Unit 4
Text
Study: PC Configuration.
Additional Text: The
Development of the Personal Computer.
Grammar: Revision
of the Module.
Text Study
1. Repeat the words in
chorus:
View, primary, keyboard, delicate, punctuation, surface, smooth, rough, twice, quick, succession.
2. While reading the text you
will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian
words they remind of you:
Monitor, metal, electronics,
stereo, pixels, position, microphone, modem, port.
3. Pay attention to some
grammatical points:
1) Don't remove the case's cover unless
you need to do something inside the
unit and always replace the cover when you are done. 2) Using it you type instructions and commands for the computer and
information to be processed and stored. 3)
.The mouse works by sliding it around (ball down) on a flat surface.4) The mouse does not
work if you hold it in the air like a remote control. 5) The display adapter
for your system is either built onto
the system board or is an expansion
card plugged into your system board. 6) You should set them for the largest
image without losing any part of
it. 7) DVD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a DVD.
II. Reading
Read,
translate the text and mind the PC configuration.
PC Configuration
Meet the PC
Configuration.
1. The main part of the system. An exploded view
of modern personal computer: 1. Monitor; 2. Motherboard; 3. CPU
(Microprocessor); 4. Primary storage (RAM); 5. Expansion cards; 6. Power supply; 7.
Optical disc drive; 8. Secondary
storage (Hard disk); 9. Keyboard; 10. Mouse
2. The case. The large metal box that is the main part
of the computer is called the case. The case and its contents (power supply,
system board, etc.) are called the system unit. The case has several functions:
- it protects the delicate electronics inside;
- it keeps electromagnetic emissions inside, so your TV,
cordless phone and stereo don't go haywire when you power up the computer;
- it can also hold the monitor.
Don't remove the
case's cover unless you need to do something inside the unit and always replace
the cover when you are done.
3. The keyboard. You communicate with your computer with
the keyboard. Using it you type instructions and commands for the computer and
information to be processed and stored. Many of the keys on the keyboard are
like those on a typewriter, letter keys, punctuation keys, shift keys, tab and
spacebar. Your keyboard also has many specialized keys. The instruction manuals
for most software applications contain a section describing the functions of
each key or combination of keys.
4. The mouse. The mouse works by sliding it around (ball
down) on a flat surface. The mouse does not work if you hold it in the air like
a remote control. The desktop is fine, but a ready-made mouse pad is the best
surface to roll the mouse on. Its surface is flat and usually somewhat textured.
If a surface is too smooth or rough, the ball inside can slip. As you glide the mouse, the ball inside moves in the direction of
your movement. You will see the arrow on your screen moving in unison.
The arrow is called a pointer and the most important part is the very top of
its point. That is the only part the computer pays attention to. To use the
mouse, slide it on the mouse pad until the pointer's point is on something,
like a button or an icon.
Click - position
the mouse pointer over an element and press and release the left mouse button
once.
Double-click - same
as above except press the mouse button twice in quick succession without moving
the mouse.
5. The monitor. Your computer is not complete without a
monitor, a TV-like device. Most computers still use CRT (cathode-ray
tube) monitors but in recent years flat screen based on LCD (liquid-crystal
display) technology have become increasingly popular. The monitor displays text
characters and graphics. It allows you to see the results of the work going on
inside your system unit. The image you see is made up of tiny dots called
pixels. The sharpness of the picture depends on the number and size of these
pixels. The more pixels the sharper the image. This is
called resolution.
A display adapter
card is actually what builds the video images, the monitor simply displays
them. The display adapter for your system is either built onto the system board
or is an expansion card plugged into your system board.
Some of the
controls on the monitor change the size and position of the image. You should
set them for the largest image without losing any part of it. You can set a screen saver to appear on your
monitor screen if the computer doesn't work for a period of time.
6. The
floppy drive. Floppy drives provide a way to pass data from
and to the hard drive or another computer. The drives can read and write on
floppy diskettes (
7. The
hard drive. Unlike the floppy drive the hard disk drive is inside
the computer's case and you cannot see it. Usually it is referred to as drive
C, D or F.
