Listen and Speak
R ecord 2 (from “InfoTech”)
Listen to a short lecture by John Griffiths. When you hear a new type of computers mentioned by the speaker tick the corresponding pictures from Vocabulary section.
Listen again and choose the correct answer. Retell the lecture.
1. According to the speaker,
a a mainframe computer is less powerful than a minicomputer
b a mainframe is more powerful than a minicomputer
2. Mainframe computers are used by:
a executives and businessmen
b large organizations that need to process enormous amounts of data
3. Multi-tasking means:
a doing a number of tasks at the same time
b access to a minicomputer through terminals
4. Tha most suitable computers for home use are
a minicomputers
b desktop PCs
5. Handheld computers are
a small enough to fin into the palm of one hand
b bigger than laptops
Vocabulary work
Study the types of computers and write their Russian equivalents in white spaces:
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desktop computer - generic term for personal computer in an office or home, as opposed to a special-purpose computer like a server, router, workstation, or a laptop machine
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mainframe - an older category of expensive, powerful central computers powering upwards of 100 dumb terminals
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PDA (personal digital assistant) - a handheld computer about the size of wallet used as an organizer, web browser, game machine, cell phone, or message recorder; commercial examples include Palm Pilot and Pocket PC
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workstation - a desktop computer, but normally one that is more powerful and professional than a typical office or home personal computer; for example: SGI workstations are used in the creation of advanced graphics for animated movies. They feature specialized graphics cards, large amounts of RAM, and monitors with exceptional dot pitch.
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laptop - a portable computer typically a 14 or 15" screen, an integrated keyboard, battery power, and a wireless Internet connection
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personal computer - used as a generic term to refer to just about any kind of desktop computer; however its original meaning was IBM's 8086-based personal computer
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server - a normally fast and powerful computer with a lot of RAM and hard drive space, and running software such as Apache or IIS, intended primarily for distributing files and/or applications to other computers on the network
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tablet PC - a portable computer shaped in the form of a notebook and capable of advanced handwriting recognition via use of a stylus
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