Translate the following phrases, mind the attributive groups.

Control operation / operation control / control panel / control desk / remote control / exercise control / pass under the control of smb. / control box / cost control / without control / be in control / control cable / control circuit / operation sequence / sequence operation / sequence switch / operation code / operation keyboard / computer operation / computer circuit / computer answer / computer information / computer speed / analog computer / analog-digital computer / back-end computer / board computer / IBM-compatible computer / computer bureau.

1.11 Define the predicate & translate the sentences.

1. A computer can take in information only in a special form. 2. Modern computers must be able to control their own opera­tion. 3. Every student should know how the computer operates. 4. The first machines could perform only a few operations. 5. A human hand may be called a computer. 6. A human being aided bya pencil and paper may be a computer. 7. He may perform reaso­nable operations and give an answer. 8. Likewise amachine is able to take in information, record it inside the ma­chine. 9. Both are to use computers. 10. The idea of an automatic digital computer is due to the mankind’s wish to deliberate themselves from hard work.

1.12 say if the verb to be is a) notional, b) link, c) modal, d) auxiliary.

1. The computer is a very important machine in all the fields. 2. The operation of compu­ters is of great interest. 3. The process of computing is based on the logical sequence of operations. 4. The control devices are inside the computer. 5. The task of the second industrial revolution is to increase the abilities of human brain. 6. The computer is to in­crease the speed of calculations. 7. The computer is a machine that can give very quick answers. 8. What was the task of the first industrial revolution? 9. What achievements are to be made in the field of computer science in the twenty-first century? 10. Don’t switch off the computer! It is solving an important problem. 11. The result will be shown on the screen. 12. Has there ever been a disk boot failure? 13. The trains are to arrive in time. 14. The transport is to be reliable. 15. The railway is known to have several kinds of trains and different kinds of cars. 16. The achievement of the first revolution was to replace human muscles by machines.

1.13 Translate, mind Participles I & II.

1. A computer is a machine operating with very high speed. 2. Ope­rating with very high speed a computer can perform different tasks. 3. Having performed one task the computer passes on to the second one. 4. Having been designed as a sequence controlled calculator the first computer operated automatically. 5. Modern computer can perform several tasks at the same time, thus increasing the speed of operation. 6. Two eminent Russian physicists working in the field of superconductivity and superfluctuation have won the Nobel Prize this year. 7. The experiments being made slowly, an experienced scientist headed the students. 8. Having been completed the work should be recorded accurately. 9. While designing the device calculate everything with great accuracy. 10. The coaches hauled by a locomotive don’t carry any motors. 11. Electric locomotives are fed from the overhead wire. 12. What is done, cannot be undone.

1.14 complete the sentences:

1. A computer is a person or a machine which... 2. Computing is a process during which the computer… 3. Any computer can perform … 4. Most modern computers can do... 5. The first automatic digital computer started operating … 6. The achievement of the first revolution was to … 7. The task of the second one is to use electronic computers … 8. Most modern electronic compu­ters can do over… 9. a human being aided bya pencil and paper may be… 10. Likewise amachine is able to take in …

1.15 This quiz will help you "hack" terms you may encounter while surfing the Internet.

quiz

1. cursor, n 2. network, n 3. download, v 4. virus, n 5. browser, n 6. cracker, n 7. hit, n 8. authenticate, v 9. emoticon, n 10. boot, v 11. server, n 12. modem, n 13. glitch, n 14. compress, v 15. pixel, n 16. link, n 17. scanner, v 18. log on, v 19. shareware, n 20. gigabyte, n

1. coarse speaker; indicator; moneychanger; technician. 2. TV channel; digital design; system of computers; filter. 3. to copy; scramble; erase; belittle. 4. flaw; poison; fatigue; infection. 5. software that allows you to: explore the Internet; eavesdrop; send a fax; save a file. 6. fanatic; intruder; burglar; expert. 7. accident; stumbling block; unit of measurement; visit. 8. to fade; complicate; confirm; test. 9. robot; radiation; trick; illustration. 10. to fail gradually; enlarge; adjust; start up. 11. central computer; speed control; power supply; trouble-shooter. 12. digital code; keyboard; visual display; connecting device. 13. flash; excitement; error; stroke of luck. 14. to shrink; understand; fix; soften. 15. picture element; programming oddity; brief blur; long delay. 16. missing piece; space station; related site; warning signal. 17. machine that: reproduces images; translates files; searches a document; adds color. 18. to pile; gain access; waste time; stretch. 19. hand-me-down clothing; free hardware; relic; trial software. 20. sudden shutdown; unit of storage; wide gap; high pressure.