8. The
optical drive. The optical drive is similar to the one you might have
in your car or at home. It can play DVDs, music CDs as well as read software
program CDs and the new Kodak photo CDs.
To operate the
drive, press the eject button to open the tray. Put a CD in the tray (label
side UP) and gently start to push the tray in.
9.
Removable media devices
CD - the most common type of removable
media, inexpensive but has a short life-span.
CD Writer - a device used for both reading
and writing data to and from a CD.
DVD - a popular type of removable media
that is the same dimensions as a CD but stores up to 6 times
as much information. It is the most common way of transferring digital
video.
DVD Writer - a device used for both
reading and writing data to and from a DVD.
Blu-ray - a
high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information,
including high-definition video. Currently a rival of HD-DVD.
BD Writer - a device used for both reading
and writing data to and from a Blu-ray disc.
HD DVD - a high-density optical disc
format and successor to the standard DVD. Currently a rival
of Blu-ray.
Floppy disk - an
outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic
storage medium.
Zip drive - an outdated medium-capacity
removable disk storage system, first introduced by Iomega in 1994.
USB flash drive - a flash memory data
storage device integrated with a USB interface, typically small, lightweight,
removable and rewritable.
Tape drive - a device that reads and
writes data on a magnetic tape, usually used for long term storage.
10. Sound card
Enables the
computer to output sound to audio devices, as well as accept input from a
microphone. Most modem computers have sound cards built - in to the
motherboard, though it is common for a user to install
a separate sound card as an upgrade.
11.
Networking. Connects the computer to the
Internet and/or other computers.
· Modem -
for dial-up connections.
· Network
card - for DS L/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers. . • Direct Cable Connection - Use of a null
modem, connecting two computers together using their serial ports or a Laplink
Cable, connecting two computers together with their parallel ports.
Vocabulary
Notes
motherboard ['mADq"bLd] — системна плата
primary [praImqrI] /secondary storage ['stLrIG] — первинна/вторинна пам’ять
expansion card [Iks'pxnS(q)n] — плата
розширення
power supply — джерело живлення
case — корпус
system unit — системний
блок
to go haywire ['heI"waIq] = out of order — несправний
shift key — клавіша
переключення регістру
tab — клавіша табуляції
spacebar — клавіша пробілу
mouse pad — килим для миші
sharpness [SRpnIs] — чіткість зображення
a display adapter [dIs'pleI q'dxptq] — адаптер дисплею
life-span — термін дії
high-density [haI 'densItI] — з високою щільністю розміщення
null modem [nAl 'mqVdqm] —
безмодемний
network card — мережевий
адаптер
Comprehension
1.
Tell what sentences are true and what are false.
1) The large metal
box that is the main part of the computer is called the case. 2) You
communicate with your computer with the keyboard. 3) The mouse works by sliding
it around (ball down) on a rough surface. 4) The monitor displays only text
characters. 5) Floppy drives provide a way to pass data from
and to the hard drive or another computer.6) The hard
disk drive is inside the computer's case and you cannot see it. 7) CD-ROM
Drive - a device used for reading and writing data from a CD. 8) Tape drive is a
device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, usually used for short
term storage. 9) Most modem computers have sound cards built - in to the
motherboard. 10) Network card is used for DS L/Cable internet, and/or
connecting to other computers.
2.
Choose the right answer:
1) The case and its contents (power supply,
system board, etc.) are called … .
a) the
mouse;
b) the
keyboard;
c) the system unit.
2) Using
… you type instructions and commands for the computer and information to be
processed and stored.
a) the
mouse;
b) the
keyboard;
c) the system unit.
3) To use …
, slide it on the mouse pad until the pointer's point is on something,
like a button or an icon.
a) the
mouse;
b) the
keyboard;
c) the system unit.
4 … allows you to see the results of the work going on inside
your system unit.
a) the
mouse;
b) the
keyboard;
c) the monitor.
5) Usually … is referred to
as drive C, D or F.
a) the
hard drive;
b) the floppy drive;
c) the system unit.
6) … can play DVDs, music CDs as well as
read software program CDs and the new Kodak photo CDs.
a) the
hard drive;
b) the floppy drive;
c) the optical drive.
