Working methods

UNIT III

Lesson 1

Computers store data and the instructions telling them what to do with the data as numbers, because computers can do things with numbers very quickly. These data are stored as binary symbols (1s and 0s). A 1 or a 0 symbol stored by a computer is called a bit, which comes from the words binary digit. Computers can use many bits together to represent instructions and the data that these instructions use. A list of instructions is called a program and is stored on the computer’s hard disk. Computers work through the program by using a central processing unit, and they use fast memory called RAM as a space to store the instructions and data while they are doing this. When the computer wants to store the results of the program for later, it uses the hard disk because things stored on a hard disk can still be remembered after the computer is turned off.

An operating system tells the computer how to understand what jobs it has to do, how to do these jobs, and how to tell people the results. It tells the electronics inside the computer, or «hardware», how to work to get the results it needs. This lets most computers have the same operating system, or list of orders to tell it how to talk to the user, while each computer can have its own computer programs or list of jobs to do what its user needs. Having different programs and operating systems makes it easy to learn how to use computers for new things. When a user needs to use a computer for something different, the user can learn how to use a new program.

1. Translate the following terms and terminological expressions:

To store data, binary symbols, binary digit, hard disk, central processing unit, to use fast memory, inside the computer, list of orders, to make it easy.

2. Complete the sentences:

1) A 1 or a 0 symbol stored by a computer is called ______.

2) A list of instructions is called ______.

3) Computers use fast memory which is called ______.

4) A list of instructions is called a _______ and is stored on the computer’s hard disk.

5) Different programs help to use computers _______.

3. Say true or false:

1) The instructions tell a computer what to do with the data as numbers.

2) If the computer wants to store the results of the program for later, it uses RAM.

3) An operating system tells the computer how to understand what jobs it has to do, how to do these jobs, and how to tell people the results.

4) All computer can have the same computer programs or list of jobs to do what their users need.

4. Answer the following questions:

1) In what form can a computer store data and why?

2) How are binary symbols called?

3) Where is a program stored?

4) What does a computer use working through a program?

5) When does a computer use RAM?

6) When does a computer use a hard disk?

7) What is the function of an operating system?