II. Reading and understanding

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text “Range of Computer Ability”.

Range of Computer Ability

1. Every single dictionary has defined the term computer as a machine that performs tasks, such as mathematical calculations or electronic communication, under the control of a set of instructions called a program. Computers are used to perform a wide variety of activities with reliability, accuracy, and speed.

2. Computers exist in a wide range of sizes and power. Programmable computers vary enormously in their computational power, speed, memory, and physical size. The smallest of these computers can be held in one hand and are called personal digital assistants (PDAs). They are used as notepads, scheduling systems, and address books; if equipped with a cellular phone, they can connect to worldwide computer networks to exchange information regardless of location.

3. Laptop computers and PCs are typically used in businesses and at home to communicate on computer networks, for word processing, to track finances, and to play games. They have large amounts of internal memory to store hundreds of programs and documents. They are equipped with a keyboard; a mouse, trackball, or other pointing device, and a video display monitor or liquid crystal display (LCD) to display information. Laptop computers usually have similar hardware and software as PCs, but they are more compact and have flat, lightweight LCDs instead of video display monitors.

4. Workstations are similar to personal computers but have greater memory and more extensive mathematical abilities, and they are connected to other workstations or personal computers to exchange data. They are typically found in scientific, industrial, and business environments that require high levels of computational abilities.

5. Mainframe computers have more memory, speed, and capabilities than workstations and are usually shared by multiple users through a series of interconnected computers. They control businesses and industrial facilities and are used for scientific research. The most powerful mainframe computers, called supercomputers, process complex and time-consuming calculators, such as those used to create weather predictions. They are used by the largest businesses, scientific institutions, and the military. Some supercomputers have many sets of CPUs. These computers break a task into small pieces, and each CPU processes a portion of the task to increase overall speed and efficiency. Such computers are called parallel processors.

6. Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is considerable overlap:

 personal computer : A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor.

 workstation : A powerful, single-user computer.

 minicomputer : A multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.

 mainframe : A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

 supercomputer : An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

Exercise 2. Find where in the text it is said about the points given below. Put down the number of the paragraph.

1. the definition of a computer

2. PDA

3. characteristic of laptop computers

4. workstations

5. the ability of mainframes

6. classification of computers

Exercise 3. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations.

1. математичне обчислення

2. набір інструкцій

3. комп’ютери, що програмуються

4. швидкість

5. обчислювана потужність

6. тримати

7. книги кодів

8. комп’ютерні мережі

9. обладнати

10. обробка текстів

11. оперативна пам’ять

12. клавіатура

13. мишка

14. дисплей на рідких кристалах

15. апаратне та програмне забезпечення

16. обмінюватися даними

17. з’єднані комп’ютери

Exercise 4. State whether the statements listed below are true or false.

1. Computer is a machine that performs tasks under the control of a program.

2. Programmable computers have the same computational power, speed and memory.

3. Personal digital assistants are used as notepads, scheduling systems and address books.

4. Laptop computers differ in hardware and software as PCs.

5. Workstations have high level of computational abilities.

6. Supercomputers have many sets of CPU.

Exercise 5. Find the answers to the questions in the text. Put down the number of the paragraph.

1. How do dictionaries define the term computer?

2. What are personal digital assistants (PDAs)?

3. When can PDAs connect to worldwide networks?

4. What are laptop computers used for?

5. What are laptop computers equipped with?

6. In what characteristics do workstations differ from PC?

7. Where are mainframe computers used?

8. What is general classification of computers?