, спосіб

microwave - мікрохвильова

procedures – процедури, операції

purpose - ціль

raw - необроблений

to come to life - оживати

to convert - перетворювати

to create - створити

to evaluate – оцінювати

Завдання 1. Дайте відповіді на наступні запитання.

1.What is computer referred to?

2. What elements does a computer system consist of?

3. Does the hardware know what to do without software instructions?

4. Why are people the most important component of the computer system?

5. Is information organized, processed, refined and useful for decision making?

Завдання 2. Доповніть речення згідно зі змістом тексту.

1. The term computer is used to …

2. Software is the term used to …

3. People create the computer software instructions and…

4. The basic job of the computer is …

5. Computers accept information in the form of …

Завдання 3. Знайдіть синоніми та антоніми до наступних слів у тексті.

A. 1. to change B. 1. unimportant

2. to take 2. least

3. for instance 3. useless

4. work 4. with

5. to do 5. unorganized

Завдання 4. Знайдіть речення, які відповідають змісту текста.

1. Computer is also used to store information in the digital form.

2. Computer has no intelligence by itself and is referred to as hardware.

3. Every engineer should know the properties of engineering materials.

4. When one computer system is set up to communicate with another computer system, connectivity becomes the sixth system element.

5. At the base of modern microelectronic devices lie semiconductor elements.

Завдання 5. Складіть речення з поданих слів.

1. to convert, computer, is, date, into, used, information.

2. material, data, the, is raw.

3. of, five, a, computer, system, a, combination, is, elements.

4. people, the most, computer, of, the, are, important, system, component.

5. computers, mathematical, and, operations, logical, perform.