Operating Systems

An operating system provides the basic instructions that tell the computer how to perform certain tasks necessary for its work. The operating system is a mediator between a user and a computer’s hardware. The operating system of a large computer can be very complicated, because it has to control many functions. A personal computer’s operating system is simpler.

It is impossible to use a computer without an operating system. This complex program helps you use any other programs, for example, play computer games. Even when you press keys on the keyboard, your computer needs an operating system to understand it. So, only a computer specialist can use a computer without an operating system.

An operating system consists of a set of instructions. It exists in ROM, or it may exist partly in ROM and partly on a hard disk.

There are a lot of different operating systems nowadays. The most famous of them are MS-DOS, Windows and UNIX. MS-DOS is out-of-date now but the two others are constantly upgrading and improving.

Exercise 1. Find Ukrainian equivalents for the given words.

1) keyboard a) клавіатура

2) to exist b) набір

3) to press c) спеціаліст, фахівець

4) set d) клавіша

5) mediator e) жорсткий диск

6) hardware f) існувати

7) key g) натискати

8) complicated h) складний

9) hard disk i) користувач

10) user j) апаратне забезпечення

11) specialist k) надавати, забезпечувати

12) to provide l) посередник

Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps.

1. An operating system … the basic instructions. 2. It is a … between a user and a computer’s …. 3. The operating system of a large computer can be very …. 4. Even when you press … on the …, your computer needs an operating system to understand it. 5. Only a computer … can use a computer without an operating system. 6. An operating system consists of a … of instructions. 7. It … in ROM, or it may … partly in ROM and partly on a hard disk.

Exercise 3. Ask your group mates:

1) what an operating system is;

2) whether an operating system of a personal computer is complicated;

3) whether it is possible to use a computer without an operating system;

4) what an operating system consists of;

5) where an operating system exists.

Exercise 4. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Операційна система – це складна програма. 2. На моєму комп’ютері є операційна система. 3. Операційна система – це посередник між користувачем та апаратним забезпеченням комп’ютера. 4. Операційна система складається з набору команд. 5. Вона існує в ПЗП, чи частково в ПЗП, а частково на жорсткому диску.

Exercise 5. Express your opinion on the following topic:

- Why does a computer need an operating system?

Exercise 6. Here is the list of typical tasks performed by an operating system. Read and