Unit
2
Text Study. Data Processing Systems.
Additional Text. Information Explosion
and Data Processing in Modern Society.
Grammar:
The Past Continuous Tense.
Text
Study
1. Repeat the words in
chorus:
Unorganized, series, resources,
facilities, equipment, consumed, throughout, ancient, Egyptians, yields, Asia,
characteristic, available, initial, hierarchy,
successively.
2.
While reading the text you will come across a number of new words. Try to guess
what Ukrainian words they remind of you:
Fact,
operation, system, material, printer, special, phenomenon, recommendation,
technology, component, arithmetic, symbol, element, collection, bank.
3. Pay attention to some
grammatical points:
1) The
necessary data are processed by a computer to
become useful information. 2) We use the term data processing system to include the resources that are used to accomplish the
processing of data. 3) Throughout history, and even prehistory, people have found it necessary to sort data into forms that were easier to understand. 4) Today computers convert
data about land and water into recommendations to farmers on crop planting. 5) Storing is saving data or information so that they are available for initial
or for additional processing. 6) Processing
represents performing arithmetic
or logical operations on data in order to convert them into useful information.
II. Reading
Read the text and say how you
understand the terms “data processing” and “data storage hierarchy”
Data
Processing Systems
The necessary data
are processed by a computer to become useful information. In fact this is the
definition of data processing. Data are a collection of facts — unorganized
but able to be organized into useful information. Processing is a series of actions or operations that convert
inputs into outputs. When we speak of data
processing, the input is data, and the output is useful information. So, we
can define data processing as a series of actions or operations that converts
data into useful information.
We use the term data processing system to include the resources that are used to accomplish the
processing of data. There are four types of resources: people, materials,
facilities, and equipment. People provide input to computers, operate them, and
use their output. Materials, such as boxes of paper and printer ribbons, are
consumed in great quantity. Facilities are required to house the computer
equipment, people and materials.
The need for
converting facts into useful information is not a phenomenon of modem life.
Throughout history, and even prehistory, people have found it necessary to sort
data into forms that were easier to understand. For example, the ancient Egyptians
recorded the ebb and flow of the
Basic data processing operations
Five basic
operations are characteristic of all data processing systems: inputting,
storing, processing, outputting, and controlling. They are defined as follows.
Inputting is the process of entering
data, which are collected facts, into a data processing system.
Storing is saving data or information so that they are
available for initial or for additional processing.
Processing represents performing
arithmetic or logical operations on data in order to convert them into useful
information.
Outputting is the process of producing
useful information, such as a printed report or visual display.
Controlling is directing the manner and
sequence in which all of the above operations are performed.
Data storage hierarchy
It is known that
data, once entered, are organized and stored in successively more comprehensive
groupings. Generally, these groupings are called a data storage hierarchy. The
general groupings of any data storage hierarchy are as follows.
1) Characters,
which are all written language symbols: letters, numbers, and special symbols.
2) Data elements,
which are meaningful collections of related characters. Data elements are also
called data items or fields.
3) Records, which
are collections of related data elements.
4) Files, which are
collections of related records. A set of related files is called a data base
or a data bank.
Vocabulary
Notes
data
processing — обробка
інформації (даних)
to convert — перетворювати; переводити (в інші одиниці)
to accomplish —здійснювати, виконувати; завершувати, закінчувати;
to house — поміщати, розміщувати
to improve — покращити, вдосконалити
to control — управляти, регулювати; управління, регулювання
to store — зберігати, запам’ятовувати, заносити (розміщувати) в пам’яті
storage ['stLrIG]— запам’ятовуючий пристрій, пам’ять;
зберігання
resource [rI'sLs]—
ресурс; засіб;
facilities — апаратура, засоби
equipment [I'kwIpmqnt]— обладнання; прилади
available [q'veIlbl]— доступний; той, що є в наявності; можливий
display
— дисплей; пристрій
візуального зображення; показ
manner
— спосіб, образ (дій)
sequence
— послідовність, порядок
successively ['sJkwqns]— послідовно
data storage hierarchy ['haIqrRkI]— ієрархія (послідовність)
запам’ятовування інформації (даних)
to enter — входити; вводити (дані); заносити, записувати
comprehensive groupings — повні, обширні, універсальні угрупування
meaningful — той,
що має зміст; значущий (про дані)
item ['aItqm] — елемент; складова частина
record — запис, реєстрація; записувати,
реєструвати
file
— файл; заносити (зберігати) в файл
set —
набір; множина; сукупність; серія; група; система
data base — база
даних
related
—взаємопов’язаний; той, що відноситься до
чогось
Comprehension
1.
