Министерство образования и науки Российской Федерации

ГОУ ВПО «Сыктывкарский государственный университет»

Кафедра английского и французского языков

 

 

 

Мир компьютеров

Методические указания по английскому языку для домашнего чтения студентов 2 курса факультета информационных систем и технологий

 

 

Сыктывкар 2006

Утверждено Учебно-методической комиссией гуманитарного факультета СыктГУ 18 июня 2006 г. (протокол № 6)

Составитель: Латыпов Р.А.

От составителя

Данные методические указания адресованы студентам факультета информационных систем и технологий, обучающихся по специальностям «Прикладная информатика (в экономике)» и «Комплексная защита объектов информатизации», но могут также использоваться и студентами математического факультета специальности «Математика. Компьютерные науки». Они могут быть также интересны широкому кругу лиц, интересующихся тематикой, связанной с компьютерами.

Главная цель их - сформирование навыков понимания оригинальной литературы по специальности, а именно, по разделу "Вычислительная техника", вспомогательная цель - развитие навыков говорения. Используемый материал взят из английских газет, таких как "Guardian", "Times", "Independent". Содержание статей представляет большой интерес: речь идёт о достижениях в области вычислительной техники. Методические указания содержат: предтекстовые задания, вопросы, упражнения, нацеленные на уточнение понимания текстов, письменные задания, речевые упражнения.

Unit 1 Down to Basics in Brixton.

1) Read and translate the following words and groups of words.

Information Technology Center, fundamental programming technique, qualifications, project, operating system

2) Memorize the following words.

rudiments	элементарные принципы
software	программное обеспечение
pastime	приятное времяпрепровождение
to be keen on	страстно желать чего-либо
capable	cпособный
tо input	вводить
a code sequence	программная последовательность
password	пароль

2) Read and translate the first part of the text.

Down to Basics in Brixton.

Not far from the Oval in South London is the Brixton Information Technology Centre (ITeC), a small, well-equipped unit run by a dedi­cated staff. They teach 16 to 18-year-olds the rudiments of information technology software such as Wordstar and Speadsheets, as well as some fundamental programming techniques.

Practically all the students left school at 16 without any qualifi­cations, so it might be supposed chat teaching them Co use business software would be an uphill struggle, bordering on the impossible.

Yet, this is a worthwhile project which produces positive results in the form of employable computing-oriented people.

Not only is working at Brixton ITeC a demanding teaching job in information technology, it is also practical social work. Without such centres, many students might occupy themselves with less worthwhile or less socially-acceptable pastimes. At the very least, without the centre, most students would be out of work with no prospects.

To work at such a centre obviously requires patience. Persuasion rather than discipline is the best technique with the students, though a "fine" off their Ј 25 weekly allowance is the most effective way of ensuring attendance.

Many students are keen to learn and some exhibit real talent in computing, though it is often well concealed. One student groans at the regular programming assignments, and claims they are too difficult; the same student is perfectly capable of writing a program that inputs a code sequence of four variables to obtain a password, and then prog­ramming round the operating system to access forbidden games.

4) Answer the following questions.

1. Where is the Brixton Information Technology Centre situated?

2. Is it a very big unit?

3. Who runs this centre?

4. How old are the students of the centre?

5. What do the students study?

6. What kind of qualifications do the students entering the centre have?

7. What do students become after graduating from the centre?

8. What is the significance of the centre?

9. What is the best technique of work with the students of the centre?

10. What is the best way of ensuring the attendance at the classes?

11. Are there many capable students at the centre?

5) Translate into Russian paying attention to, the use of the pronoun "it".

1. It is interesting to study at Brixton Information Technology Centre.

2. It is important to study the rudiments of information technology software.

3. It is not difficult to enter the Information Technology Centre.

4. It is necessary to have patience to work with the students of the centre.

5. It is pleasant to work with the capable students at the-centre.

6. It is necessary to work much to be able to write a computer program.

7. It is possible to access computer games after you have fulfilled your regular programming assignment.

6) Talk with other students about this text.

1. Pretend you are a teacher of the Information Technology Centre and your friend wants to know about your work there.

2. Pretend you are a student of the Information Technology Centre and your friend is a student of some other college or school.

3. Pretend you are a foreigner and you want to know about the centre. Ask some questions, please.

4. Imagine you are a student of the centre. You are in one of the rooms of the centre. What are you doing now7?

7) Read the following words Pay attention to their pronunciation.

Enemy, purge, reappear, measles, distract, terminal, battle, multitude, invaders, network, entire, crew, abruptly, courage, extremely, micro-technology, processor, delicate, casualty, further, sales, experience, rewarding, genuine.

8) Translate the following sentences.

1. All the students are battling away with a multitude of multi­coloured space invaders.

2. Bringing the entire crew of ITeC back to earth may take courage.

3. Technical casualties are relatively few.

4. Students can play computer games as much as they like.

5. Some go on to further education.

9) Translate the second part of the text.

Computer games are the teacher's enemy. In spite of the fact that staff purge the system at regular intervals, computer games reappear on screens like measles. They are a primary distracting force, preventing the students carrying out their regular work.

Before 9 am students can play computer games as much as they like. When the lecturer goes into the terminal rooms at the start of the day, all the students are battling away with a multitude of multicoloured space invaders. At 9.15 am the lecturer must throw the master switch that clears all the terminals on the network system. As the majority of students seem to have an active interest in the martial arts, bringing the entire crew of ITeC back to earth so abruptly may take courage. Brixton ITeC is extremely well equipped with the latest business microtechnology including two IBM PCs, four Apricots and ten Amstrad PCW word processors. An ICL PC with hard disc provides a multi-user system with four terminals, and there is an Econet network of twelve Acorn BBCs used for teaching programming. Some of the machines are delicate, but the students respect them and technical casualties are relatively few. The general atmosphere of the college is casual and low on formality.

Students, who apply themselves get a first step on to the ladder of information technology employment. Many go into word and data processing jobs, while others get work in computer sales, programming, or in constructing viewdata pages using Prestel-type graphics. Some go on to further education.

The centre is run by Dennis Hacking and the staff are relatively young, most with practical computing experience. They could probably obtain higher-paid jobs elsewhere, but the work is rewarding.

The courses run at Brixton ITeC represent a genuine attempt to fill the large number of new technology vacancies while simultaneously reducing unemployment and assisting disadvantaged young people.

10) Answer the following questions.

1. Who likes computer games and who doesn't?

2. Why do teachers purge the system at regular intervals?

3. When can students play computer games?

4. How can teachers stop students' playing computer games?

5. What kind of work can students do after studying at the centre?

11) Say a few words about the Information Technology Centre using the plan given below. Each point of this plan gives the topic which should be developed by you. You may use the vocabulary given to each point.

Introduction - South London, rudiments.

Point 1 - Staff - dedicated, higher-paid jobs, rewarding.

Point 2 - Students - capable, to be keen on, password.

Point 3 - Methods - persuasion, patience, fine.

Point 4 - The importance of the centre, vacancies, unemploy­ment, disadvantaged, computer-oriented people.