Main hardware

Computers come in different forms, but most of them have a common design.

· All computers have a CPU.

· All computers have some kind of data bus which lets them get inputs or output things to the environment.

· All computers have some form of memory. These are usually chips (integrated circuits) which can hold information.

· Many computers have some kind of sensors, which lets them get input from their environment.

· Many computers have some kind of display device, which lets them show output. They may also have other peripheral devices connected.

A computer has several main parts. When comparing a computer to a human body, the CPU is like a brain. It does most of the 'thinking' and tells the rest of the computer how to work. The CPU is on the Motherboard, which is like the skeleton. It provides the basis for where the other parts go, and carries the nerves that connect them to each other and the CPU. The motherboard is connected to a power supply, which provides electricity to the entire computer. The various drives (CD drive, floppy drive, and on many newer computers, USB drive) act like eyes, ears, and fingers, and allow the computer to read different types of storage, in the same way that a human can read different types of books.

The hard drive is like a human's memory, and keeps track of all the data stored on the computer. Most computers have a sound card or another method of making sound, which is like vocal cords, or a voice box. Connected to the sound card are speakers, which are like a mouth, and are where the sound comes out. Computers might also have a graphics card, which helps the computer to create visual effects, such as 3D environments, or more realistic colours, and more powerful graphics cards can make more realistic or more advanced images, in the same way a well trained artist can.

1. Translate the following terms and terminological expressions:

Common design, CPU, data bus, chip, to hold information, sensor, display device, to show output, peripheral device, peripheral device, motherboard, power supply, CD drive, floppy drive, USB drive, a sound card, a graphics card.

2. Find the English equivalents:

Оточення, з’єднані пристрої, основні частини, тіло, мозок, решта комп’ютера, забезпечити основу, забезпечити електричний струм, очі та вуха, голосові зв’язки, створювати візуальний ефект.

3. Answer the following question:

1) What do computers have in common?

2) What is the function of data bus?

3) What does a display device allow?

4) What is CPU like when comparing a computer to a human body?

5) What is the motherboard connected to?

6) What allows the computer to read different types of storage?

7) What is the function of a hard drive?