Tell what sentences are true and what are false.
1) Data are a collection of facts — unorganized but able to be organized
into useful information. 2) Processing is a series of actions or operations
that records inputs into outputs. 3) We can define data processing as a series
of actions or operations that converts data into useful information. 4) The
need for converting facts into useful information is a phenomenon of modem
life. 5) The ancient Egyptians recorded the ebb and flow of the
2.
Complete the sentences.
1) Data are … . 2) Processing is … . 3) Data processing is a series of … .
4) There are four types of resources: … . 5) There are
five basic operations of all data processing systems: … .
6) The general groupings of any data storage hierarchy are as follows … .
3.
Choose the right answer:
1) The necessary data are
processed by a … to become useful information.
a) computer;
b) storage;
c) calculator.
2) … is a series of actions
or operations that convert inputs into outputs.
a) processing;
b) inputting;
c) data.
3) We use the term data
processing system to include the resources that are used … the processing of
data.
a) to
enter;
b) to
accomplish;
c) to
store.
4) Materials, such as … , are consumed in great quantity.
a) books;
b) records;
c) boxes
of paper and printer ribbons.
5) Facilities are required … the
computer equipment, people and materials.
a) to
house;
b) to
convert;
c) to
store.
6) … is the process of entering data, which are collected facts, into
a data processing system.
a) Controlling;
b) Storing;
c) Inputting.
7) … is saving data or information so that they are available for
initial or for additional processing.
a) Controlling;
b) Storing;
c) Inputting.
8) … is the process of producing useful
information, such as a printed report or visual display.
a) Controlling;
b) Storing;
c) Outputting.
9) … is directing the manner and sequence in
which all of the above operations are performed.
a) Controlling;
b) Storing;
c) Outputting.
10) Data elements
are meaningful collections of … .
a) related
characters;
b) related records;
c) related
data elements.
4. Answer the questions to the
text:
1) What is
processing? 2) What is data processing? 3) What does the term of data
processing system mean? 4) How many types are there? 5) What do people provide?
6) What are consumed in great quantity? 7) What are required to house the
equipment, people and materials? 8) What
basic operations does a data processing system include? 9) What is inputting /
storing / outputting / controlling? 10 )How did
ancient Egyptians convert facts into useful information? 11) When were
mechanical aids for computation developed? 12) What does data storage hierarchy mean? 13) What
are characters/data elements/records/files? 14) What is a data base?
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.
Written language
symbol, initial
processing, additional processing, a phenomenon of modem life, the definition of
data processing, to accomplish the processing of data, printer ribbons, to
predict yearly crop yields, to convert data into useful information, to record
the ebb and flow, data processing system, series of actions, to provide input
to computer, data elements, inputting; storing, outputting, data base, a set of
related files, field, to house the computer equipment, to include the
resources, prehistory, mechanical aids to computation, visual display, printed report.
2. Give English equivalents of the
following.
Система обробки інформації;
визначення (терміну) обробки даних; сукупність даних; послідовність дій;
перетворення даних в корисну інформацію; включати ресурси; здійснювати обробку
даних; забезпечувати введення інформації у комп’ютер; стрічки принтера;
обладнання; явища сучасного життя; протягом доісторичного періоду; реєструвати
відпливи та припливи; прогнозувати врожай зернових культур; механічні засоби
обчислення; введення даних; збереження даних; початкова обробка даних; первинна
обробка; додаткова обробка; видача інформації; група розрядів (поле); записані
символи мови; елементи інформації; база даних; набір взаємопов’язаних файлів,
візуальне відображення, надруковане повідомлення.
3. Match the words in A with
their synonyms in B:
A B
to convert to keep
to house to carry out
to control to input
to store to locate
to enter to direct
to accomplish to change
related series
sequence connected
facilities consecutively
successively installation
4. Fill in the gaps with the words from Vocabulary Notes
in the appropriate form.
To accomplish/to
store/sequence/to convert/processing/facilities/controlling
1) Motherboards
usually contain one or more CPUs, main memory and … for initial setup of the
computer. 2) Large-scale computers are necessary to do the complex … . 3) When a multiplicity of operations must be …
simultaneously the only answer is a macro computer. 4) Each instruction has a
unique code specifying a particular operation and has been placed in specific …
by the computer programmer.5) A basic microcomputer requires a read-only memory
… the computer program or instructions, a random-access memory … temporary. 6)
The electronic machine can also be used for … automatic production. 7) A
computer can also be used to make translation from one language into another by
… words into figures and vice versa.
