CEEE LSA work-text, tasks and exercises 1

! Each student must have the work text at every lesson of the current (specified) week in printed
copy version or electronic copy version (on the portable personal platform),
B level students should work with paragraphs 1, 5, 6
T5. Computer software
Software is a collection of instructions that tell a computer how to work. This is in
1 contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and actually performs the work.
At the lowest programming level, executable code consists of machine language
instructions supported by an individual processor — typically a central processing
2 unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU). Machine language consists of
groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the
computer from its preceding state. For example, an instruction may change the
value stored in a particular storage location in the computer — an effect that is not
directly observable to the user. An instruction may also invoke one of many input or
output operations, for example displaying some text on a computer screen; causing
state changes which should be visible to the user. The processor executes the
instructions in the order they are provided, unless it is instructed to "jump" to a
different instruction, or is interrupted by the operating system.
The majority of software is written in high-level programming languages. They
are easier and more efficient for programmers because they are closer to natural
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languages than machine languages. High-level languages are translated into
machine language using a compiler or an interpreter or a combination of the two.
Software may also be written in a low-level assembly language, which has a strong
correspondence to the computer's machine language instructions and is translated
into machine language using an assembler.
An algorithm for what would have been the first piece of software was written by
4 Ada Lovelace in the 19th century, for the planned Analytical Engine. She created
proofs to show how the engine would calculate Bernoulli numbers. Because of the
proofs and the algorithm, she is considered the first computer programmer.
Based on the goal, computer software can be divided into:
5  Application software uses the computer system to perform special functions
beyond the basic operation of the computer itself. There are many different types
of application software because the range of tasks that can be performed with a
modern computer is so large — see list of software.
 System software manages hardware behavior, as to provide basic
6 functionalities that are required by users, or for other software to run properly, if
at all. System software is also designed for providing a platform for running
application software, and it includes the following:
 Operating systems are essential collections of software that manage resources
7 and provide common services for other software that runs "on top" of them.
Supervisory programs, boot loaders, shells and window systems are core parts of
operating systems. In practice, an operating system comes bundled with

B.Delimarsky
 CEEE LSA work-text, tasks and exercises 2

additional software (including application software) so that a user can potentially

do some work with a computer that only has one operating system.
− Device drivers operate or control a particular type of device that is attached to
8 a computer. Each device needs at least one corresponding device driver;
because a computer typically has at minimum at least one input device and at
least one output device, a computer typically needs more than one device
driver.
 Utilities are computer programs designed to assist users in the maintenance and
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care of their computers.
 Malicious software, or malware, is software that is developed to harm or disrupt
10 computers. Malware is closely associated with computer-related crimes, though
some malicious programs may have been designed as practical jokes.

Computer software has to be "loaded" into the computer's storage (such as the
hard drive or memory). Once the software has loaded, the computer is able to
11 execute the software. This involves passing instructions from the application
software, through the system software, to the hardware which ultimately receives the
instruction as machine code.

The software's license gives the user the right to use the software in the
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licensed environment, and in the case of free software licenses, also grants other
rights such as the right to make copies.
a) Open-source software comes with a free software license, granting the recipient
13
the rights to modify and redistribute the software.
b) Proprietary software can be divided into two types:
14  software available for a fee, which can only be legally used on purchase of a
license;
 freeware, which includes the category of "free trial" software or "freemium"
15 software (in the past, the term shareware was often used for free
trial/freemium software). As the name suggests, freeware can be used for free,
although in the case of free trials or freemium software, this is sometimes only
true for a limited period of time or with limited functionality.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Additional info references /links for reading:
1. (T. /+ Audio)Topic B: Computer hardware and software https://opentextbc.ca/computerstudies/chapter/computer-
hardware-and-software/
2. (T.) Computer software: the basics https://www.bgateway.com/resources/computer-software-the-basics
3. (T.) Computer – Software https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_fundamentals/computer_software.htm

Additional info references /links for listening:/watching:

1. (V. /5:22, starting with 1:15) How Computers Work: Hardware and Software
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnyFYiK2rSY
2. (V. /7:55) Types of Computer Software https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJf6AnD9RJY
3. (V. /10:49) Computer Software : Software Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo4VD0SAdC4

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 CEEE LSA work-text, tasks and exercises 3

Tasks and exercises

* All tasks should be performed with actively use of any accessible computer platforms,
applications and resources for listening correct terms, phrases and whole text pronunciation
(Ex. Google Translate) and their results will be presented orally on teacher’s request.

for the Lesson #5.1

Task A. (B+A+C) Read and translate the asociated portion in the work-text (B –par. 2, 6, 7, L – 1st
page, M – all)
Task B (B+A+C) (written). Prepare the associated Vocabulary (mandatory – all underlined
words/phrases, optional - all lexical structures, that the student needs)
 if the word/phrase have more variants of translations – the context related should be first:
Task C. (B+A+C) Speak about any one of additional info by the reference /link to text /audio /video
recommended above (B – in Rom., L – mixt, but at least 1 sentence – in English, M – 3-4 sentences in
English).

for the Lesson #5.2

Task A. (B+A+C) Learn by heart all prepared Vocabulary terms associated to your studying level
(in both translation directions);
Task B. (B+A+C) Describe any software that you use or used before ( name, meaning, license type
and accessibility, main functionalities);
Task C. (B+A+C) Name main differences between system software and applicative software

Ex. 1. (A+C) List (Write) main computer file parameters and their particularities

for the Lesson #5.3

Task A. (B+A+C) Name main computer programs (software) that you used in time of your college
studies (Program’s name, class or classes in which it was used, its meaning).
Task B. (A+C) Ask your colleague about software that he/she use for one specific task (ex. Text
processing, image processing, studies etc.).
Task C. (C) Tell about any last week news in ICT (title, time and platform of appearance, source
trust level [on student’s opinion] news content [2-5 sentences]),

Ex. 1 (B+A+C) (for B –one, for A – two, for C - three)

Compose questions on base of any part of the studied work-text
 Write in your class notebook:
1) composed question in your native language,
2) composed question in English,
3) the sentence with answer from the work-text (specifying its location in the work-text),
4) the answer, translated in your native language.
Ex. 2 (A+C) (for A – one, for C - three)
For of any computer software terms find and write 1-2 synonyms.

B.Delimarsky