7) … is an outdated storage device
consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic storage medium.
a) Floppy disk;
b) Zip drive;
c) USB flash drive.
8)
… is an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first introduced
by Iomega in 1994.
Most often, input is by means
of … .
a) Floppy disk;
b) Zip drive;
c) USB flash drive.
9) … is a flash memory data storage device
integrated with a USB interface, typically small, lightweight, removable and rewritable.
a) Floppy disk;
b) Zip drive;
c) USB flash drive.
3.
Complete the sentences:
1) An exploded view of modern personal
computer: … . 2) Many of the keys on the keyboard are
like those on … . 3) Click - position the
mouse… .
4) A display adapter card is … . 5) To operate the optical
drive … . 6)
4. Answer following questions.
1) What functions has
the case? 2) What contains a section describing the functions of each key or
combination of keys? 3) What is the best surface to roll the mouse on? 4) What
types of screen have become increasingly popular? 5) What is called resolution?
6) What have you do first when you put a new diskette into the drive? 7) What removable
media devices do you know? 8) What is the application of networking?
5.
Find as quickly as possible and read out the sentences containing the following
important information:
*6.
Try to tell the gist of the text.
Word Study
1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the
following.
An
exploded view of modern personal computer, to protect the
delicate electronics, electromagnetic emissions, cordless phone, the
instruction manuals, a remote control, the
mouse pointer, a screen saver, to press the eject button, to open the
tray, to push the tray in, a rival of Blu-ray.
2. Give English equivalents of the
following.
Курсор мишки, дистанційне управління,
безпровідниковий телефон, покомпонентне відтворення вигляду сучасного
персонального комп’ютера, захищати чутливу електроніку, інструкція з
користування, зберігач екрану, натиснути кнопку викиду, відкрити лоток (піддон),
закрити лоток, електромагнітне розповсюдження (емісія), конкурент блу-рей.
3. Match the words in A with
their synonyms in B:
A B
circuitry capability
computer of choice universal
storage circuits
to employ the
best computer
general-purpose memory
eventually to use
capacity finally
4. Fill in the gaps
with the words from Vocabulary Notes in the appropriate form.
General-purpose/to
employ/circuitry/self-contained
1) Any modern computer use … .
2) Computers that can do many different jobs are called … computer. 3) The
smallest fully functional … personal computers are notebook computers.4) Analog
computers are devices that … continuously variable physical phenomena to make
computations.
5. Translate sentences into English using
words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.
1. Комп’ютери компанії IBM стали
найкращими, а поступились їм комп’ютери Apple. 2) Усі персональні комп’ютери використовують носії для
виводу та вводу даних. 3) Усі друковані документи можна назвати друкованими копіями вихідних даних. 4) Ноутбуки – це є автономні,
універсальні ПК. 5) CD
диски, флеш карти – це автономне зберігання даних окремо від комп’ютера.
Additional
Text
Read, translate the
text and answer the following questions:
The
Development of the Personal Computer
In
In 1980, IBM decided that
there was market for 250,000 PCs, so they set up a special team to develop the
first IBM PC. It went on sale in 1981 and set a world-wide standard for IBM-
compatibility which, over the next ten years, was only seriously challenged by
another company, Apple Computers. Since then, over seventy million PCs made by
IBM and other manufactures have been sold. Over this period, PCs have become
commodity items.
The history of the
multi-billion dollar PC industry has been one of mistakes. Xerox Corporation
funded the initial research on personal computers in their
The first IBM PC was developed using existing available
electrical components. With IBM’s badge on the box it became the standard
machine for large corporations to purchase. When IBM were looking for an
operating system, they went initially to Digital Research, who were market
leaders in command-based operating systems (these are operating systems in
which the users type in commands to perform a function). When the collaboration
between IBM and Digital Research failed, IBM turned to Bill Gates, then 25
years old, to write their operating system.
Bill Gates founded Microsoft on the basis of the
development of MS/DOS, the initial operating system for the IBM PC. Digital
Research have continued to develop their operating
system, DR/DOS, and it is considered by many people to be a better product than
Microsoft’s. However, without an endorsement from IBM, it has become a minor
player in the market.