Curriculum English for Information Technology: Part 2

English for Information Technology is a topic-based course. To prepare students for their future job, the course is designed to introduce students to a full range of IT texts and to give students opportunities to practice their language skills in different IT contexts. The materials used in this book are arranged from general to more specialist content so that they can be understood by students easily.

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LESSON 6: DATABASES AND SPREADSHEETS

I Warm up

Read the following sentences and decide whether they are true (T) or false (F).

1 A spreadsheet program displays information in the form of a table, with a lot of columnsand rows

2 In a spreadsheet you can only enter numbers and formulas

3 In a spreadsheet you cannot change the width of the columns

4 Spreadsheet programs can produce visual representations in the form of pie charts

5 Spreadsheets cannot be used as databases

II Listening: Spreadsheet

Listen to Helena Davies, an IT trainer, explaining how to use mail merging to some employees Number these steps in the order that you hear them.

Activate the Mail Merge command (Print Merge in some Programs) This combines themain document and the data document

Click ‘print’ and the program generates a single letter for each record in the data document Create the data document with a database program or with the right spreadsheet software.This document contains rows with names, addresses and other information that will be mergedwith the standard letter

Create the main document with a word processor Type the standard letter and insert theappropriate field names into it

III Reading

A Try to answer these questions.

1 What is a spreadsheet? What is it used for?

2 What type of information can be keyed into a cell?

3 What will happen if you change the value of a cell?

4 What is a database?

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B Here is part of an article about databases First, read all the way through and underline the basic features of a database.

Basic features of a database program

With a database, you can store, organize, and retrieve a large collection of related

information on computer If you like, it is the electronic equivalent of an indexed filing cabinet.Let us look at some features and applications

Information is entered on a database via fields Each field holds a separate piece of information, and the fields are collected 'together into records For example, a record about an

employee might consist of several fields which give their name, address, telephone number, age,

salary, and length of employment with the company Records are grouped together into files

which hold large amounts of information Files can easily be updated: you can always changefields, add new records, or delete old ones With the right database software, you are able to keeptrack of stock, sales, market trends, orders, invoices, and many more details that can make ourcompany successful

Another feature of database programs is that you can automatically look up and findrecords containing particular information You can also search on more than one field at a time.For example, if a managing director wanted to know all the customers that spend more than

£7,000 per month, the program would search on the name field and the money fieldsimultaneously

A computer database is much faster to consult and update than a card index system Itoccupies a lot less space, and records can be automatically sorted into numerical or alphabeticalorder using any field

The best packages also include networking facilities, which add a new dimension ofproductivity to businesses For example, managers of different departments can have directaccess to a common database, which represents an enormous advantage Thanks to securitydevices, you can share part of your files on a network and control who sees the information Mostaspects of the program can be protected by user-defined passwords For example, if you wanted

to share an employee's personal details, but not their commission, you could protect the

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Task 1: Now make a list of the words you do not understand Can you guess their meaning? Compare your ideas with other students.

Task 2: Complete these statements using the information in the text

1 A database is used to ………

2 Information is entered on a database via ………

3 Each field holds ………

4 ‘Updating’ a file means ………

5 The advantages of a database program over a manual filing system are

6 Access to a common database can be protected by using ………

IV Language work: Requirements: Need to, have to, must, be essential, critical

Note how we describe requirements of

particular jobs:

1 You need to be able to empathize with the

person at the other end of the phone

2 IT managers have to take responsibility

for budgets

3 You must be interested in your- subject.

4 You must have worked for at least two

years in systems analysis.

5 Experience with mainframes is essential

critical.

we can describe things which are not

requirements like this:

You do not need to have a degree in

computing science

We can also treat need as a modal verb

and use the negative form needn't:

7 You needn't have a degree in computing

science

Have to is an ordinary verb Its negative

form is made in the usual way:

8 You don't have to be an expert in

everything

Mustn't has a quite different meaning It

means it is important not to do something.

