Taking Сomputer for Granted. Учебное пособие
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UNIT 4
4.The above rule is not set in stone. There are many examples that do not clearly accord with it. In the written language the context will help to understand the meaning of «quite». In the spoken language the intonation will do that:
Quite ‘good (week, lowing tone «quite», strong, rising tone «good») means «very little less than good». In this case «quite» has almost the same meaning as «fairly».
‘Quite ‘good (equal stress) means «moderately good».
‘Quite good (strong, rising tone «quite», week, lowing tone «good») means «much less than good».
When «quite» is used with such adjectives or adverbs the less «quite» is stressed the stronger the following adjective (adverb) becomes and vice versa. Hence, you must listen to your partner very attentively!
Now, two examples of imaginary conversations:
aProf. hands you in your test and says, «This time you are ‘quite good». You take gratefully your test and answer, «Oh, professor, thank you, I’m lucky to hear it»!
bYou meet your girlfriend. «Hi, Jane, haven’t seen you for ages! How are you?» «Hi, Tom, ‘quite well, thanks» says Jane. «That’s fine!» answer you happily.
Analyze these examples. Are your answers right? If you think they are right, explain why, if not, give the proper versions.
5.In constructions like
don’t or can’t + quite + infinitive «quite» is normally a «downtoner»:
Many people don’t quite know what to do when somebody faints. I can’t quite understand.
6.Almost every student knows that «a few» means a small number, but «quite» placed before «a few» increases the number considerably and means «quite a lot».
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Taking Computer for Granted
The difficulties lying behind the correct use of QUITE are plain to see, but, paradoxically, most educated people seem to have no particular problem in using or understanding the word in its various constructions and meanings.
3.Vocabulary training
1.Identification of words
Match the words in the left-hand column with their explanations in the right-hand column, e.g. 1-7.
1. apparent |
1. make known to other people |
2. contemporary |
2. impossible to believe |
3. cram |
3. distributed over a wide area |
4. discrepancy |
4. lasting only for a limited time |
5. estimation |
5. a difference or disagreement be- |
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tween two things |
6. expand |
6. stop or hinder, make impossible |
7. exploit |
7. easily seen, evident |
8. incredible |
8. make good use of |
9. introduce |
9. very great or strong, immense |
10. permanent |
10. grow wider or bigger |
11. prevent |
11. lasting indefinitely |
12. temporary |
12. fill full, stuff, force into a space |
13. tremendous |
13. judgment of thing’s approximate |
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value |
14. widespread |
14. modern |
2. Useful expressions
Try to understand and translate the following expressions, using the explanation of the words. Then invent sentences using these expressions.
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UNIT 4
1.Plummeting costs; plummet – weight of lead hung on a line, for taking depths at sea.
2.To spark an interest in; spark – a small red-hot part thrown off from something burning, fiery particle.
3.Speaking of profound; profound – showing great knowledge or understanding.
4.Is the game worth the candle? (Proverb) Worth – value, price; candle – a stick of wax enclosing a wick, which is burnt to give light.
5.The tear-drop sized computer; tear – a drop of liquid from the eye; drop – a small rounded mass of liquid.
6.To have advantages in comparison with; advantage – superiority, gain or benefit.
7.On the other hand.
3.Reading comprehension
Read the text, try to understand the topic, look for the logical sequence of the items and put them in the proper order. The first item is in the right position.
1.You turn the computer on and it loads data from ROM and performs a power-on self test (POST) to make sure all the components are functioning properly.
2.When you open an application, it is loaded into RAM. To conserve RAM usage, many applications load only the essential parts of the program initially and then load other pieces as needed.
3.The computer loads the basic input / output system (BIOS) from ROM. The BIOS provides the most basic information about storage devices, boot sequence, Plug and Play (auto device recognition) capability and other items.
4.After an application is loaded, any files that are opened for use in that application are loaded into RAM.
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Taking Computer for Granted
5.The computer loads the OS from the hard drive into the system’s RAM. Generally, the critical parts of the OS are maintained in RAM as long as the computer is on. This allows the CPU to have immediate access to the operating system.
6.When you save a file and close the application, the file is written to the specified storage device, and than it and the applications are purged from RAM.