Text 1B Computer

Read the text without a dictionary & make your own dialogue.

The word computer come from a Latin word which means to count. There are people who think that a computer is a mechanism capable to perform the four basic arithmetic operations. But that is not so. There is a difference between calculating machines desk calculators and computers. The calculator can perform arithmetic operations but must be controlled by a hu­man being. A computer is a very special kind of counting machine. The computer is a device which is capable to perform not only arithmetic but also logical operations automatically. Computers are «big brains» which can solve the most difficult problems of science and engineering. They are powerful tools, which help to change our lives and the world around us. In a few years no home will be complete without a computer. But there can be unexpected side effects of new technology. For the computer has such a seductive appeal for some users that they become «computer addicts». It may seem that computers are the modern-day equivalents of less technologically oriented hobbies, but their possibilities, rewards and challenges are endless. A computer for many is a «living thing» in that it responds to what you do and might even talk to you, so a lot of people get «hooked» on it. So we may speak now of «computer addiction». * hook крючок; addiction пристрастие.

 

Dialogue 1.16 Dramatize the dialogue. Give your opinion about having a computer at home.

- Say, Paul, I've been meaning to ask you, do you have a computer?

- What? A computer? Hell no, you can't get me near the damned thing. I've heard all about them. Computers cause stress head­aches and eye trouble caused by sitting in front of a small screen for hours on end... And there are other health hazards connected with computers.

- Don't be so pessimistic. There are more good sides to it than bad. Besides, you may stay up all night working on something; then, when you're just about to print it out and turn it in, the machine eats your disk or the printer won't work.

- Oh, come on. It's not that bad. I haven't touched a type­writer since I got mine. I'll show you some time. You just have to remem­ber to keep saving every half-hour or so. And just make sure they give you your system disk.

- So you think I should get one?

- Definitely, I'll go with you and make sure you get the right thing. And I'll help you to carry it!

- Thanks a lot.

Answers to the QUIZ

1. cursor - movable indicator on computer screen; as, He put the cursor after the last typed word. Latin currere (to run).

2. network - system of electronically joined computers; as, A network offers many opportunities for sharing information. Old En­glish nett (knot) and weorc (act).

3. download - to copy a file or program onto a personal computer; as, She downloaded the transcript of the trial. Old English adune (from the hill) and lad (carrying).

4. virus - digital infection or poison; as, The virus wreaked havoc with the bank's accounting.

5. browser – software that allows you to explore, or browser the Internet. French brouter (to graze or feed on).

6. cracker - intruder; someone who breaks into, or "cracks," computer systems; as, In the film Mission: Impossible, Tom Cruise enters a high-security area with the aid of a cracker. German krachen (to split).

7. hit - visit to a Web site. Old Norse hitta (to meet with).

8. authenticate - to confirm the identity of a computer user; as, Admittance was denied when the computer could not authenticate him. Greek authentikos (genuine).

9. emoticon - iIllustration conveying a mood; as, When viewed sideways, the emoticon: signifies happiness. Also called smiley. De­rived from emotion and icon.

10. boot - to start up a computer. Abbreviation of bootstrap.

11. server - central computer sharing resources and data with other computers on a network. Latin servire (to be of use).

12. modem - connecting device between computers over a phone line; as, The journalist submitted her article by modem. Condensed form of modulator and demodulator.

13. glitch - error; malfunction; as, A telecommunications glitch nearly wiped out the stockbroker's on-line trading. Origin unknown.

14. compress - to shrink; store data in less space; as, The manuscript was compressed on a single floppy disk. Old French compressor.

15. pixel - picture element; basic unit of an on-screen image. Combination of pix and element.

16. link - related site on Internet; as, One link sent him from Caruso to Pavarotti. German Gelenk (joint).

17. scanner - machine that reproduces images onto a computer. Latin scandere (to climb).

18. log - to gain access to a computer network; as, A user ID and password will help you log on. Origin unknown.

19. shareware - free trial software often requiring later payment. Combination of share and software.

20. gigabyte - unit of storage, roughly a billion bytes; as, A gi­gabyte of work was saved on her home computer. Combination of Greek gigas (giant) and a variant of bit (abbreviation for binary digit).