It is used for warning, rules, and strong advice For example:

9 You mustn't make unauthorized copies of

software

Exercise 1: Put the verbs in bracket in the correct form.

1 The total number of pixels in which the display (divide) both horizontally and vertically is known as the resolution

2 The number of pixels need (be) large in order to have high resolution display

3 Computers can do mathematical operations (quick)

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5 You have to (put) your keyboard at the same height as your elbows.

6 Many terminals can be ………(addition) to basic system if the need arises

7 It is sometimes a very ………(complicate) process getting into a computer installation forsecurity reasons

8 You shouldn’t ( stare) at the screen for long periods of time

9 A computer is limited in its ability by the …………(imagine) of man

10 A computer can………(solution)a problem faster than any human being

11 These days you don’t need ………… (study) BASIC

12 You must ………… (become) an expert in too narrow a field

13 You have to have good (communicate) skills to become an IT Manager

14 You must be an expert in hardware to become a (program)

15 Technical qualifications need … (be) renewed at intervals to ensure they do not go out ofdate

- Min 2 yrs work in support

- 3 yrs exp BasicTechnical Environment

- team player with stronganalytical and problem-solving skills

- ability to communicateissues and solutions andmanager time effectively

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VI Puzzle

Complete the sentences by using a term from the list Then write the words in the crossword tofind the hidden message

Database field layout merging record sorted updated

1 In order to personalize a standard letter, you can use “ mail ………” ( a technique whichconsists of combining a database with a document made with a word processor)

2 Records can be automatically …… into any order

3 You can decide how many fields you want to have on a ………

4 Fields can easily be ……… by adding new information or deleting the old one

5 A …… program can be used to store, organize and retrieve information of any kind

6 The …… of the records can be designed by the user

7 Each piece of information is given in a separate ………

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LESSON 7: GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA

I Warm up

Graphics programs have several options that work in conjunction with the tools menu

to enable the user to manipulate and change pictures.

Look at the facilities on the left and match them with the definitions on the right

a Turning an image round

b A tool which lets you scale the 'view' of a picture and edit

a small portion of it as if you were working under amagnifying glass It is very useful for doing detailed work asyou can edit the pictures one dot at a time

c Making the object larger or smaller in any of thehorizontal, vertical, or depth directions

d A shading technique where two different colors are placednext to each other; the human eye blends the colors to form athird one It is also used to show shading in black and white

e A palette from which you choose a design to fill in shapes

f Reversing the color of the dots in the selected part of apicture, so that white dots become black and black dotsbecome white

g Inclining an object to an oblique position

II. Listening:

A A sales assistant is explaining the components of a multimedia system to a customer Listen and complete this diagram.

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hardware software

processor RAM peripherals data system software

memory

music

High-quality sound capabilities

color

monitor speakers,

Compare your answers with another student

B Now listen again and answer these questions

1 What is multimedia?

2 What is the advantage of computer multimedia presentations over TV and video?

3 Which system software is designed by Apple for multimedia work?

a Windows with Multimedia control panels

b QuickTime

4 Can an existing PC be adapted for multimedia applications?

III Reading: Multimedia magic!

A Answer these questions

1 Why is multimedia similar to graphics?

2 Which types of data are involved?

3 Is it easy to adapt most PCs for multimedia applications?

B Read the texts and match them with the headings in the box below.

Sound, Music, MIDI CD – ROM titles full of pictures, action and sound

Multimedia system

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1………

Until now multimedia applications have been used mainly in the fields of information, trainingand entertainment For example, some museums, banks and estate agents have information kiosksthat use multimedia Several companies produce training programs on optical disks, andmarketing managers use presentation packages (like Microsoft Power Point or Lotus FreelanceGraphics for Windows) to make business presentations They have all found that movingimages, sound, and music involve viewers emotionally as well as inform them, and make theirmessage more memorable

