Unit 2

Text Study: The Structure of CPU.

Additional Text: High Speed Register Storage.

Grammar: The Past Perfect Tense.

Text Study

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

Implement, to engrave, interconnecting, wiring, supply, circuit, require, the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), addition, multiplication, comparison, current, values.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Address, register, operation, silicon "chip", decode, logically, transistor, component, bit, result.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) The CPU of a modern small computer is physically implemented as single silicon "chip".  2) The CPU is logically made up from a number of subparts. 3) Other circuits will implement comparison operations that permit a program check whether one data value is greater than or less than some other value. 4) While most data are kept in memory, CPUs are designed to hold a small amount of data in "registers" (data stores) in the CPU itself. 5) A CPU register will hold as many bits as a "word" in the computer's memory. 6) Data values have to be fetched from memory and stored temporarily in CPU registers.

II. Reading

Read the text and be ready to find in the text the answers to the following questions:

·         What circuits are the hearts of a computer?

·         What is the function of the arithmetic logic unit?

The Structure of CPU

 The CPU of a modern small computer is physically implemented as single silicon "chip". This chip will have engraved on it the million or more transistors and the interconnecting wiring that define the CPU's circuits. The chip will have one hundred or more pins around its rim.  Some of these pins are connection points for the signal lines from the bus, others will be the points where electrical power is supplied to the chip. Although physically a single component, the CPU is logically made up from a number of subparts. The three most important, which will be present in every CPU.

The timing and control circuits are the heart of the system. A controlling circuit defines the computer's basic processing cycle: repeat, fetch next instruction from memory, decode instruction (i.e. determine which data manipulation circuit is to be activated), fetch from memory any additional data that are needed ,execute the instruction (feed the data to the appropriate manipulation circuit), until "halt" instruction has been executed.

Along with the controlling "fetch-decode-execute" circuit, the timing and control component of the CPU contains the circuits for decoding instructions and decoding addresses (i.e. working out the location in memory of required data elements).

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) contains the circuits that manipulate data. There will be circuits for arithmetic operations like addition and multiplication. Often there will be different versions of such circuits – one version for integer numbers and a second for real numbers. Other circuits will implement comparison operations that permit a program check whether one data value is greater than or less than some other value. There will also be "logic" circuits that directly manipulate bit pattern data.

While most data are kept in memory, CPUs are designed to hold a small amount of data in "registers" (data stores) in the CPU itself. It is normal for main memory to be large enough to hold millions of data values; the CPU may only have space for something like 16 values. A CPU register will hold as many bits as a "word" in the computer's memory. Most current CPUs have registers that each store 32 bits of data. The circuits in the ALU often are organized so that some or all of their inputs and outputs must come from, or go to, CPU registers. Data values have to be fetched from memory and stored temporarily in CPU registers. Only then they can be combined using an ALU circuit, with the result again going to a register. If the result is from the final step in a calculation, it gets stored back into main memory. While some of the CPU registers are used for data values that are being manipulated, others may be reserved for calculations that the CPU has to do when it is working out where in memory particular data values are to be stored. CPU designs vary with respect to their use of registers. But, commonly, a CPU will have 8 or more "data" registers and another 8 "address" registers.

Vocabulary Notes

to implement ['ImplImqnt] – виконувати, забезпечувати виконання, здійснювати, утілюватись в життя.