4.Computer terms in use
Match the terms in the left-hand column with their definitions in the right-hand column.
1. adapter |
1. a memory subsystem that provides |
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faster access to data by serving as a |
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storage area between RAM and CPU |
2. algorithm |
2. an information system based on two |
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ore more computers |
3. architecture |
3. a computer designed to provide vari- |
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ous services for an entire network |
4. cache |
4. specific rules or steps prescribed for |
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solving a problem |
5. driver |
5. the design of software, hardware or a |
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complete computer system |
6. integrated circuit |
6. the ability to simultaneously process |
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more than one element of data |
7. microchip capacity |
7. CPU |
8. microprocessor |
8. an electronic circuit on a silicon chip |
9. network |
9. a number of transistors on a chip |
10. parallel processing |
10. a piece of software that translates |
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requests from one form into another; |
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it lets a PC talk to peripherals |
11. path |
11. a device that makes it possible to |
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UNIT 4 |
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connect a specific peripheral unit de- |
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vice (e.g. monitor) to a computer |
12. plug and play |
12. the location of a file or directory, e.g. |
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C: \ Windows \ System |
13. server |
13. an industry standard that allows |
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computer peripherals to be automati- |
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cally configured by the OS |
B.Find out Russian equivalents of the computer terms given below.
If it is beyond your grasp, give at least Russian explanation.
Disk drive
Disk cashing
Mass storage
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Taking Computer for Granted
Keyboard |
A keyboard on a computer is almost iden- |
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tical to a keyboard on a typewriter. Com- |
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puter keyboards will typically have extra |
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keys, however. Some of these keys are |
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meant to be used in conjunction with other |
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keys just like shift on a regular typewriter. |
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Other keys (Insert, Delete, Home, End, func- |
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tion keys etc) are meant to be used inde- |
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pendently and often perform editing |
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tasks. Keyboards on different platforms |
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will often look slightly different and have |
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somewhat different collections of keys. |
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Smaller keyboards with only math-related |
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keys are typically called Keypads. |
Function keys |
On a computer keyboard, the keys that |
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start with an «F» and are usually (but not |
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always) found on the top row. They are |
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meant to perform user-defined tasks. |
4. Vocabulary peculiarities
Read and translate the text.
The ball is rolling
Next evening. The Smiths are in the sitting room. Tom’s father, John, is sipping coffee and reading a paper. Tom’s mother, Jane, is watching a musical on TV. Tom is anxious, he is waiting for Jack. At 9 pm the phone is ringing.
Tom: |
Tom speaking. |
Jack: |
Hi, how are things? |
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UNIT 4 |
Tom: |
Hi, nothing new. Drop in. Daddy is waiting for you. He |
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is eager to discuss the matter over with you. |
Jack: |
Well, it’ll take me about 20 minutes to come round. |
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I hope I’ll help your Dad to make a right choice. But |
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don’t let me down. … Not a word about computer |
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games. At least, try to pretend you are not interested in. |
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If it comes to that, put on an air of indifference. Other- |
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wise your Dad will fly off the handle and our business |
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won’t pan out well. As a matter of fact, I guess that from |
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now on you’ll be under his observation. So, in the begin- |
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ning you must do without all this computer games. |
Tom: |
Take it easy. I gave Daddy my personal word and |
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am not going to get out of my promise. |
Jack: |
That’s OK. In this case your Dad will fall in with our |
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plans, … but hold on for a moment. I’ v got very useful |
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information for him. Here it is. I’ll bring it round. Bye. |
Tom: |
Bye, Jack, we’re waiting for you. |
20 minutes later. The doorbell is ringing.
