Lan Anh Nguyen/ ESP/HNUE

1
Unit 1

What is a computer?

When you read the following text, you will probably meet words and expressions that are
new to you. First try to understand their meaning from the context – read the same passage a
few times. When you have read the whole text, check new words in a dictionary.

A computer is a machine with an intricate network of
electronic circuits(Điện xoay chiều?)
that(1) (
!computer) operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches (nút?),
like the cores, are capable of being in one of two possible states, that is, on or off,
magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers,
letters, and characters. The basic idea of a computer is that we can make the machine do what
we want by inputting signals that turn certain switches on and turn other off, or that
magnetize or do not magnetize the cores.

The basic job of computers is the processing (xử lí?) of information. For this reason,
computer can be defined as devices (thiết bị?) which(2) (
!devices) accept information in the
form of instructions called a program and characters called data, perform mathematical
and/or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The
program, or part of it(3), which(4) tells the computers what to do and the data, which provide
the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside the computer in a place called
memory.

Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, most computers, whether

it and cannot exercise any value judgments. There are times when a computer seems to
operate like a mechanical “brain”, but its achievements are limited by the minds of human
beings. A computer cannot do anything unless a person tells it(10) what to do and gives it the
appropriate information; but because electric pulses can move at the speed of light, a
computer can carry out vast numbers of arithmetic-logical operations almost instantaneously.
A person can do everything a computer can do, but in many cases that person would be dead
long before the job was finished.

Words and expressions
circuit
core
device
program
data
memory
punched card
magnetic tape
disk
terminal
input device
tape drive
disk drive
CRT display
instruction

Exercises

I. Main idea
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text? Why did you eliminate the other
choices?

1. Computers accept information, perform mathematical and/or logical operations then
supply new information.
2. All computers have three basic capabilities.
3. A computer is a machine that can be made to operate by receiving signals.
4. A computer cannot work without being told what to do.
5. A computer can make three types of decisions.
6. The fundamental job of a computer is processing information.
7. A computer can do the work of hundreds of people in a very short time.
8. The memory of a computer is used for storing information.

IV. Understanding words
Refer back to the text and find
synonyms for the following words.
Refer back to the text and find
antonyms for the following words
1. complex _________
2. fundamental _________
3. away _________
4. uninterested _________
5. accomplishments _________
6. large _________
7. receiving _________
8. reject _________
9.
unusual _________
10. small _________

V. Content review
Try to think of a definition for each of these items before checking them in the Glossary.
Then complete the following statements with the appropriate words. (Some can be used

control and coordinate the activities of the hardware while processing the data.

The first computer was built in 1930 but since then computer technology has evolved a
great deal. There are three different kinds of computers in use today: the mainframe, the
minicomputer and the microcomputer.
These all have one thing in common: they operate
quickly and accurately in solving problems.

Exercise 2
Now look back at the text and find out what the words in bold typeface refer to:
1. that
2. which
3. it
4. which
5. which
6. which
7. which
8. it
9. it
10. it