5. Translate sentences into English using words and
word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes
1) Комп’ютер
здійснює обробку даних. 2) Основною характеристикою системи обробки даних є її п’ять основних операцій,
саме: введення, обробка, зберігання, виведення та управління. 3) Вся
інформація зберігається згідно ієрархії запам’ятовування даних. 4) Виконання
арифметико-логічних задач над даними відносимо до обробки даних. 5) Інформація
може зберігатися як для первинної так і для вторинної обробки. 6) Банк даних –
це набір взаємопов’язаних файлів.
Grammar in Use
The Past Continuous Tense
1. Open
the brackets using the Past Continuous Tense.
1) The programmer (to
write) a program at that moment yesterday. 2) The computer (to work) the whole
day yesterday. 3) From 6 till 7 the PC (to compile) the program. 4) When I came
he (to write) a new program. 5) When we needed the fast calculations the
mainframe (to terminate) the computation. 6) We (to collect) the data the whole
day yesterday. 7) The students (to perform) some specialized tasks more easily.
2. Put the sentences of
exercise 1 into negative form.
3. Put the questions to the
sentences of exercise 1.
4.
Change the following into the Past Continuous Tense.
1)
An alternative voltage source applied to the circuit. 2) A direct current flows
through a circuit in one direction. 3) Digital computers receive new programs
quite easily. 4) Transistors found wide application in computers, automatic
devices, communication, and aviation. 5) Electronic devices helped people
discover new phenomena of nature. 6) They calculated the trajectories of
spaceships. 7) Jack Kilby developed the concept of integrating device and built
the first IC in 1958.
Additional Text
(for individual work)
Read and translate the text
Information
Explosion and Data Processing in Modern Society
An outstanding
characteristic of modern society is the powerful flow of knowledge and
information in different fields of human activities.
Information
is often called the lifeblood of modern civilization. It plays an ever
increasing part in everyday life, management of business, etc. .
The
scientific activity, with all its technical and economic outcomes and
consequences, is today passing through a period of particularly rapid
development. For instance, over the past 150 years the range of human knowledge
has been doubled every twelve to fifteen years.
The
present-day information explosion must be properly dealt with. To handle the
information flow properly and instantly, to help specialists find immediately
of machines have been invented. They are now widely used for this purpose.
The
computer, with its million fold increase in man’s capacity to handle
information, undoubtedly, holds the first place. Without the computer, data and
information processing would be impossible, say, in space programs. It is the
phenomenal speed of computers that makes them practically well suited to
pursuing activities that require instant solution to complex dynamic problems.
They are extensively used in the control and monitoring of space vehicles.
Computers are ideal for high-volume computing tasks such as the computation and
analysis of statistical and mathematical data as well as scientific and engineering
calculations.
For
example, before production can be started in the factory, raw materials and parts
have to be procured. This involves the data processing system in the
preparation of purchase orders. When supplies are received they have to be
recorded on appropriate stock or job-records, which again involve data
processing.
When
production is due to begin materials and parts have to be issued to the
production centers and suitability recorded on issue notes which are
subsequently recorded on stock and job records. The issues are often priced and
extended. These arc also data processing operations.
In the
industry, for instance, one of the new generations of press control combines a
menu-driven press computer with a programmable press controller. The press
control system monitors all vital functions of the stamping system. It provides
an infinite for storing all your setup information.
Total
system diagnostics are enhanced by the computer to provide on screen remedies
for identifiable problems. Not only do you know why the press has stopped, but
now you know where the problem is and how to remedy it.
On-line
operating data are automatically recorded. You can now call up a report to tell
all about the job while it is running and how long to completion. The
computerized control system has the flexibility to meet new requirements for
more information.
Thus
information and data processing is a special activity performed by the
administrative organization for the business as a whole. It is concerned with
the systematic recording, arranging, filing, processing and dissemination of
facts relating to the physical events occurring in business.
From the above said it can be concluded that data processing systems
provide information and information provides the basis for managerial control
of business operations to achieve corporate objectives as effectively as
possible. This means making the most
A
management information system therefore embraces the data processing systems
control systems (using information provided by the data processing system), and
decision-making based on the facts indicated by the control systems.
A data
processing system in its simplest form consists of three primary elements:
input, processing and output. These elements apply whether the system is
manual, mechanical or electronic.
A computer
system consists of five elements: input, processing, output, storage and
control.
It is absolutely necessary for every active member
of modern society to be able to use the computer system in data (information)
processing and management.