Word list. central processing unit (CPU)

central processing unit (CPU)

microprocessor

chip

microchip

silicon

semiconductor

memory

memory chip

read-only memory =

= ROM

random access memory =

= RAM

hard dis k (dis c in British English)

hard drive

compact disk =

= CD

CD-ROM

floppy

floppy disk

card

Exercise 1

Read the text and answer the following questions

1 What is the article about?

2 Why do PCs become possible?

3 What is a microprocessor? Can we call it a single semiconductor device?

4 What types of memory do you know?

5 Are there any new developments in the field of storing information?

Exercise 2

Comprehension check

Read the article again. Correct these false statements about processors and storage

1 Microprocessor is a central processing unit which is build as a metallic element with semiconductors characteristics

2 Chip is a tiny piece of silicon with one electronic circuit on it.

3 Semiconductors can’t make computers to be fast, small and cheap.

4 A personal computer doesn’t contain ROM or RAM memories.

5 There is no problem with DRAM memory as information is retained when power is removed.

6 One can hardly store information in floppies as they are very expensive and quite difficult to copy.

7 Pentium has declared about the graphic card which contains up to 10 millions transistors to perform specific computer functions.

Exercise 3

Indicate whether the following ideas are stated or not stated in the text.

1 Chips are small pieces of silicon which are non-metallic elements with a semiconductor characteristics.

2 The processor of a computer is printed on a chip.

3 The development of chip technology has revolutionized the computer field and moved towards computer miniaturization.

4 There are different types of memory.

5 RAM and DRAM memory has one disadvantage – it loses information when power stops.

6 CDs, CD-ROMs, floppy disks, cards, laser discs – are devices to store information.

Exercise 4

Say which statement best expresses the main idea of the text. Why do you eliminate the other choices?

1 Data can be stored in a variety of ways.

2 Types of memory a PC contains.

3 The possibility of storage on CDs.

4 The graphic card is far superior to other storage devices.

5 PCs became possible only because of semiconductors memory (or chip)

Exercise 5

Give the explanation to the following abbreviations

CPU

RISC

ROM

RAM

DRAM

CD

CD-ROM

Exercise 6

Translate into Russian the words and definitions given in the text in italics

Exercise 7

The word 'instruction' has been omitted twice and the word 'instructions' three times from this article from The Economic. Where do they occur?