2………

Sound is an important component of the multimedia approach The effective use of sound can beused to grab the attention of the participant, set the mood, or underscore a point The mostpopular way of delivering sound is the hardware soundboard Such boards offer two importantcapabilities The first of these is a built-in stereo synthesizer complete with a built-in audioamplifier Just connect a set of speakers and you've got instant sound, music and speechcapabilities The second capability is the musical instrument digital interface, or MIDI This is aspecialized serial interface that allows an electronic musical instrument to communicate withother MIDI-equipped instruments or PCs

CD:'ROM is popular

3 ………

Between 80 and 90 percent of all multimedia applications are distributed on CD-ROM, some just

on CD, some on several media (as with Autodesk's Multimedia Explorer, which comes with both

a CD-ROM and diskettes) The reason for CD-ROM's popularity in multimedia is simple -asingle CD can contain 650 MB of data That's over 500 floppy disks' worth of programs, sound,and graphics The newest CD-ROM standard, CD-ROM XA (for eXtended Architecture) usesdata compression to fit even more on these shiny discs Many XA drives are also compatible with

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4 ……….

Electronic encyclopedias integrate text, pictures, and sound, and usually have a video section

with a full motion video window The Compton's Encyclopedia enables you to read about whales,

look at photos of whales, listen to whale songs, and view an animated sequence showing whale

movements through the ocean Similarly, the Grolier Encyclopedia lets you read about birds,

view pictures of birds, and listen to recordings of their songs

Other CD-ROMs include dictionaries, guides, and courses about history, science, the

human body, cinema, literature, foreign languages, etc For example, Cinemania from Microsoft

has information on thousands of films and photographs, reviews, biographies and dialogues fromfilms

(Section 2 and 3 adapted from Updating to multimedia' in PC Upgrade, June 1993)

Task 1: Read the texts again and correct these statements There is a technical mistake in each of them.

1 Multimedia applications do not use huge amounts of data

2 You don't need to have a soundboard on your PC to hear speech and music

3 Most multimedia software is distributed on magnetic disks

4 Kodak's Photo CD technology is not compatible with many CD-ROM drives

5 There are no language courses available on CD-ROM

Task 2: Match these terms in the box with the explanations.

a Computer animation b Video computing c MIDI interface

d CD-ROM player e Multimedia control panels

1 Small programs inside the OS designed to work with audio and video files

2 A code for the exchange of information between PCs and musical instruments

3 A drive used to handle CD-Rom disks

4 Manipulating and showing moving images recorded with a video camera or captured from a

TV or video recorder

5 Images which move on the screen

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IV Language work: Gerunds

Gerunds are nouns formed by adding -ing to verbs A gerund usually functions as:

- the subject of a sentence:

e.g Smoking is bad for your health

- the object of a verb:

e.g She has never done any computing

- the complement of the subject:

e.g His favourite pastime is playing computer games

- after prepositions.

e.g We look forward to having cheaper and faster computers.

Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb: infinitive or -ing

form.

1 Don't switch off without (close down) your PC

2 I want to (upgrade) my computer

3 He can't get used to (log on) with a password

4 You can find information on the Internet by (use) a search engine

5 He objected to (pay) expensive telephone calls for Internet access

6 He tried to (hack into) the system without (know) the password

7 You needn't learn how to (program) in HTML before (design) web pages

Exercise 2: Rewrite each of these sentences without changing the meaning.

1 One task of the supervisor program is to load into memory non-resident programs as required.Loading into memory

2 Communicating directly with the hardware is the role of the operating system

The role of the operating system

3 Although her computer is old, it still runs very well

In spite of

4 Internet helps them to communicate easily, such as chatting, sending or receiving email

One of the advantage of Internet is

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LESSON 8: FACES OF THE INTERNET

I Warm up

Try to answer these questions:

1 What is the Internet?

2 What can you do on the Internet?

Make a list of possible applications.

A program like Microsoft Internet Explorer

allows you to search, view and manage

information over the Web.

htto://www.microsoft.com/ie

II Reading

A Which Internet utility (1 to 7) would you use to do each of these tasks (a to g)?

