МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РФ
ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ
БЮДЖЕТНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ
ВЫСШЕГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ
«ВОРОНЕЖСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ
УНИВЕРСИТЕТ»
THE KEY TO COMPUTING
Учебно-методическое пособие
Составители:
И. Ю. Вострикова,
М. А. Стрельникова
Воронеж
Издательский дом ВГУ
2016
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CONTENS
Введение ........................................................................................................................ 4
UNIT 1. PC SYSTEM .................................................................................................... 5
UNIT 2. FLASH STORAGE ......................................................................................... 7
UNIT 3. THE OPERATING SYSTEM ....................................................................... 10
UNIT 4. CREATIVE SOFTWARE ............................................................................. 13
UNIT 5. PROGRAMMING ......................................................................................... 15
UNIT 6. FACES OF THE INTERNET ....................................................................... 18
UNIT 7. COMPUTERS TOMORROW ...................................................................... 21
UNIT 8. COMMUNICATING ON TECHNOLOGY ................................................. 23
UNIT 9. REVISING PRESENTATION SKILLS ....................................................... 30
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS............................................................................ 41
Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................... 41
Appendix 2 ................................................................................................................... 43
Библиографический список ...................................................................................... 53
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The chip itself is a small piece of silicon with a complex electrical circuit called
an integrated circuit.
The processor consists of three main parts:
The control unit examines the instructions in the user's program, interprets
each instruction and causes the circuits and the rest of the components – monitor,
disk drives, etc. – to execute the functions specified.
The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs mathematical calculations (+, –,
etc.) and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT).
The registers are high-speed units of memory used to store and control data.
One of the registers (the program counter, or PC) keeps track of the next instruction
to be performed in the main memory. The other (the instruction register or
IR) holds the instruction that is being executed.
The power and performance of a computer is partly determined by the speed of
its processor. A system clock sends out signals at fixed intervals to measure and
synchronize the flow of data. Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). For
example, a CPU running at 4GHz (four thousand million hertz, or cycles, per
second) will enable your PC to handle the most demanding applications.
(2) The programs and data which pass through the processor must be loaded into
the main memory in order to be processed. Therefore, when the user runs a program,
the CPU looks for it on the hard disk and transfers a copy into the RAM
chips. RAM (random access memory) is volatile – that is, its information is lost
when the computer is turned off. However, ROM (read only memory) is nonvolatile,
containing instructions and routines for the basic operations of the CPU.
The BIOS (basic input/output system) uses ROM to control communication peripherals.
RAM
capacity can be expanded by adding extra chips, usually contained in small
circuit boards dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs).
(3) The main circuit board inside your system is called the motherboard and contains
the processor memory chips, expansions slots, and controllers for peripherals,
connected by buses – electric channels which allow devices inside the computer
to communicate with each other. For example, the front side bus carries all
data that passes from the СPU to other devices.
The size of a bus, called bus width, determines how much data can be transmitted.
It can be compared to the number of lanes on a motorway – the larger the
width, the more data can travel along the bus. For example, a 64-bit bus can
transmit 64 bits of data.
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Expansion slots allow users to install expansion cards, adding features like sound,
memory and network capabilities.
2. Find in the text words or phrases that have a similar meaning to:
1) to run a program;
2) a complete route which an electric current can flow around;
3) to determine exact size or extent;
4) to do at the same time and speed;
5) information in an electronic form;
6) temporary;
7) units connected to the computer;
8) the largest amount that something can hold, produce, or carry;
9) a connector that allows the user to install expansion cards.
3. Translate the following into English.
Процесс обработки, происходить в пределах системы, электрическая схема,
состоять из, заставлять выполнить, производить математические подсчеты,
хранить данные, отслеживать, частично определяться, фиксированный интервал,
позволять, искать, переместить копию, емкость, линейный модуль,
расширительный разъем, ширина шины, расширительная плата.
Post-reading:
1. Make notes about the main points following the logical structure of the
text.
2. Summarize the text in 10–12 sentences.
3. Practice asking questions to the details of the text.
Unit 2. FLASH STORAGE
Pre-reading:
1. Discuss the following ideas in groups.
How much data can a flash memory card hold?
How often do you use flash memory?
How many handheld devices where flash memory is used do you have?
2. Before reading the text, match the words and phrases (1–8) with their definitions
(a–h).
1) cells
2) U3 smart drives
a) store both applications and data
b) remove or destroy
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3) flash memory
4) erase
c) a USB storage device used to store
and transport data files
d) a device that reads and writes a flash
memory card
5) hybrid hard drive
6) flash card reader
7) flash drive
e) floating gate transistor
f) without fragile moving parts
g) non-volatile memory that can be
erased and reprogrammed
8) solid-state technology h) a magnetic storage device with big
capacity which combines a magnetic
hard disk and flash memory
While-reading:
1. Read the text. Five sentences have been removed from the article. Choose
from the sentences (A–E) the one which fits each gap (1–5).