to engrave [In'greIv] – утримувати на собі, гравірувати

wiring ['waiqrIN] – монтаж, проводка, монтажна схема

pin –  штекер,  вивід; контакт

RIM –  read-in mode режим вводу

supply – постачати

subpart – підчастина

to define – давати визначення

to determine [dI'tWmIn] – визначати, встановлювати

to feed – надавати інформацію

manipulation  –  маніпулювання, обробка

to require [rI'kwaiq] – вимагати

addition and multiplication –  додавання і множення

comparison [kqm'pxrIsn] –  порівняння

to permit ['pWmit] – дозволяти

values ['vxljHs] – величини

current ['kAr(q)nt] –  сучасний

register ['reGistq] –  регістр

calculation – обчислення

reserve [rI'zWv] –  резерв, зберігати

Comprehension

1. Tell what sentences are true and what are false.

1) The CPU of a modern small computer is physically implemented as double silicon "chip". 2) The CPU's circuits are the million or more transistors and the interconnecting wiring. 3) The CPU is logically made up from a number of subparts, there are five most important, which will be present in every CPU. 4) The timing and control circuits are the heart of the system. 5) A controlling circuit defines the computer's basic processing cycle: repeat and fetch next instruction from memory. 6) The arithmetic logic unit contains the circuits that manipulate data. 7) Most current CPUs have registers that each store 32 bits of data. 8) Data values have to be fetched from the CPU and stored temporarily in CPU registers.

2. Choose the right answer:

1) The chip will have … .

a) one thousand or more pins;

b) one hundred or more pins around its rim;

c) million pins.

2) …  circuits are the heart of the system.

a) the timing;

b) the control;

c) the timing and control.

3) The arithmetic logic unit  contains the circuits that … .

a) manipulate data;

b) hide data;

c) show data.

4) While most data are kept in memory, CPUs hold a … amount of data in "registers" (data stores) in the CPU itself.

a) huge;

b) great;

c) small.

5) Data values have to be fetched from memory and stored temporarily in … .

a) CPU registers;

b) the ALU;

c) controllers.

3. Complete the sentences:

1) A controlling circuit defines the computer's basic processing cycle: … 2) Along with the controlling "fetch-decode-execute" circuit, the timing and control component of the CPU contains … . 3) The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) contains different circuits for example … . 4) A CPU register will hold as many bits as … . 5) The circuits in the ALU often are organized so that … . 6) Data values have to be fetched from memory and stored temporarily in … . 7) Commonly the CPU will have …  "data" registers and another … "address" registers.

4. Answer the questions:

1) How is the CPU of a modern small computer physically implemented? 2)  What will this chip engrave on it? 3) Is the CPU logically made up from a number of subparts? 4) What basic processing cycle does a controlling circuit define? 5) What circuits does the timing and control component of the CPU contain? 6) What does the arithmetic logic unit contain? 7) How many bits will a CPU register hold? 8) What registers have current CPUs? 9)  Do data values have to be fetched from memory and stored temporarily in CPU registers? Why?

5. Find as quickly as possible and read out the sentences containing the following important information:

• the computer's basic processing cycle
• the arithmetic logic unit
• current CPUs

*6. Try to tell the gist of the text.

Word Study

1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following.

A modern small computer,  physically implemented, single silicon "chip", interconnecting wiring,  electrical power, a number of subparts, the timing and control circuits, basic processing cycle, decode instruction, fetch from memory any additional data, the appropriate manipulation circuit, the arithmetic logic unit (ALU),  manipulate data,  addition and multiplication, to permit a program check whether… ,  data value, a small amount of data in "registers",  the final step in a calculation, particular data values.

2. Give English equivalents of the following.

        Певне числове значення, сучасний невеликий комп’ютер, єдиний силіконовий чіп, фізично втілюватись у життя, кінцевий крок в обчисленні, витягати з пам’яті будь-які додаткові дані, певна маніпуляцій на схема, мала кількість інформації в регістрі, електрична сила, з’єднувальна проводка, багато підчастин, інформаційна величина, схема синхронізації і контролю, дозволити програмі вибрати чи …, додавання і множення, основний робочий цикл, декодувати інформацію, маніпулювати даними, арифметико-логічний пристрій.

3.  Match the words in A with their synonyms in B:

A                                 B

current                        to save

to implement               computation

to engrave                   modern

to supply                     to carve

manipulation               to perform

to reserve                    machination

calculation                  to provide

4. Fill in the gaps with the words from Vocabulary Notes in the appropriate form.

subparts / register  / wiring / addition and multiplication / to supply / the timing and control / to engrave / to manipulate

1) A single silicon "chip" have …  on it the million or more transistors and the interconnecting … . 2) Electrical power must be … to the chip. 3) The CPU is made up from a number of … . 4) The heart of a computer system is … and … circuits. 5) The arithmetic logic unit  contains the circuits that … data. 6) There are circuits for arithmetic operations like … . 7) A CPU …  will hold as many bits as a "word" in the computer's memory.

