UNIT 2

COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

START-UP

1. Answer the questions.

1. What computer do you use: a desktop or a laptop?

2. How does a computer help you?

2. Look at a diagram illustrating the main components of a computer. Then

find information about the function of each component.

VOCABULARY

1. Match the words to their definitions.

1) data a) the mechanism that handles the reading, writing,

and storage of data on the hard disk
2) to store b) a piece of equipment which allows access to
other computers or networks, for example the
internet
3) to retrieve c) a computer program that allows easy entry and
manipulation of figures, equations, and text, used
esp. for financial planning and budgeting
4) to process d) a piece of electronic equipment inside a
computer which allows it to receive and show
pictures and video
5) to browse e) the physical equipment used in a computer
system, such as the central processing unit,
peripheral devices, and memory
6) spreadsheet f) find or extract (information stored in a computer)

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7) to withdraw g) to search for information in computer files or on
the Internet, especially on the World Wide Web
8) hardware h) to remove something or take it away
9) router i) to keep and save information in a digital device
10) graphics card j) to perform mathematical and logical operations
on data according to programmed instructions in
order to obtain the required information
11) hard drive k) information in electronic form that can be stored
and used by a computer

2. Match the synonyms given below.

1) to manipulate а) suitable
2) to store b) to surf
3) to browse c) to transform
4) to be composed d) to handle
5) delicate e) to keep
6) to access f) fragile
7) to convert g) to consist
8) appropriate h) to be admitted

3. Complete the table with the necessary derivatives. Pay attention to the
meaning of the words.

Verb Noun Adjective

convert
manipulation
protective
include
combined
usage
creative
compose
presentation
specific

READING

1. Read the text and answer the questions.

1. What functions does a computer perform?

2. What are main elements of a computer?
3. What peripherals can be connected to a computer?

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 A Typical Computer

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has

the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You can use a computer to type
documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to
edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer
such as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes,
and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw
cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a
type of computer.
A typical computer system consists of both hardware and software. The
hardware is composed of the electronic and mechanical devices, while software
refers to the data and instructions that allow the computer to perform specific
functions.
A complete computer system includes a computer system unit, software and
peripheral devices such as a central storage system, keyboard, mouse, monitor,
printers, scanners and routers. A computer system unit refers to the enclosure for
all the internal components of a computer. It is also called a computer tower or
computer case, and it protects delicate hardware parts from the external
environment.
The combination of hardware and software enables a computer to receive inputs,
process them and produce specific outputs. Hardware components are the physical
objects that comprise a computer, and include the hard drive disk, graphics cards,
motherboards and chips. Software includes programs that allow users to do word
and data processing.
Modern computers receive data from several components. A modem enables the
computer to access information from the Internet, while the keyboard and mouse
submit instructions. Data can also be obtained from peripherals, such as CD and
DVD drives and USB memory sticks. The computer's central processing unit
processes input data and converts it into appropriate code.

2. Read the text again and say whether these statements are true or false.

1. Computers are mainly desktops and laptops.

2. A typical computer system consists of both hardware and software.
3. The enclosure is used to protect delicate hardware parts from the external
environment.
4. Hardware components allow users to do word and data processing.
5. Data in computers can be obtained from peripherals.

3. Make a short summary of the text.

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LANGUAGE FOCUS

QUESTION TYPES

Consult grammar rule using the link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-jg-
xUHkRfMELgFnqWxiSW5COrOhQPt9/view?usp=sharing

1. Match the question with the appropriate answer and comment on the
question type.

1. Is RAM cleared completely a. Actually, it does.

when the computer system shuts
down?
2. What devices does the computer b. Yes, they are.
system use to display
information?
3. Does the CPU handle c. I suppose, octa-core processers
instructions? are more common.
4. Processors are becoming more d. It’s any input device.
and more powerful, aren’t they?
5. Are dual-core or octa-core e. Because Apple teams collaborate
processors more common? with each other.
6. What piece of computer f. Yes, it is.
hardware is used to provide data
into the system?
7. Why do all the components of g. There is main memory
iPhone work together efficiently consisting of ROM and RAM
and beautifully? and backing stores which can be
internal, eg. a hard disk or SSD,
or external, eg. a USB flash
drive.
8. Can you tell me what types of h. These are output devices.
storage a computer uses?

