UNIT 3
I. Look up in the dictionary how to pronounce the following words. Write them down in the dictionary.
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to adjust advanced to amend to assist to conjure to contribute conversing |
to check in to enable to execute to guide an image huge launching |
to maintain a marvel random to rely on a relative ease to resemble a terminal |
II. Read the text and do the exercises that follow it.
Computer Applications.
Many people have or will have had some experience of ‘conversing’ with computers. They may have their own micro-computer, they may use a terminal from the main company at work or they may have a television set with a viewdata facility. Those who do not have this experience may observe the staff at, for example, an airline check-in or a local bank branch office sitting at their desks, pressing keys on a typewriter like a keyboard and reading information presented on a television type screen. In such a situation the check-in clerk or the branch cashier is using the computer to obtain information (e.g. to find out if a seat is booked) or to amend information (e.g. to change a customer’s name and address).
The word computer conjures up different images and thoughts in people’s mind depending upon their experiences. Some view computers as powerful, intelligent machines that can maintain a ‘big brother’ watch over everyone. Others are straggered and fascinated by the marvels achieved by the space programs of the superpowers, where computers play an important part.
Numerous factories use computers to control machines that make products. A computer turnes the machines on and off and adjusts their operations when necessary. Without computers, it would be impossible for engineers to perform the enormous number of calculations needed to solve many advanced technological problems. Computers help in the building of spacecraft, and they assist flight engineers in launching, controlling and tracking the vehicles. Computers also are used to develop equipment for exploring the moon and planets. They enable architectural and civil engineers to design complicated bridges and other structures with relative ease.
Computers have been of tremendous help to researchers in the biological, physical and social sciences. Chemists and physicists rely on computers to control and check sensitive laboratory instruments and to analyse experimental data. Astronomers use computers to guide telescopes and to process photographic images of planets and other objects in space.
Computers can be used to compose music, write poems and produce drawings and paintings. A work generated by a computer may resemble that a certain artist in birth style and form, or it may appear abstract or random. Computers are also used in the study of the fine arts, particularly, literature. They have also been programmed to help scholars identify paintings and sculptures from ancient civilizations.
But computers do not have intelligence in the way humans do. They cannot think for themselves. What they are good at is carrying out arithmetical operations and making logical decisions at phenomenally fast speed. But they only do what humans program gives them to do.
Apart from the speed at which computers execute instruction, two developments in particular have contributed to the growth in the use of computers – efficient storage of large amounts of data and diminishing cost. Today, computers can store huge amount of information on magnetic media and any item of this information can be obtained in a few milliseconds and displayed or printed for the user.
III. Translate these into your own language:
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1. some experience of conversing 2. viewdata facility 3. to obtain information 4. powerful, intelligent machine 5. to be straggered and fascinated 6. to adjust operations 7. enormous number of calculations |
8. advanced technological problem 9. to guide telescopes 10. ancient civilization 11. arithmetical operations 12. logical decisions 13. to execute instructions 14. efficient storage |
IV. Translate these into English:
1. использовать терминал главной компании
2. нажимать кнопки на клавиатуре
3. получить информацию
4. различные образы
5. компьютер включает и выключает машины
6. разработать оборудование для исследования Луны и других планет
7. чувствительное оборудование
8. анализировать экспериментальные данные
9. могут быть использованы для сочинения музыки
10. работа, управляемая компьютером
11. помочь ученым определить
12. не могут думать сами
13. хорошо справляться с выполнением
14. вносить вклад
V. Give the situation from the text in which the following words and expressions are used:
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1. people have some experience 2. different images 3. it would be impossible 4. spacecraft 5. enable to design |
6. to process photographic images of 7. to resemble 8. intelligence 9. fast speed 10. magnetic media |
VI. Fill in the gaps necessary prepositions:
1. People may use a terminal ..... the main company ..... work.
2. A clerk can press keys ..... a typewriter.
3. The word computer conjures ..... a different images.
4. A computer turns the machine ..... and ..... .
5. Computers help ..... building of spacecraft.
6. They are used to develop equipment ..... exploring the moon and planets.
7. Chemists and physicists rely ..... computers to control sensitive instruments.
8. Computers don’t have intelligence ..... the way humans do.
9. Computers are good ..... arithmetical operations.
10. Computers can store huge amounts of information ..... magnetic media.
VII. Ask questions to which the following statements might be the answers:
1. People may use a terminal from the main company at work.
2. In such a situation the check-in clerk is using the computer to obtain information.
3. The word computer conjures up different images and thoughts in people’s mind.
4. Numerous factories use computers to control machines that make products.
5. A computer turns the machine on and off and adjust their operations.
6. Computers help in the building of spacecraft and assist flight engineers in launching.
7. Chemist and physicists rely on computers.
8. A work generated by a computer may resemble that a certain artist in a birth style and form.
9. Computers do only what humans program them to do.
10. Computers obtain huge amounts of information in a few milliseconds.
VIII. Agree or disagree with the following statements:
1. Only a few people have or will have had some experience of «conversing» with computers.
2. The word computer conjures up the same images and thoughts in computer’s brain depending upon the structure of the computer.
3. Without computers it would be impossible for engineers to perform the enormous number of calculations.
4. Architectors and civil engineers can’t design complicated bridges and other structures with the help of computers.
5. Computers haven’t been of tremendous help to researchers in the biological, physical and social sciences.
6. Poets and physicists rely on computers to control and check sensitive laboratory equipments.
7. Computers can be used to compose music, write poems and produce drawings and paintings.
8. Computers have intelligence in the way humans do.
9. Today, computers are very big, slow and can store little information on magnetic media.
IX. Write the plan of the text to retell it in English.
X. Points for discussion: advantages and disadvantages of computers. Use these expressions and prove it, give your own examples.
Advantages
1. computers let you:
a) access a lot of information;
b) communicate very quickly, be e-mail or using the Internet;
2. computers can:
a) do some jobs very quickly;
b) send out large number of letters and bills;
c) help you to do work for school and college;
3. computers make:
a) possible to work from home;
b) easier to write letters and reports;
4.
a) enjoy using computers and multimedia interactive software and virtual reality all make learning more exciting;
b) many books are now available on CD-Rom;
c) large amount of information can be stored on computers in a database.
Disadvantages
1. don’t like to use computers, would prefer to deal with a person instead;
2. can get viruses;
3. software often has bugs;
4. computers sometimes crash;
5. children spend too much time playing computer games;
6. people do not know how to fix the computer;
7. quickly become obsolete, so they need to be replaced;
8. criminals can easily use information or images; there are no laws to stop this yet; it is extremely difficult to police the Internet.