Read the text below to check your answers.

a send a message to another person via the Internet

b transfer files from the Internet to your hard disk

c have a live conversation (usually typed) on the Internet

dconnect to a remote computer by entering certain instructions and run programs on it.

etake part in public discussion areas, called newsgroups

f fetch and view Web pages on the Internet

g participate in live conversations, using text, audio, andvideo

B Read the text and do the following task.

Internet SoftwareGetting connected

The language used for data transfer on the Internet is known as TCP/IP (transmission controlprotocol internet / protocol) This is like the Internet operating system

The first program you need is a PPP (point- to-point protocol) driver This piece of softwareallows the TCP/IP system to work with your modem; it dials up your Internet service provider

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Email is your personal connection to the Internet It allows you to exchange messages withpeople all over the world It can include text, pictures, and even audio and animation When youset up an account with an ISP, you are given a unique address and anyone can send you email.The mail you receive is stored on the server of your ISP until you next connect and download it

to your hard disk

IRC, audio and video chatting

IRC -Internet relay chat -is a system for real-time (usually typed) conversation It's easy to use

To start a chat session, you run an IRC program, which connects you to an IRC server -acomputer dedicated to IRC Then, you join a channel which connects you to a single chat area.Next, you type message, and the other participants can see it

Internet telephone and video chatting are based on IRC protocols Videoconferencing programsenable users to talk to and see each other, and collaborate They are used in intranets -companynetworks that use Internet software but make their Web site accessible only to employees andauthorized users

FTP and Telnet

With FTP software, you can copy programs, games, images, and sounds from the hard disk of a

remote computer to your hard disk Today, this utility is built into Web browsers

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Newsgroups are the public discussion areas, which make up a system called 'Usenet.' The

contents of the newsgroups are contributed by people who send articles (messages) or respond to

articles They are classified into categories: comp (computers), misc (miscellaneous), news

(news), rec (recreation), soc (society), sci (science), talk and at (alternative).

Task 1: Read the text again and choose the right answer.

1 An Internet service provider (ISP) is

a a program that connects you to the Internet

b a company that gives you access to the Internet

2 HTML is

a the software which allows you to fetch and see Web pages

b the codes used to create hypertext documents for the Web

3 An IRC channel is

a an IRC discussion area

b a computer system dedicated to IRC

4 Usenet is

a a big system of public discussion groups

b a newsgroup

5 An intranet is

a like small version of the Internet inside a company

b a commercial online service

Task 2: Find a suitable word to fill in the gap

a LAN b network architecture c nodes d protocol

e modem f token g gateway h account

1 You need a to convert computer data into a form that can be transmitted over thephone lines

2 is a network contained in a relatively small area

3 .is the arrangement of nodes in a communication system (distribution of elements in a

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4 is a device that translates protocols between different networks (e.g it can linknetworks of PCs and Macs to mainframes and minicomputers.)

5 .is a special unit of data which acts as a key on a Token Ring network; only the machine

in possession of this piece of software can transmit on the network

6 is a set of rules that allows the exchange of information over a network

7 Computer devices interconnected in a network are called

8 To have access to the Internet, you must first open an

- There are Web sites (5) for children.

- Internet (6) programs let parents block

objectionable Web sites

- Web sites should (7) their content with a label,

from child-friendly to over 18- only:

But this may limit free expression

Cyber Patrol, a popular Internet filter:

http:///www.cyberpatrol com

IV Language work:If - clause

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+ If A happens, B will happen.

( present simple), (will + verb)E.g If you click on the speaker icon, you'll get a piece of dialogue from the movie

In the main clause, we can also have modal (can), an imperative, or a present tense verb

- Second conditional (unlikely situation)

+ If A happened, B would happen

(past simple), (would + verb)E.g If I had the money, I would (I'd) invest in a multimedia upgrade kit

Other modals (could, should, might) may appear in the main clause

Exercise 1: Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.

1 If I (get)……… a sound card, I'll be able to create my own music with a MIDI

2 If the system (have)…… a Super VGA card, we would obtain a better resolution

3 You won't be able to play CD-ROM disks if you (not have) … a CD-ROM drive

4 If you (come) ……… to the annual computer exhibition, you could see the new Macs

5 If I could afford it, I (buy) ……… a Multimedia PC

Exercise 2: Match the sentences in Column A with appropriate sentences from Column B.