2. Arrange the words in the correct order to make questions.

1. What / used / devices / to input / are / sound?

2. A keyboard / input / an automatic / is / or / device / manual?
3. You / back up / how often / your / important / do / data?
4. Retains / of memory / its data / what kind?
5. Inputs / are / outputs / both / and / touchscreens / aren’t they?
6. Contain / processor / does / quad-core / or / your computer / octo-core?
7. Did / the first / appear / when / microprocessor?
8. Smartphones /a phone screen / what / use / do / technology / to unlock?
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My partner’s notebook ……

LISTENING

SETTING THE CONTEXT

1. Why are programs saved in a different format than the human readable
programming languages that they are written in?
2. What are some of the programs that your computer is running even when you’re
not touching it?
3. What are some of the things your computer needs to know in order to respond
properly to a mouse click?

ACTIVATING VOCABULARY

Match the words with their definitions:

1. to capture a) to stop the continuous progress of

(an activity or process)
2. to shrink down b) to take into one’s possession or
control by force
3. measurement c) an application, or a component of
an interface, that enables a user to
perform a function or access a
service.
4. to execute d) the size, length, or amount of
something, as established by
measuring.
5. to interrupt e) to put (a plan, order, or course of
action) into effect; carry out an
instruction or program.
6. widget f) to decrease in size, range, or
extent

Before proceeding to CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING section, please

follow the link to watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFi90lZmXA

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Choose the best answer to these questions.

1. The BIOS is most like the computer’s

A brain

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B eyes and hands
C stomach
D lungs
E none of the above

2. The CPU can handle ________ of instructions a second

A thousands
B millions
C billions
D gazillions
E none of the above

3. Programs are encoded and stored in memory as

A 1's and 0's
B raw text
C HTML
D electrons
E all of the above

4. The CPU’s job is

A to store information
B to deal with input and output from peripherals
C to edit files in memory
D to fetch and execute instructions
E all of the above

5. The critical components of your computer’s architecture are:

A wires, plastic, silicon
B programs, bits, bytes, HTML
C peripherals, BIOS, CPU, programs, memory
D mouse, motherboard, integrated circuits, wires
E none of the above

6. BIOS stands for

A Biological Input Operating System
B Basic Input Output System
C Basic Integer Operating System
D Basic Input Output Software
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 E none of the above
Research shows that people often say frequently used expressions very fast,
and so they can be difficult to catch. Follow the link, listen and fill the gaps
with frequently used two-word expressions.

…That between the mouse click video playing, there was something that
captured your intention, understood it. Is it gremlins? Let's imagine that we can
shrink down size of an electron and inject ourselves into a
click mouse. took your mouse apart,
you'd see that it's really a very simple machine. It has a couple buttons
system for detecting motion and distance. You might have an optical
mouse that makes these measurements with lights and sensors, but older ones did
this hard rubber ball and some plastic wheels. Same concept. When you
click the button on your mouse, it sends a message computer with
information about its position. When your mouse click is received, it's
handled basic input/output subsystem. This subsystem acts like the eyes
and ears
and mouth and hands computer. Basically, it provides a
way computer
to interact with its environment. But it also acts like a buffer. In this case, the I/O
subsystem decides that your mouse click is pretty important, so it generates an
interrupt CPU.
"Hey, CPU! Got a click here. "The CPU, or central processing unit,
brains whole computer. Just like your brain doesn't take up your
whole body, the CPU doesn't take up the whole computer, but it runs the show
all . CPU's job, its whole job, is fetching instructions from
memory and executing them, billions of instructions a second.
Yes, billions every second: instructions to move your mouse
around screen, to run that clock widget on your desktop, play your
internet radio, manage the files you're editing hard drive, and much, much
more. Your computer's CPU is one heck multitasker!
"But oh my gosh, there's a very important mouse click. Let's drop everything now
and deal with that!"
There are programs for everything CPU does. A special
program mouse,
clock widget, internet radio, and for dealing with letters
sent keyboard. Each program was initially written by a human
human-readable programming language, like Java, C++, or Python.
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But human programs take up of space and contain of
unnecessary information computer, so they are compiled and made
smaller and stored in bits of ones and zeros in memory. The CPU realizes that it
needs instructions for how to deal with this mouse click, so it looks up the
address mouse program and sends a request memory subsystem
for instructions stored there. Each instruction mouse device driver is duly
fetched and executed. And that's not nearly the end story! Because the
CPU learns mouse was clicked when the cursor was over a picture
button monitor screen, and so,
CPU the
asks
memory monitor program
to find out what that button is. And then the CPU has to ask memory
program button, which means CPU needs the monitor
program again
to show the video associated button, and so it goes.
And let's just say there are of programs involved before you even see the
button screen light up when you clicked it. So, just the simple task of
clicking your mouse means visiting all critical components of your
computer's architecture…

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