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Read the text. Complete the spidergram with the terms that were not mentioned.
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Unit 1. Computer system.
Task 1.
Brainstorm the terms that you associate with the word “computer”.
Task 2.
Read the text. Complete the spidergram with the terms that were not mentioned.
What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic machine which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results of the processing in a specified format as information.
Three basic steps are involved in the process. First, data is fed into the computer's memory. Then, when the program is run, the computer performs a set of instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output) on the screen or in printed form.
A computer system consists of two parts: hardware and software. Hardware is any electronic or mechanical part you can see or touch. Software is a set of instructions, called a programme, which tells the computer what to do. There are three main hardware sections: the central processing unit (CPU), the main memory and the peripherals.
Perhaps the most influential component is the central processing unit. Its function is to execute program instructions and coordinate the activities of all the other units. In a way, it is the 'brain' of the computer. The main memory (a collection of RAM chips) holds the instructions and data which are currently being processed by the CPU. Peripherals are the physical units attached to the computer. They include storage devices and input/output devices.
Storage devices (hard drives, optical disks, flash drives) provide a permanent storage of both data and programs. Disk drives are used to read and record data on disks.
Input devices enable data to go into the computer's memory. The most common input devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the finished product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output on the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.
On the rear panel of the computer there are several ports into which we can plug a wide range of peripherals – a modem, a digital camera, a scanner, etc. They allow communication between the computer and the devices. Modern desktop PCs have USB ports and memory card readers in the front panel. These are the main physical units of a computer system, generally known as the configuration.
Task 3.
Match the terms with their definitions.
| 1. software 2. peripherals 3. monitor 4. hardware 5. input 6. ports 7. output 8. CPU 9. main memory 10. hard drive (hard disk) | a) the brain of the computer b) physical parts that make up a computer system c) programs which can be used on a particular computer system d) the information which is presented to the computer e) results produced by a computer f) hardware equipment attached to the CPU g) visual display unit h) section that hold programs and data while they are executed and processed i) magnetic device used to store information j) sockets into which an external device may be connected |
Task 4.