Then join each action and effect using an if-sentence.

1 you press Print Screen

2 you press Ctrl + Alt + Del in Windows

3 you added more memory

4 you installed a modem

5 you used a better search engine

6 you forget to save regularly

7 you hold down the mouse button over an

icon

8 you used an LCD display

a you can drag it across the screen

b it would speed up the computer

c you may lose data

d you would have more space at your desk

e you would be able to connect to a telephoneline

f you can make a copy of the screen

g you would find more relevant results

h it displays a list of active programs

Exercise 3: Describe the consequences of these actions using an if-sentence.

1 You don't virus-check floppies

2 There was a power cut while you were using your computer

3 You install a faster processor

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5 You press the delete key

6 You use search engine

7 You double-click on an icon

8 You use power-saving options

V Speaking

In small groups, study and discussion the illustration below Then prepare a description and give

an oral report to the class

This diagram represents a wide area network or WAN Two networks are linked viasatellite One network is in and consists of Theother LAN is in and contains

In Los Angeles, the computers are connected to the telephone lines by However, in Barcelona

The satellite receives signals from Then the signals areretransmitted to

The purpose of this integrated network may be

It allows large companies and institutions to

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1 The means of communication between a human and a computer (4,9)

5 To load software on to a computer, ready for use (7)

7 To transmit a message to all nodes on a network (9)

9 and 3 down Usually found in one building or a group of building close together (5,4,7).

10 This kind of network often uses a telephone exchange to connect different devices directly.(8)

Down

2 Taking place at exactly the same time as something else (11)

3 See 9 across

4 An board may be inserted into a computer to give it added features (9)

6 The opposite of9 across and 3 down (3)

8 The network configuration in which all devices are linked through the central computer (4)

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LESSON 9: PROGRAMMING

I Warm up

A In pairs, try to think of an answer for the question.

What is programming?

Look at the definition in the Glossary Is it similar to yours?

B Complete the following definitions with the words and phrases in the box

The various parts of the program may occur in programs language

Binary numbers a given problem

Provide documentation of the program

Understand the problem and plan the solution

Test and correct the program

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III Reading

A Before reading the text, try to fill in the gaps in these sentences.

Machine code applications program compiler

Source program object program

1 is a program written in one of the high-level languages

2 A program written in a high-level language must be interpreted into before the computerwill read and process it

3 A program designed to perform a specific task called an

4 The is the program produced when the original program has been converted into

machine code

5 A is a program that converts a high-level language into machine code

B Now read the text to cheek your answers

Programming languages

Unfortunately, computers cannot understand ordinary spoken English or any other natural

language The only language they can understand directly is called machine code This consists

of the 1s and 0s (binary codes) that are processed by the CPU

However, machine code as a means of communication is very difficult to write For thisreason, we use symbolic languages that are easier to understand Then, by using a specialprogram, these languages can be translated into machine code For example, the so-called

assembly languages use abbreviations such as ADD, SUB, MPY to represent instructions These

mnemonic codes are like labels easily associated with the items to which they refer

Basic languages, where the program is similar to the machine code version, are known as

low-level languages, each instructions is equivalent to a single machine code instruction, and the program is converted into machine code by a special program called an assembler These

languages are still quite complex and restricted to particular machines

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To make the programs easier to write and to overcome the problem ofintercommunication between different types of machines, high-level languages were designedsuch as BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN or Pascal These are all problem-oriented rather thanmachine-oriented Programs written in one of these languages (known as source programs) are

converted into a lower-level language by means of a compiler (generating the object program).