5. Translate sentences into English using words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.

1) Центральний процесор вміщує три основних компоненти. 2) Витягнути інформацію з пам’яті, декодувати її, виконати дії над нею  – це основний робочий цикл  контролюючої схеми комп’ютера. 3)  Маніпулювати інформацією (даними) – це робота арифметико-логічного пристрою. 4) Він вміщує спеціальні схеми для додавання і множення, порівняння, вибору величин. 5) Вся інформація зберігається в основній пам’яті комп’ютера. 6) Регістри центрального процесора вміщують невелику кількість інформації. 7) Регістр центрального процесора утримує стільки бітів інформації, скільки становить одне «слово» в пам’яті комп’ютера.

Grammar in Use

The Past Perfect Tense

1. Make the following interrogative and negative.

1) We had changed the configuration on the computer in order to read and write more quickly. 2) The web had become a broadcast medium. 3) Running a computer games business had become very popular. 4) The computer at first had failed to attain the necessary perfection in performance. 5) The machine had never attained  the required power.

2. Replace the infinitive in brackets by the Past Indefinite or the Past Perfect.

1) Yesterday we (to play) computer games which we (to install) some days before. 2) When my groupmate (to enter) the classroom, I (to begin) to learn new operating system. 3) The students (to finish) typing by 7 p.m. 4) He (to tell) us many interesting things about new computer technologies that he (to see) in Kyiv. 5) Peter (to show) us a new computer his father (to buy) for him. 6) The programist (to make) a program by the time we (to come) to the office. 7) He said that he (to finish) his task. 8) In 1940s the first computers (to appear). 8) They (to repair) the printer before they (to come) back home.

3. Change from direct into indirect speech.

1)  The student said, “I studied high-level computer languages at school.” 2) The teacher said, “I saw some mistakes in your computer test.” 3) My groupmate said, “I have already read about the fifth computer generation.” 4) He said, “I did not recognize your handwriting.” 5) The teacher stressed “The initial purpose of the Web was to use networked hypertext to facilitate communication among its members.” 6) The scientist said, “In recent years, the use of the Web has now reached global proportions.” 7) The teacher said, “Microsoft has evolved much in the same way as Apple Computer.”8) The student stressed, “Microsoft has thus created its own standards in a market.”

Additional Text

(for individual work)

Read and translate the text.

High Speed Register Storage

Programmers who write in low-level "assembly languages" will be aware of these data and address registers in the CPU. Assembly language code defines details such as how data should be moved to specific data registers and how addresses are to be calculated and saved temporarily in address registers.

Generally, programmers working with high level languages don’t have to be concerned about such details; but, when necessary, a programmer can find out how the CPU registers are used in their code.

In addition to the main data and address registers, the CPU contains many other registers. The ALU will contain numerous registers for holding temporary values that are generated as arithmetic operations are performed. The timing and control component contains a number of registers that hold control information.

The Program Counter (PC) holds the address of the memory location containing the next instruction to be executed. The Instruction Register (IR) holds the bit pattern that represents the current instruction; different parts of the bit pattern are used to encode the "operation code" and the address of any data required. Most CPUs have a "flags" register. The individual bits in this register record various status data. Typically, one bit is used to indicate whether the CPU is executing code from an ordinary program or code that forms part of the controlling Operating Systems (OS) program. (The OS code has privileges; it can do things, which ordinary programs can not do, like change settings of peripheral device controllers. When the OS-mode bit is not set, these privileged instructions can not be executed.) Commonly, another group of bits in the flags register will be used to record the result of comparison instructions performed by the ALU. One bit in the flags register would be set if the comparator circuits found two values to be equal; a different bit would be set if the first of the two values was greater than the second.

1. Divide the text into the logical parts and give a title to each one.

2. Put questions to the text.

3. Discuss it with your groupmates.