V. Oral Practice

Exercise 15. Using information from ex.8 speak on:

1. Classification of peripherals;

2. The conversion of information for the computer;

3. Storage unit: its functions and examples;

4. Input unit: its functions and examples;

5. Output unit: its functions and examples;

6. Buffer and device controller as a bridge between computer and peripherals;

7. A human being VS a computer.

VI. Skimming reading

Exercise 16. Read the text “Commonly used output devices” without a dictionary and render it in Ukrainian/Russian (Time limit – 8-10 minutes).

Commonly used output devices

Output devices are things through which the computer gives information out to the user. Without an output device a computer would do lots of processing but nobody could see the results.

Monitor - A monitor is the screen on which words, numbers, and graphics can be seen. These are sometimes called VDUs (Visual Display Units) and are the most commonly used output device. When you buy a computer you will usually get an LCD monitor. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. This is a flat screen that several advantages over the older CRT monitors. These advantages include:

They are much lighter and smaller than CRT monitors so they can be carried around easily and do not take up as much room on a desk. They use much less electricity than a CRT monitor. For these reasons LCD screens are built into laptop and palmtop computers. One type of LCD monitor that is of a better quality is a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) monitor.

Printer - A printer prints whatever is on the monitor onto paper. Printers can print words, numbers, or pictures. Printers are used to produce a hardcopy or printout of computer output. There are two kinds of printer: inkjet printers and laser printers.

Inkjet printers have several advantages:

They produce high quality printouts of text and graphics. They can print photographs. They are usually cheaper to buy than laser printers.

Laser printers also have several advantages: They print several copies of something in less time than an inkjet printer. The running costs of a laser printer are usually lower than for that of an inkjet printer.

Running costs of printers

Before you buy a printer you should always find out how much it is going to cost you to use. A very cheap printer may require very expensive ink. (It is sometimes cheaper to buy a new printer than to buy ink for your old printer!) To print you have to keep buying paper and ink cartridges for an inkjet printer and/or toner for a laser printer. It is important that you find out how long a cartridge or toner will last. A toner will be more expensive to buy but will last much longer.

Speaker - A speaker gives you sound output from your computer. Some speakers are built into the computer and some are separate. For computers to be able to output sound they need to have a sound card built into them. Sound cards convert digital data into analogue sounds that are output through the computers speakers.

Headphones - Headphones give sound output from the computer. They are similar to speakers, except they are worn on the ears so only one person can hear the output at a time.

CD, DVD, floppy disks and disk drives can be both input and output devices.

Compact Disk - Some compact disks can be used to put information on. A CD can also be an input device. CDs store information. The CD can then be put into another computer, and the information can be opened and added or used on the second computer.

Disk Drives - A disk drive is used to record information from the computer onto a floppy disk or CD. A disk drive can also hold a CD, DVD or a floppy disk. It reads the information on the disk so that the computer can use it.

Floppy Disk - A floppy disk is used to record information on. The information is stored on the floppy disk and can be used later or used on another computer.

Notes:

VDU (visual display unit) – устройство визуального отображения, дисплей

CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitor – дисплей на ЭЛТ(электронно-лучевой трубке)

TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) – тонкоплёночный транзистор, технология TFT

room – место

running cost – эксплуатационные расходы

toner – красящий порошок, тонер

Exercise 17. Look through the text ‘Commonly used output devices” once again and find the English equivalents to the following word-combinations:

• … плоский экран;

• … занимать много места;

• … дорогие чернила;

• … записывать информацию;

• … иметь встроенную звуковую карту;

• … эксплутационные расходы;

• … значить, являться аббревиатурой;

• … выдавать печатную копию;

• … высококачественный отпечаток.

Exercise 18. Read the text “Input devices for everyday use”. Complete the sentences with suitable words given in the box below:

sound file, scanned, numbers, analogue, microphones, digital, sound card, navigate, meeting, disabilities, sound, edit, select, take, conversations, save, converts, record, delete, transfer