On compilation, each statement in a high-level language is generally translated into many

machine code instructions

People communicate instructions to the computer in symbolic languages and the easierthis communication can be the wider the application of computers will be Scientists are alreadyworking on Artificial Intelligence and the next generation of computers may be able tounderstand human languages

Read the text again and find answers to these questions:

1 Do computers understand human languages?

2 What are the differences between low-level and high-level languages?

3 What is an assembler?

4 What is the function of a compiler?

5 Can you explain the terms ‘source program’ and ‘object program’?

6 In the future, could computers be programmed in Spanish, French or Japanese?

IV Language work: Problem and solution

Study these ways of liking a problem and a solution

Problem: get rid of logic errors Solution: hand-test the program

You can get rid of logic errors by hand-testing the program

To get rid of logic errors, hand-test the program

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Exercise 1: Match these problems and solutions Link them following the examples above.

1 connect a computer to a telephone line

2 identify items for pricing

3 add extra facilities to a computer

4 get more file storage space

5 find syntax errors

6 avoid marking the surface of a CD-ROM

7 improve the speed of your computer

8 avoid system errors

9 prepare a new disk for use

10 transfer information between computers

a write code to check a peripheral is presentbefore any data is sent

b use the debug command

c add more memory

d format the disk

e use a removable disk

f install an expansion card

g install a modem

h fit a bigger hard disk

i use barcode labels

j hold it by the edges

Exercise 2: Suggest solutions to these problems Then link the problem and your solution.

1 Make sure there are no viruses on a floppy disk

2 Prevent unauthorized access to a network

3 Avoid the risk of losing data

4 Avoid eye-strain when using computers

5 Avoid back problems when using computers

V Speaking

Read the statements below Which do you agree with more? Why?

‘Learning a programming language is like learning any nature language The onlydifference is that you are communicating with a machine instead of another person.”

“I get annoyed when I hear people comparing programming languages with naturelanguages They have almost nothing in common.”

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VI Word - play

Solve the anagrams in the right-hand column and match them with the words in the left-handcolumn to complete the phrases

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LESSON 10: FUTURE TRENDS

I Warm up

Smart cards, robotics, and virtual reality are three areas of computing where developments aretaking place very fast Working in groups, try to add to these lists of current and possiblefuture applications

Smart cards Robotics Virtual reality

Identification welding cars games

High-security access repairing nuclear power plants virtual travel

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II Listening: Virtual reality

A Listen to Part 1 of this recording Complete the groups in this table of equipment required to use virtual reality.

……… head -mounted display ………

VR glove ……… … … makes your hand feel pressure

III Reading: Future developments

A Work in groups of three, A B and C Read one of these texts on developments in computing and make notes in the table below.

Development ………

Application/ s ………

How soon? ………

Smart cards

A chip to save your life

If your friend suddenly had an accident and was unconscious or incoherent, could youprovide any information to an ambulance crew? Would you know her blood type, her allergies,the prescription drugs she takes? Probably not Even family members may not have thisinformation, or be too distraught themselves to provide needed medical information Enter the

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What is a micro-machine?

One of the most important steps in computing technology in the coming years is likely to

be a return to mechanical methods Using the same process used to create chips, it's possible tofabricate mechanical parts -levers, gear wheels, and small motors

The best known example of a micro-machine was created by Sandia laboratories in NewMexico in the US It's a complete motor developing 50\.1W of power in one square millimetre -still a bit big for some of the micro-machines planned for the future

What are micro-machines going to be used for? Obvious applications are sensors, gyrosand drug delivery The idea is that a micro-machine could have a strain sensor or a gyroscopicattitude sensor and electronics built into a single chip-sized package The idea of using a micro-machine to deliver drugs is getting a bit closer to more sci-fi applications Only a step further isthe idea of building insect-sized robots that could do difficult jobs in very small places.Swallowing an ant-sized machine to cure you or putting one inside some failed machinery seemslike a really good idea!

