ENG 101

Lesson - 9
Dr.Surriya Shaffi Mir

[1]Computers are machines designed to process, electronically, specially prepared

pieces of information which are termed data. Handling or manipulating the information
that has been given to the computer, in such ways as doing calculations, adding
information or making comparisons is called processing. Computers are made up of
millions of electronic devices capable of sorting data or moving them, at enormous
speeds, through complex circuits with different functions.
[2]All computers have several characteristics in common, regardless of make or design.
Information, in the form of instructions and data, is given to the machine, after which the
machine acts on it. And a result is then returned. The information presented to the
machine is the input; the internal manipulative operations, the processing; and the
result, the output. These three basic concepts of input, processing, and output occur in
almost every aspect of human life whether at work or at play.
For example, in clothing manufacturing, the input is the pieces of cut cloth, the
processing is the sewing together of these pieces, and the output is the finished
garment.

INPUT COMPUTER OUTPUT

SEC. STORAGE
[3]Figure 3.1 shows schematically the fundamental hardware components in a computer
system. The centerpiece is called either the computer, the processor, or, usually, the
central processing unit (CPU). The term ‘computer’ includes those parts of hardware
in which calculations and other data manipulations are performed, and the high-speed
internal memory in which data and calculations are stored during actual execution of
programs. Attached to the CPU are the various peripheral devices such as card
readers and keyboards (two common examples of input devices). When data or
programs need to be saved for long periods of time, they are stored on various
secondary memory devices or storage devices such as magnetic tapes or magnetic
disks.
[4]Computers have often been thought of as extremely large adding machines, but this is
a very narrow view of their function. Although a computer can only respond to a certain
number of instructions, it is not a single-purpose machines since these instructions can
be combined in an infinite number of sequences. Therefore, a computer has no known
limit on the kinds of things it can do; its versatility is limited only to the imagination of
those using it.
[5]In the late 1950s and early 1960s when electronic computers of the kind in use today
were being developed, they were very expensive to own and run.
Moreover, their size and reliability were such that a large number of support personnel
were needed to keep the equipment operating. This has all changed now that computing
power has become portable, more compact, and cheaper.
[6]In only a very short period of time, computers have greatly changed the way in which
many kinds of work are performed. Computer can remove many of the routine and
boring tasks from our lives, thereby leaving us with more time for interesting, creative
work. It goes without saying that computers have created whole new areas of work that
did not exist before their development.
Exercises1Main IdeaWhich statement or statements best express the main idea of the
text? Why did you eliminate the other choices?
1.Computers have changed the way in which we live.

2.All computers have an input, a processor, an output and a storage device.

3.Computers have decreased man’s workload.

4.All computers have the same basic hardware components.

Exercises1 Main IdeaWhich statement or statements best express the main idea of the
text? Why did you eliminate the other choices?
1.Computers have changed the way in which we live.

2.All computers have an input, a processor, an output and a storage device.

3.Computers have decreased man’s workload.

4.All computers have the same basic hardware components.

2 Understanding the passage:
Decide whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) by referring to the
information in the text. Then, make the necessary changes so that the false statements
become true.
T F
1. All information to be processed must be prepared in such a way that
the computer will understand it.

2. Because of the complex electronic circuitry of a computer, data can be

either stored or moved about at high speeds.

3. Not all computers can process data given to them and produce results.

The basic concepts of data processing are restricted to

4. computers alone.

5. The processor is the central component of a computer system.

6. All other devices used in a computer system are attached to the CPU.

7. Memory devices are used for storing information.

8. Computers are very much restricted in what they can do.

9. Computers today cost less, are smaller, and need fewer

people to operate them than in the past.

10. Computer haven’t changed our working conditions very much.

3 Locating Information:
Find the passages in the text where the following ideas are expressed. Give the
paragraph reference.
………. 1. All computers are basically the same.
………. 2. Then arithmetic and / or decision-making operations are performed.
………. 3. Computer are limited by man’s imagination more than anything else.
………. 4. All the equipment used in a computer system is the hardware.
………. 5. Computers are electronic machines used for processing data.
………. 6. If programs or data need to be kept for a long time, they are stored on tapes
or disks.
………. 7. First the computer accepts data.
……….8. Finally, new information is presented to the user.
4 Contextual reference:
Look back at the text and find out what the words in bold typeface refer to.
1. Which are termed data (p.1)…………
2. Or moving them (p.1)…………
3. The machine acts on it (p.2)…………
4.They are stored on (p.3)………
5.It is not a single-purpose machine (p.4)………
6.The kinds of things it can do (p.4)………
7.Of those using it (p.4)………
8.They were very expensive to own (p.5)………
9.Moreover, their size and reliability (p.5)………
10. That did not exist (p.6)………
5 Understanding words:
Refer back to the text and find synonyms (i.e. words with a similar meaning) for the
following words.
1. called (p.1)…………………….
2. tremendous (p.1)…………………….
3. ideas (p.2)…………………….
4. react (p.4)…………………….
5. take away (p.6)…………………….
Now refer back to the text and find antonyms (i.e. words with an opposite meaning) for
the following words.
6. taken away (p.2)…………………….
7. wide (p.4)…………………….
8. limited (p.4)…………………….
9. immovable (p.5)…………………….
10. after (p.6)…………………….
6 Word forms:
First choose the appropriate form of the words to complete the sentences. Then check
the difference of meaning in your dictionary.
1. Imagination, imagine, imaginable, imaginative, imaginary
a. A computer is limited in its ability by the ……………. of man.
b. Some people are good at inventing …...…… stories.
c. It is practically impossible to …………… the speed at which a computer calculates
numbers.
2. Addition, add, added, additional, additional, additive
a. Many terminals can be …………… to a basic system if the need arises.
b. …………….. And subtraction are two basic mathematical operations.
c. when buying a system there is often no …………… charge for the programs.
3. Complication, complicate, complicated, complicating, complicatedly
a. There can be many…………… involved in setting up a computer in an old building.
b. It is sometimes a very …………. process getting into a computer installation for
security reasons.
c. It is sometimes very …………….. to explain computer concepts.
4.Difference, differ, different, differently, differential, differentiate
a. There isn’t a very big ….…………. in flowcharting for a program to be written in
Cobol or Fortran.b. There are many ……………… computer manufactures today, and a
buyer must be able to ……………..between the advantages and disadvantages of each.
c. The opinions of programmers as to the best way of solving a problem often………..
greatly.
5.Reliably, rely on, reliable, reliability
a. computers are …………………… machines.
b. If you don’t know the meaning of a computer term, you cannot always…………………
an all-purpose dictionary for the answer.
c. Computers can do mathematical operations quickly and………………… .