2. Look through the text and find equivalents to the following terms.

определенный язык

были впервые разработаны

может быть представлено

наиболее часто используемая

технологический прогресс программного обеспечения

дали возможность программисту

использовать символические имена

обращаться к определенным участкам памяти

легко читаются

создает эквивалентную программу

отличаются друг от друга

3. Choose the definitions to the following terms.

Assembler a notation system in which the base for each digital position is 2.

In this system numbers are represented by the two digits 0 and 1.

Thus the binary number 10 represents 2 in the decimal system, while 100 represents 4.

Algorithm a low-level language in which instructions are the mnemonic equivalent of the code understood by the machine. Used for specialized applications where speed or compactness of code is the most important consideration.

Machine code a special program that converts a program written in a low-level language into machine code.

Assembly language a series of instructions or a step-by-step procedure for the solution of a problem.

Binary system binary code numbers, the only language that computers can understand directly.

4. Translate the following questions and answer them.

1. Какой язык называется машинным языком?

2. Когда использовался язык двоичных чисел?

3. Какая система счисления наиболее используемая?

4. Могут ли числа, представленные в одной системе счисления быть переведены в другую?

5. Какие преимущества языка Assembly вы можете перечислить?

5. Express your opinion of Machine Language.

Unit 3.

Computer Languages

1. Read the text, try to understand it.

There are alternatives to programming in machine and assembly language. Computer scientists have developed other languages which do not have these deficiencies. Languages are referred to as high-level or low-level, with high-level languages being closer to natural languages (such as English) and low-level languages being closer to machine language. The diagram below shows the relative position of several computer languages:

Low-level languages High-level languages

English

C

Pascal

JAVA

BASIC

Assembly Language

Machine Language

B ecause there still exists a one-to-one correspondence between each assembly language statement and a specific machine instruction, assembly languages are regarded as low-level languages.

Programs written in high-level languages have a number of advantages. First, they are easier to learn, understand, and modify than machine and assembly language programs. Second, high-level languages do not depend on the machine language of any one type of computer. Programs written in high-level languages can be run on any machine.

The type of programming which we must choose for a concrete project depends on the type of program that we want to make. For example, when programming is a driver for an operating system, obviously we will use low-level programming. Whereas when programming great applications usually a higher level it is used, a combination of critic parts written in low level languages and others in higher.

Although there are languages that are clearly low-level, like Assembler, whose instructions vary according to the processor which the code is made for, and others of high level, like the JAVA, that is totally independent from the platform. The C++ language is in a middle term, since it can interact directly with the hardware almost without any limitation, as well as with the support of suitable specific libraries, works like one of the more powerful high-level languages.

Computers can run only programs written in the language that they understand, their individual machine language. In order to support a higher-level language, a special computer program must be developed that translates the statements of the program developed in the higher-level language into a form that the computer can understand – in other words, into the particular instructions of the computer.

H igh-level program Machine language program

T ranslator

The words and word combinations to the text:

deficiency – недостаток

to refer – относить, ссылаться, упоминать

closer to – ближе к

natural languages – естественные языки

low-level languages – языки низкого уровня

to exist – существовать

a one-to-one correspondence – взаимно однозначное соответствие

advantage – преимущество

to run – управлять, выполнять

to depend on – зависеть от

obviously – очевидно

critic parts – опасные части

to vary – менять, изменяться

according to – в соответствии с

to support – поддерживать, поощрять