What is a computer?
Computers are generally classified by size and power into 5 main groups: a personal computer, a workstation, a minicomputer, a supercomputer and a mainframe. A personal computer is a device which is 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:
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Hardware;
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Software;
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People;
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Procedures;
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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.
The actual machinery – wires, transistors, and circuits – is called hardware. All computers require the following hardware components:
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memory, which enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs;
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mass storage device, which allows a computer to retain permanently large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include disk drives and tape drives;
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input device through which data and instructions enter a computer. It is usually a keyboard and mouse.
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output device: A display screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.
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central processing unit (CPU): The heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions.
Software is the term which is used to describe the instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. Without software instructions, the hardware does not know what to do. People, however, are the most important component of the computer system: they create the computer software instructions and respond to the procedures that those instructions present.
The basic job of computer is the processing of information. Computers accept information in the form of an instruction that is called a program and characters that are 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. The computer is used to convert data into information.
III. Language
Exercise 7. Translate the following word-combinations into Russian:
in other words …
total computer system …
the computer software instructions …
the processing of information…
an instruction that is called a program …
characters that are called data …
raw material …
computer is used to …
mathematical and logical operations …
to execute actually…
to retain permanently…
Exercise 8. Give the English equivalents to the Ukrainian words and word-combinations in the following sentences:
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Computer не має розуму by itself.
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A computer system consists of обладнання, програмне забезпечення, операції, дані та people.
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The manner in which the various окремі системи are connected is an element of the спільної комп’ютерної системи.
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Software describes the команди that tell the обладнання how to perform a task.
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People create команди комп’ютерних програм.
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The main task of computer is обробка інформації.
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Information is accepted in the form of instruction called a програма and символів called дані.
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The data is необроблений матеріал.
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Information is useful for прийняття рішень.
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People use computer to перетворювати data into information.
Exercise 9. Complete the sentences using information from the text:
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All computers are classified into …
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A computer system is a …
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Connectivity appears when …
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An output device is…
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Software is …
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People are the most …
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The processing of information is the basic job of …
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Computers accept information to …
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The data is …
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Computer is used to …
Exercise 10. Agree or disagree with following statements. If you disagree, justify your answer.
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There are 3 main types of computers: personal computers, supercomputers and mainframes.
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A computer consists of electronic and electromechanical components.
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A computer system is a combination of either 5 or 6 elements.
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The input device is a device which lets you see what has been accomplished by the computer.
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The data is useful for decision-making.
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People create the computer software.
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The main task of the computers is the storage of large amounts of data.
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The CPU temporarily retains programs and data.
Exercise 11. Look through the text and give definitions to the following concepts:
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a computer;
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CPU;
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memory;
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information;
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software;
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a printer;
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a mouse.