2 wWhatisa computer?
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‘A Read the text and then explain Fig. 1 in your own words.
What is a computer?
‘Acomputer is an electronic machine which can accept
data in a certain form, process the data, and give
the results of the processing in a specified format as
information.
First, data is fed into the computer's memory. Then,
when the program is run, the computer performs a set of
instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see
the results (the output) on the screen or in printed form,
(see Fig, 1 below),
A computer system consists of two parts: hardware and
software. Hardware is any electronic or mechanical part
you can see or touch, Software is a set of instructions,
called a program, which tells the computer what to do.
There are three basic hardware sections: the central
processing unit (CPU), main memory and peripherals.
Perhaps the most influential component is the central
processing unit. Its function isto execute program
instructions and coordinate the activities of all the
other units. In a way, iis the ‘brain’ of the computer
he main memory (a collection of RAM chips) holds the
instructions and data which are being processed by
1e CPU. Peripherals are the physical units attached to
the computer. They include storage devices and input/
Storage devices (hard drives, DVD drives oF flash drives)
provide a permanent storage of bath data and programs.
Disk drives are used to read and write data on disks,
Input devices enable data to go into the comput
memory, The most common input de
mouse and the keyboard, Output devices enab
Us to extract the finished product from the system.
For example, the computer shows the output on the
‘monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a
printer.
On the rear panel of the computer there are seve
pports into which we can plug a wide range of
peripherals —a modem, a digital camera, a scanner, et
They atlow communication between the computer and
the devices. Madern desktop PCs have USB ports and
memory card readers on the front panel.
es are the
Expenses
(eg. payroll,
services,
publicity)
Income
(eg.sales,
stocks,
interest)
‘AUSB por AUSB connector
output devices,
Input Processsing ‘Output
Data collected and entered Data is manipulated ‘The results ae shown an the monitor ot)
| t in print for
Storage
Files and programs are held on disk
Balance
——————B Match these words from the text (1-9) with the correct meanings (a-i).
1 software a the brain of the computer
2. peripherals bb physical parts that make up a computer system
3° main memory ¢ programs which can be used on a particular
4 hard drive (also known as harddisk) computer systern
5S hardware d_ the information which is presented to the computer
6 input results produced by a computer
7 ports f input devices attached to the CPU
8 output section that holds programs and data while they are
9 central processing unit (CPU) executed or processed
magnetic device used to store information
sockets into which an external device may be
connected