Английский язык для студентов радиотехнических специальностей вузов (стр. 21 )

Notes

1.  circulating in a column of mercury – циркулирующих в столбике ртути

2.  a kernel of corn – ядрышко хлебного зерна

3.  large-scale integrated circuits – интегральные схемы с большой степенью интеграции

4.  an umbrella term – всеохватывающий термин

II. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

puter technology is one of the oldest branches of modern science and technology. 2. First-generation machines used not only vacuum tubes for memory. 3. All recent developments have resulted in a transistor. puters of today are hundred times smaller than those of the first generation.

III. Answer the following questions on paragraph 2:

1. When did the first generation of computers appear? 2. What did they use for calculations and control? 3. What were the disadvantages of the first-generation computers?

IV. Find the place in paragraph 3 containing the information about the transistor. Share this information with your group-mate.

V. In paragraphs 4 and 5 find the English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations. Use these words for describing large-scale integrated circuits:

схема; кремний; надежный, прочный; содержать, вмещать; иметь отношение, относиться; недавний, последний; скачок в компьютерной технологии; микропроцессор; память; сделать возможным.

VI. Translate paragraph 6.

VIII.Read paragraph 7 and say what key areas of ongoing research are.

IX.  Describe the advances in developing computers.

X.  Find Russian equivalents to the words in boxes of the logical diagram.

computers

to be developed

to use

first generation computers

electronic vacuum tubes

second generation computers

discrete semiconductor devices

third generation computers

integrated circuits

fourth generation computers

microprocessor

fifth generation computers

artificial intelligence

X. Divide text A into logical parts and find the topical sentences in each part.

XI. Describe the generations of computers using the topical sentences and words from the logical diagram.

LESSON THREE

I. Look through the list of English words and their Russian equivalents facilitating reading text B:

assembly – скомпонованный блок, сборка, монтаж; working tool – рабочий инструмент; microprocessor unit – блок микропроцессора; proper – подходящий, нужный; to alter – изменять, видоизменять; chunks of information – порции информации; in an orderly fashion – организованным (правильным) образом; to reduce to – сводить к; to increment – прирастить; flexibility – гибкость; stream – поток; to fetch – вызывать; to measure – измерять; to transfer – передавать; to bring in – вводить, вносить; serial –последовательный.

II. Skim through the text. Try to understand its main idea (you are given 15 minutes).

Text В

Microprocessor System

A functioning microprocessor is not simply a tiny piece of silicon which can replace a room full of data processing equipment. It requires many other components to make it work. The term "microcomputer" refers to the assembly of parts which make the microprocessor a useful working tool.

The microprocessor unit (MPU) is the “brain” of the system and directs all of the other parts to perform their function at the proper time.

An MPU is a complex integrated circuit. It is a highly miniaturized version of the minicomputers. A typical MPU will have the equivalent of about 7,000 transistors, diodes, resistors, etc., on a single piece of silicon less than 1/16 in. square.

The job of the microprocessor is to move or alter chunks of information in an orderly fashion. The chunks of information are reduced to coded form represented as binary numbers which the microprocessor can manipulate. The MPU can only do extremely elementary actions, such as move a piece of data, add two numbers, increment a counter, etc.

Each one of the elementary operations of an MPU has its own binary code. The sequence of codes which makes the processor do its intended function is called a program or software. The inherent flexibility of an MPU comes from the fact1 that instructions can be combined in limitless variations.

The MPU can perform only one operation at a time. A clock, which is simply a stream of regular pulses, is required to control the proper sequencing. During operation the microprocessor fetches an instruction from memory, decodes the function, performs the proper activity and fetches the next instruction. It repeats this sequence as long as power is on and the clock is running2.

MPUs are measured by the size of the piece of data which can be transferred to and from memory. Most MPUs are 4-bit, 8-bit or 16-bit in size.

An MPU system also needs a way to get information to the outside world and to bring in outside information that has been properly coded. Input/output devices exist which perform this function. Generally, they come in two types, parallel and serial. Parallel devices can send and receive coded data in one chunk. Serial devices transform the coded data into a single stream which must be reconstructed at the receiving end.

The minimum MPU system will be composed of the following: an MPU, memory, some form of input/output, a clock and some source of power.

Notes

1  the inherent flexibility of an MPU comes from the fact — свойственная микропроцессорному блоку гибкость исходит из того

2  it repeats this sequence as long as power is on and the clock is running — он повторяет эту последовательность до тех пор, пока включена энергия и работает синхронизатор

III. Answer the following questions on the contents of the text:

1. What is a microprocessor unit? 2. What are the chunks of information reduced to? 3. The MPU can perform only one operation at a time, can't it? 4. How are MPUs measured? 5. What can parallel and serial devices do?

IV. Give the main points of the text.

V. Speak about the job of the microprocessor.

LESSON FOUR

I. Look through the list of English words and their Russian equivalents facilitating reading text C:

indication – указание, показание, знак; groundless – беспричинный, беспочвенный, неосновательный; data storage – запоминание (хранение) данных; entirely – полностью, совершенно; simultaneously – одновременно; consecutively – последовательно; to graduate – постепенно изменяться; to be unaware of – не знать, не подозревать; notion – понятие; pinnacle – вершина, кульминационный пункт, пик.

II. Read the text carefully and find the information about the advantages of DNA computers.

Text C

A Step away from Ideal

1.  All the indications are that the era of traditional silicon computers is coming to a close. A discovery made by scientists could turn around the high-tech market.

2.  The researchers built a computer with DNA molecules. According to the scientists the computer of one trillion molecules will be able to perform one billion operations per second with a 99.8 per cent accuracy.

3.  This claim is not at all groundless. One cubic centimetre of DNA can contain more information than a trillion CDs. Moreover, DNA-computers use very little energy.