VIRTUAL REALITY

Getting practical

Here are some applications of virtual reality under development Wearing head mounts,consumers can browse for products in a 'virtual showroom' From a remote location a consumerwill be able to man oeuvre and view products along rows in a warehouse Similarly, from aconvenient office a security guard can patrol corridors and offices in remote locations

Air traffic controllers may someday work like this Micro laser scanner glasses projectcomputer-generated images directly into the controller's eyes, immersing the controller in a three-dimensional scene showing all the aircraft in the area To establish voice contact with the pilot ofthe plane, the controller merely touches the plane's image with a sensor-equipped glove

Using virtual reality headsets and gloves, doctors and medical students will be able toexperiment with new procedures on simulated patients rather than real ones

B From your notes, explain what you have read to other students in your group .

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IV Language work: Making predictions

Study these predictions.

Many more people will join the Internet.

Doctors will experiment with new procedures on simulated patients.

Micro-machines are going to be used for drug delivery.

We can use will and is going to make predictions, about things we are confident will happen.

Make predictions about these things

1 the number of PCs in use

2 tile power of computers

3 the capacity storage devices

4 the size of computers

5 the use of smart cards

6 the use of mainframes

7 robot and housework

8 computers and cars

9 wearable computers

10 the price of computers

V Speaking

Work in groups A and B Think of arguments for and against this statement.

Group A: “Computer will catch up with the power and speed of the human brain by

2050 Some time after that they will start outstripping us and taking over from us.”

Group B: “ Do you think it is possible that one day language teachers will be completely

replaced by computers?”.

VI Writing

Study this graphic which shows how a smart card system could be used in a college, or otherlarge organization Use it to write a report recommending that your institution or company

introduce a smart card system

Start like this: A student/ company smart card can be used in many ways It can be used as a key

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I Choose the appropriate form of the words to complete the sentences.

1 A computer is limited in its ability by the of man

a imagination b imagine c imaginative d imaginer

2 Some people are good at inventing stories

3 It is practically impossible to ………… the speed at which a computer calculates numbers

4 Many terminals can be ……… to a basis system it the need arises

5 It is sometimes a very ………… process getting into a computer installation for securityreasons

6 It is sometimes very ……… to explain computer concepts

7 There isn’t a very big………… in flowcharting for a program to be written in Cobol orFortran

a differ b different c difference d differencing

8 There are many ……… computer manufacturers today, and a buyer must be

able to ……… ……… between the advantages and disadvantages of each

9 The opinions of programmers as to the best way of solving a problem often ……… greatly

10 Computers are ……… machines

11 If you don’t know the meaning of a computer term, you cannot always an all-purposedictionary for the answers

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14 One of the first person to note that the computer is malfunctioning is the computer…

a operator b operations c operating d operated

15 The job if a computer operator is to ……… the various machines in a computer installation

a operator b operations c operating d operate

16 The new machines in the computer installation are not yet ………

a operator b operations c operating d operated

17 A computer is a device which ……… processes and gives out information

a acceptable b accepts c acceptance d accepted

18 The students are still waiting for their …… …… into the Computer Science program

19 It is ……… to work without a template if the flowcharts are not kept on file

20 It may take a lot of time to find a ……… …… to a complex problem in programming

21 A computer can ……… a problem faster than any human being

22 A computer has often been referred to as a problem ………

23 A computer must be able to ……… with the user

a communication b communicative c communicate d communicatively

24 Fiber optics is a new development in the field of ………

25 Some people working in computer installations aren’t very ………… because they are shy

II Read the passage and complete it with verbs in brackets in the correct form.

Basic is a general purpose high – level programming language, originally designed(develop) (1) program in conversional mode The name Basic (stand) (2) … for Beginner’sAll- purpose Symbolic Instruction Code This language is (find) (3)… on most microcomputersbecause it (be) (4) … user -friendly and easy to learn

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Basic (consist) (5) … of two main parts: the source language statements, the instructionswhich form the program – and the system commands which (allow) (6)… us to control and edit aprogram.

Basic (enable) (7)… the user (interact) (8)… with the program while it is being (execute)(9)… , which means that data can be (input) (10)… while the program is running Eachinstruction is (give) (11)… a line number which defines the logical sequence of statementswithin the program Some well-known system commands in basic are: RUN, which executes aprogram (hold) (12)… in a basic file; LIST, which prints a listing of a program on the screen;and DELETE, which (remove) (13)… a program from a file

A large number of PC manufacturers adopted Basic At present, however, there (be)(14)… so many versions and extensions that programs written for one type of PC are notdirectly portable to another

III Read the texts and do the following exercises.