A. However, USB flash drives have less storage capacity than hard drives.
B. New devices have a multi-level cell structure so they can store more than one
bit per cell.
C. Hybrid hard drives combine a magnetic hard disk and flash memory into one
device.
D. Unlike ROM chips, flash memory chips are rewritable, so you can update
programs via software.
E. They are as small as a stamp, and capacity can range from 8MB to several gigabytes.
Memory
in a flash!
Flash memory is a type of non-volatile memory that can be electronically erased
and reprogrammed. Its name was invented by Toshiba to express how much faster
it could be erased – «in a flash», which means «very quickly».
Unlike RAM, which is volatile, flash memory retains the information stored in
the chip when the power is turned off. This makes it ideal for use in digital cameras,
laptops, network switches, video game cards, mobile phones and portable
multimedia players. In addition, it offers fast read access times (although not as
fast as RAM), with transfer rates of 12MB per second. (1)
Inside the chip, data is stored in several floating gate transistors, called cells.
Each cell traditionally stores one bit of data (1 = erased and 0 = programmed). (2)
The chips are constructed with either NOR or NAND gates. NOR chips function
like a computer's main memory, while NAND works like a hard drive. For exam8
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ple, in a camera, NOR flash contains the camera's internal software, while NAND
flash is used to store the images.
Flash memory is used in several ways:
Many PCs have their BIOS (basic input/output system) stored on a flash
memory chip so it can be updated if necessary.
Modems use flash memory because it allows the manufacturer to support
new protocols.
USB flash drives are used to save and move MP3s and other data files
between computers. They are more easily transported than external hard
drives because they use solid-state technology, meaning that they don't
have fragile moving parts that can break if dropped. (3)
New U3 smart drives allow users to store both applications and data.
They have two drive partitions and can carry applications that run on the
host computer without requiring installation.
Flash memory cards are used to store images on cameras, to back up data
on PDAs, to transfer games in video consoles, to record voice and
music on MP3 players or to store movies on MP4 players. (4) The only
limitation is that flash cards are often not interchangeable between devices.
Some formats include: CompactFlash, Secure Digital, MultiMedia
Card, miniSD card, and xD-Picture Card. Sony has its own product
called the Memory Stick, used in its digital still cameras, video camcorders
and the PlayStation Portable. The photos stored in a digital camera
can be offloaded to а computer via cable or wirelessly. Another option
is to have a flash card reader permanently connected to your PC;
you simply eject the card from the camera and put it into the reader instead
of having to plug the camera in.
The future of hard drives may be hybrid hard drives. (5) This allows
computers to boot, or start, more quickly, and also reduces power consumption.
2.
Find words or phrases in the text that have a similar meaning to:
1. permanent; able to hold data without power;
2. able to be rewritten many times;
3. different sections of a disk drive or storage area;
4. to make a copy of a file so that the original is not lost;
5. transferred to another device;
6. a peripheral device that reads and writes flash memory cards;
7. a product that integrates two different technologies.
3. Translate the following into English.
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Портативное/мобильное устройство, энергонезависимая память на базе
флэш-технологии, стирать из памяти, хранить в памяти сохраненную информацию,
скорость передачи, транзистор с плавающим затвором, основные
системы ввода/выхода данных, позволять, поддерживать протоколы,
флэш-накопитель, внешний жесткий диск, твердотельная технология, хрупкий,
требовать установку, выполнять резервное копирование данных, взаимозаменяемый,
разгружать, снижать потребление энергии.
Post-reading:
1. Make notes about the main points following the logical structure of the
text.
2. Summarize the text in 10–12 sentences.
3. Practice asking questions to the details of the text.
Unit 3. THE OPERATING SYSTEM
Pre-reading:
1. In pairs, discuss these questions.
How many operating systems can you think of? Make a list.
What is the function of an operating system?
Do you think most operating systems are user-friendly? Why?
2. Before reading the text, match the words and phrases (1–4) with their definitions
(a–d).
1) application software
a) It is a set of program instructions that
tell the computer what to do.
2) operating system
3) software
b) It includes all the programs that control
the basic functions of a computer (e.g.
operating systems, programming software,
device drivers and utilities).
c) It comprises programs that let you do
specific tasks. Typical applications include
word processing, databases, educational
programs, email and video
games.
4) system software
d) It is a set of programs that control the
hardware and software resources of a
computer system. Typical functions
include handling input/output opera10
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