V. Translate the following text. Answer the questions.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

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The word computer comes from a Latin word which means to “count.” Devices to assist working with numbers have been in existence as long as there have been numbers. The first was the abacus, which made use of the bi-quianry number system some several thousand years before its application in several modern computers. The first mechanical computer was built by Pascal in 1642; a better device was built by Leibnitz in 1673.

Today computer is a machine with a complex network of electronic circuits that operates switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches, like the cores, are capable of being in one or two possible states, that is on and off; magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters.

The basic idea of the computer is that we can make the machine do what we want by inputting signals that 'turn certain switches on and turn others off, or that magnetize or do not magnetize the cores.

The basic job of computers is the processing of infor­mation. For this reason, computers can be defined as devices which accept information in (he form of instructions called a program and characters called data, perform mathematical and or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The program, or part of it, which tells the computers what to do and the data, which provide the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside the computer in a place called memory.

Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to use punched cards, magnetic tape, disks, and terminals. The computer's input device (which may be a card reader, a tape drive, depending on the medium used in inputting information) reads the information into the com­puter.

For outputting information, two common devices used are a printer which prints the new information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the results on a TV-like screen.

There are different kinds of computers. Some do only one job over and over again. These are special-purpose compu­ters. But there are some computers that can do many different jobs. They are called general-purpose computers. These are the “big brains” that solve the most difficult problems of science. They answer questions about rockets and planes, bridges and ships — long before these things are even built. Computers help our space program, our business and industry, medicine and education. They are powerful tools which help to change our life and the world around us.

V.I Answer the questions:

1. Are computers capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters and characters?
2. In what way can we make computers do what we want?
3. What is the basic job of com­puters?
4. How can computers be defined?
5. Where must the program be kept?
6. What devices can be used for out-putting information?
7. What are special-purpose computers?