Lesson 4 computers in our life

1. Computers are well known to represent a completely new branch of science, the first of them having appeared less than 60 years ago. Although still new, these machines are already bringing about a real revolution in science, technology, statistics and automatic control.

2. The reason for this is in the fact a mathematical formula can be found for almost of all scientific and technical problems. They can be solved without a computer but it would require millions of arithmetical operations. No wonder that many problems of exceptional importance remained unsolved for a long time, the volume of the calculations requires being above human possibilities.

3. With a high speed electronic computer can carry out several thousand arithmetical operations in one second. A calculation, which would have taken several years of intense human work in the past, is now done in a few minutes or hours.

4. A number of various complicated problems have already been solved with the help of computers.

5. The principle of this wonderful machine lies in counting electric impulses. Numbers are represented as a sequence of such impulses, and a radio-technical scheme counts them carrying out addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all higher mathematical calculations being reduced to these four operations.

6. There are two main classes of computing equipment: analogue and digital. They work on different principles and yield different results. The digital computers can perform a much broader range of functions than the analogue computers. The application includes all forms of automatic control in science and industry and first of all in space exploration, in automatic piloting navigation and landing of space vehicles. Computer programming is the progress of the future. Computers will guide the first spaceships to Venus, Mars and other planets.

7. The stage gives energetic support to the development of computer engineering. The Academy of Sciences established a network of computing centers all over the country. These centers work out new numerical methods, develop new ways and means of automated programming work. They solve practical problems for various institutes and develop new types of electronic computers.

Exercise 1. Find synonyms to the following words:

1. demand (2) 5. cut (5)

2. no matter (2) 6. give, produce (6)

3. complex, difficult (4) 7. to lead (6).

4. calculate (5)

Exercise 2. Give the Ukrainian equivalents to the following words and word-combinations:

1. a new branch of science 4. human possibilities

2. exceptional importance 5. computing equipment

3. unsolved problems 6. space exploration.

Exercise 3. Say if the statements true or false:

1. Computers appeared less than 30 years ago.

2. Computers are brining about a real revolution in science, automatic control, because a mathematical formula can be found for any problem.

3. Higher mathematical calculations are reduced to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

4. Two types of computers (analogue and digital) work on the same principles.

5. Computer programming isn’t the progress of the future any longer.

Exercise 4. Complete the following sentences choosing the right variant:

1. The principle of a computer lies in…

a). quick and reliable work

b). counting electrical impulses

c). counting electrical signals.

2. The digital computers can perform a much broader range of functions than…

a). minicomputers

b). microcomputers

c). analogue computers

3. The volume of the calculations performed by a computer is above…

a). human possibilities

b). human imagination

c). human abilities.

4. A number of complicated problems have already been solved with the help of…

a). computer operators

b). computers

c). computer centres.

5. Numbers are presented as a sequence of…

a). punched cards

b). operations

c). impulses.

Exercise 5. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the reason for the fact that computers have brought a real revolution in science and

technology?

2. What is the principle of work of computers?

3. How are computers categorized?

4. What are the differences between digital and analogue computers?

5. What provides the development of computer engineering?

Exercise 6. Define the functions of computing centres established by the Academy of Sciences.

Exercise 7. Explain the principle of work of computers.

Exercise 8. Describe the application spheres of computers.

Exercise 9. Prove that computers are high-speed electronic machines.

Exercise 10. Discuss the text according to the points:

1. Classification of computers. Differences between two main classes of computing equipment.

2. Application spheres of computers.

3. The importance of computers in solving various problems.

4. The principle of work of computers.

5. Functions of the network of computing centres.

Notes:

1. automatic piloting - автоматичне управління

2. yield - давати, виробляти

3. bring about - привнести

4. exceptional - виключний

5. sequence - послідовність

6. scheme - схема

7. addition - додавання

8. substration - віднімання

9. multiplication - множення

10. division - ділення

11. range - діапозон, ряд

12. vehicles - транспортні засоби.