Computer capabilities and limitations

[1] Like all machines, a computer needs to be directed and controlled in order to perform

a task successfully Until such time as a program is prepared and stored in the computer'smemory, the computer "knows" absolutely nothing, not even how to accept or reject data Eventhe most sophisticated computer, no matter how capable it is, must be told what to do Until thecapabilities and the limitations of a computer are recognized, its usefulness cannot be thoroughlyunderstood

[2] In the first place, it should be recognized that computers are capable of doingrepetitive operations A computer can perform similar operations thousands of times, withoutbecoming bored, tired, or even careless

[3] Secondly, computers can process information at extremely rapid rates For example,

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hence require more time On a typical computer system, cards are read at an average speed of

1000 cards per minute and as many as 1000 lines can be printed at the same rate

[4] Thirdly, computers maybe programmed to calculate answers to whatever level ofaccuracy is specified by the programmer In spite of newspaper headlines such as ‘ComputerFails’, these machines are very accurate and reliable especially when the number of operationsthey can perform every second is considered Because they are man-made machines, theysometimes malfunction or break down and have to be repaired However, in most instances whenthe computer fails, it is due to human error and is not the fault of the computer at all

[5] In the fourth place, general-purpose computers can be programmed to solve varioustypes of problems because of their flexibility One of the most important reasons why computers are so widely used today is that almost every big problem can be solved by solving a number oflittle problems - one after another

[6] Finally, a computer, unlike a human being, has no intuition A person may suddenlyfind the answer to a problem without working out too many of the details, but a computer canonly proceed as it has been programmed to

[7] Using the very limited capabilities possessed by all computers, the task of producing auniversity payroll, for instance, can be done quite easily The following kinds of things need bedone for each employee on the payroll First: Input information about the employee such as wagerate, hours worked, tax rate, unemployment insurance, and pension deductions Second: Do somesimple arithmetic and decision making operations Third: Output a few printed lines on a cheque

By repeating this process over and over again, the payroll will eventually be completed

Exercises

I Decide whether the following statements are true or false (T/F)

1 A computer cannot do anything until it has been programmed

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3 A computer can repeat the same operation over and over again forever if permitted.

4 The speed at which different computer components function is considered to be one of thelimitations of a computer

5 Computers do not usually make mistakes unless they break down

6 A computer can think and solve problems by itself

7 A computer is a single-purpose machine that it cannot be programmed to solve various types ofproblems

8 Computers can solve big problems by following a series of simple steps

9 A computer usually solves problems by doing some mathematical and decision-makingoperations

10 Computers are used because they are fast and exact

II Locating Information

Find the passages in the text where the following ideas are expressed Give line references

1 A computer can do the same operation millions of times without stopping

2 A computer must work out the detail of a problem before reaching a solution

3 A computer needs to be told what to do

4 Computer can solve all kinds of different problem

5 Knowledge of a computer's capabilities and limitations is important

6 A computer can process information very rapidly

7 Computer are exact and dependable

8 Input and output devices operate more slowly than the arithmetic and decision-making

devices

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a can solve different types of problems

b all the equipment needed input, processand output

information

c those which compare numbers

d decides what the program is to be

IV Which statement best expresses the main idea if the text?

1 The most elaborate of computers must be programmed in order to be useful

2 It is important what a computer can and cannot do

3 A computer is useless without a programmer to tell it what to do

V Decide which of the following statements are computer capabilities or limitations (C or L

in each box).

1 directed and controlled

2 must be told what to do

3 capable of doing repetitive operations

4 never gets bored or tired

5 fast and careful

6 input-output operations are slower

7 very accurate and dependable

8 man-made machine

9 can solve different types of problems

10 finds a solution after working out all the details

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