Father: |
The bell is ringing. Answer it, Tom. If it’s Jack show |
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him in. |
Tom: |
Oh, man, come in. We’re waiting for you. |
Jack: |
How do you do. |
Father: |
How do you do, Jack. |
Mother: |
Glad to see you, Jack. Won’t you sit down? |
Jack: |
Thanks, Mrs. Smith. |
Mother: |
It’s nice of you to come over. Do you care for a cup of |
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coffee or tea? Maybe some snack? |
Jack: |
No, thanks Mrs. Smith. I prefer tea, please. |
Mother |
(pouring tea in a cup): Here you are, Jack. Now do |
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take some sugar and cakes. |
Jack: |
Thank you, Mrs. Smith. |
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Taking Computer for Granted
Mother: |
You’re welcome, Jack. |
Father: |
Are you really a first-class hacker, Jack? Tom told me |
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you know computers from A to Z. |
Jack: |
I wouldn’t say so. Tom is exaggerating. But what can I |
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do for you, Mr. Smith? I’m glad to be at your service. |
Father: |
You see, I’m going to buy … Well, the problem is I need a |
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modern computer. Maybe it would be possible to upgrade |
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our old box. Can you help me out of trouble? |
Jack: |
With great pleasure, Mr. Smith but I think the game |
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isn’t worth the candle*. Tom told me about your multi- |
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media problem. I thought it over and see no way out |
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than to buy a new computer. It would be much better |
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than to upgrade your old box. Besides, it’ll save you |
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much trouble in future. By the way, I’ve found an ar- |
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ticle concerning the basics of buying a personal com- |
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puter system. It might be of some interest to you; it’s |
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quick-reading and time saving summary. |
Father: |
Oh, thanks so much. You know, of the thousands of |
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books published annually, only a handful are really |
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worth reading. No doubt, this one will come in handy. |
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I’ll go through it from cover to cover to make up for my |
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ignorance. Then I’ll ask you for some help in purchas- |
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ing the machine. |
Jack: |
You’re not the least bit worried about your new com- |
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puter. You can rely on me and we will fix it up. |
Needless to say, in several days a «supercomputer» was bought and all the necessary programs were installed. Jack did his best. As to Tom, he went ape and shouted out, «This is it!» His father was also satisfied with a new computer.
* The origin of this expression refers to playing cards by candlelight; if the money being gambled was less than the cost of the candles, it was not worth playing the game.
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UNIT 4 |
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Useful vocabulary |
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A. Phrasal verbs |
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bring round |
bring to your home |
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care for |
like |
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come over |
visit |
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come round |
come to my house |
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drop in |
pay a short visit (unannounced) |
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fall in with |
accept someone plans and agree to co- |
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operate |
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fix up |
arrange |
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get out of |
free oneself from an obligation |
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go through |
examine carefully |
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hold on |
wait (on telephone) |
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let down |
disappoint someone by failing to act |
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well as expected |
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make up for |
compensate for |
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pan out |
turn out, develop |
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show in |
conduct |
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B. Expressions and idioms |
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come in handy |
be useful |
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do one’s best |
try as hard as one can |
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do without smth |
live in spite of lacking smth |
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do you care for |
would you like |
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fly off the handle |
be excessively angry |
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from now on |
from this moment and further |
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go ape |
become highly excited or behave in a |
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crazy way |
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help out of trouble |
help someone to get out of difficulty |
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if it comes to that |
used when you are going to add smth |
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to what has just been said |
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Taking Computer for Granted
put on the air of in- |
pretend that you are absolutely not in- |
difference |
terested in smth |
save much trouble |
rescue from difficulties |
take it easy |
don’t worry |
the ball is rolling |
continue an activity |
the game isn’t worth |
smth is not worth the effort needed |
the candle |
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this is it |
have possession of an object, beyond |
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which more of the same is unnecessary |
to give personal word |
promise |
to know smth from |
know smth perfectly well |
A to Z |
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Verb study practice
1.In the story about two friends Tom and Jack you came across new phrasal verbs, e.g.: butter up, give in, run into, find out, help over, back up, be in for, be up to, come round, come true, cut down.
Now replace the words in italics by one of the phrasal verbs given above.
1.Tom’s father supported him to buy a computer.
2.I’ll give him this book if he visits me.
3.He tried to gain the boss’ favor by flattering.
4.Tom met accidentally his friend Jack in the street.
5.If you think this problem will be easy to solve you are about to encounter a shock.
6.I hope your dream of modern computer will end by being real.
7.He is able to reduce your expenses.
8.I kept inviting my friend to stay for dinner and finally he ceased to resist.
9.Thank you for helping me to deal with this difficult matter.
10.He discovered a lot of interesting information in the last number of «Upgrade».
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