Bài giảng Tiếng Anh chuyên ngành Tin học - Trịnh Thị Thu Hương

BỘ CÔNG THƯƠNG
TRƯỜNG CAO ĐẲNG CÔNG NGHIỆP VÀ XÂY DỰNG
BÀI GIẢNG MÔN HỌC
TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH TIN HỌC
Dùng cho hệ Cao đẳng chuyên nghiệp
(Lưu hành nội bộ)
Người biên soạn: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
Người phản biện: Tô Thị Thu Vân
Uông Bí, năm 2011
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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CONTENTS
Unit 1:What is a computer? page 3
Unit 2: Characteristics page 8
Unit 3: Computers capabilities and limitations page 15
Unit 4: Hardware and software page 21
Unit 5:Microcomputers page 27
Unit 6: The central processing unit page 33
Unit 7: Primary and secondary memory page 38
Unit 8: Types of memory page 44
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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FOREWORDS
The following collection of texts is collected from various textbooks.
The texts are shortened, simplified and adapted to fit the skill level and interests
of the learners in addition to meet the demand of the society.
The collection, with five units, provides the learners with the technical
terms in informatics with the hope that they can read, understand and translate
simple technical textbooks, and magazines in English. As a result, learner can
communicate with their partners in the future jobs.
This collection is for students at the industry and construction of
college.
The author is always available to welcome any of your feedback,
suggestions, corrections or comment.
By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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Unit one. WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
 A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic
circuits that operates switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The witches, 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 w can make the machine do what we want by inputting signals that turn
certain switches on and turn others off, or that magnetize or do not magnetize
the cores.
 The basic job of computer is the processing of information. For this
reason, computers can be defined as devices which accept information in the
form of instructions called a program and characters called data, perform
mathematical and /or logical operations. The program, or part of it, which 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 large or small have three basic capabilities. First,
computers have circuits for performing arithmetic operations, such as: addition,
subtraction, division, multiplication and exponentiation. Second, computers
have a means of communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn’t feed
information in and get results back, these machines wouldn’t be of much use.
However, certain computers (commonly minicomputers and microcomputers)
are used to control directly things such as robots, aircraft navigation systems,
medical instruments, etc.
 Some of the most common methods of inputting information are
used punched cards, magnetic tape, disks, and terminals. The computer’s input
device (which might be a card reader, a tape drive or disk drive, depending on
the medium used in inputting information) readers the information into the
computer
For outputting information, two common devices used are a printer which
prints the new information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the
results on a TV- like screen.
 Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds
of decision which computer circuit can make are not of the type: “ Who would
wind a war between two countries?” or “ Who is the richest person in the world
?”. Unfortunately, the computer can only decide three things, namely: Is one
number less than another? Are two numbers equal? and, Is one number greater
than another?
 A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even
thousands, of logical decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the
solution to a problem in a fraction of the time it takes a human being to do the
job. A computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it has not
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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originality; it works according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise
any value judgment. 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 what to do and
gives it the appropriate information; but because electric pulse 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.
* Vocabulary
intricate: phức tạp, rối rắm
circuit: mạch, mạch điện
switch: khóa ngắt, công tắc
magnet: nam châm
magnetize: làm nhiễm từ
core: lõi, nhân
to store: lưu trữ
to manipulate: xử lý
character: ký tự
to input: nhập vào, đưa vào
to process: xử lý, chế biến
instruction: lệnh, chỉ thị
data: dữ liệu, dữ kiện
memory: bộ nhớ
arithmetic: số học
minicomputer: máy tính mini
exponentiation: số mũ, sự nâng lên lũy thừa
originality: tính độc đáo, tính sáng tạo
microcomputer: máy vi tính
punch: đục lỗ, dùi lỗ
card: miếng bìa
punched card: bìa đục lỗ
disk: đĩa ( từ)
terminal: thiết bị đầu cuối
medium: giá mang tin
to output: đưa ra
printer: máy in
CRT ( Cathode Ray Tube): ống đèn tia âm cực
display screen: màn hình hiển thị
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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* Grammar notes
I/ The basic idea of a computer is that we can make the machine do what we
 ... ã cứu mạng anh ta
- He told me to shut the door, which I hard already done
Ông bảo tôi đóng cửa, việc đó tôi đã làm rồi
- If he comes, which is not likely, I'll tell him at once
Nếu ông ta đến, điều mà không có gì là chắc chắn, tôi sẽ bảo ông ấy ngay
* Exercise:
1. Main idea
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text?
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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.....................1. There are 2 types of memory: primary and secondary
.....................2. Primary memory is more important than secondary memory
.....................3. Secondary memory devices are unimportant in a computer system
2. Understanding the passage
Indicate whether the following ideas are stated or not stated ( S/NS) in
the text
1. .The term ' memory' can be expressed in other ways
2. .Cmputers are often advertised according to their memory
capacity.
3. .The CPU can easily eccess information from internal storage.
4. .................Minicomputers and microcomputers have a similar memory
capacity
5. .The control unit needs to know the location where information
is stored or needs to be stored.
6. .Primary memory is more expensive than secondary memory.
7. ..There are 2 types of secondary memory device.
8. .Information stored on magnetic disk can be retrieve faster than
if that same information were on tape.
9. .Disks and types can be stored in a library
10..Computers can process information even if complete programs
are not put in internal storage.
3. Locating information
Find the passages in the text where the following ideas are expresses.
Give line references.
1/ Speed and random access are important in processing
information
2/ Random-access are important in processing information.
3/ The CPU and primary memory work closely together.
....................4/ Virtual storage increases the memory capacity of a computer
5/ Real storage, internal storage, and primary memory are all the
same.
6/ Information is stored in memory in compartments with a
specific location
7/ There are 2 classes of secondary memory device.
.8/ Only parts of programs are kept in primary storage while a
program is being run through.
4. Contextual reference
Look back at the text and find out what the words in bold typeface refer to.
1. ............. It is also called(l.2)
2. ............. depending on their storage capacity(l.4)
3. ............. thus making them ( l.8)
4. ............. the former means that ( l. 10)
5. ............. where the storage locations( l.12)
6. ............. each having its own address ( l.13)
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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7. ............. in that they don't change ( l.14)
8. ............. where to find them ( l.15)
9. ............. whatever must go there ( l.16)
10. ........... or part of it ( l.20)
5. Word forms
First choose the appropriate form of the words to complete the
sentence. Then check the differences of meaning in your dictionary.
1. expression, expressive, express, expressed
a. Information sent via a computer is faster than using the.........................
system os airlines or postal services.
b. An ... such as " He or she has a computer for a brain" means that
he or she is a fast- thinking person.
c. Computers understand commands.in the form of 0 and 1
2. equality, equal, equally, equalize
a. The symbol # means that 2 thing are not......................
b. A microcomputer doesn't.. a microcomputer in flexibility.
c. The 2 computer languages Pascal and PL1 are.......difficult.
3. consideration, consider, considerable, considerably
a. There is a  difference between written and spoken English.
b. It is important to .. the capabilities and limitations of a
computer before buying one.
c. New printers can print results....................... faster than previously.
4. design, designed, designation, designer, designing
a. Due to the advances in computer technology, computer................. are
faced with a more challenging job.
b. Computers are . to process information accurately and quickly.
c. Computer architects are constantly trying to improve on the
......................of computers.
5. advertisement, advertise, advertised
a. There are many computer- related jobs................. in the New
York Times.
b. The Computer Center will soon................. for more operation and
programmers.
c. Career opportunities in computer science and relates fields can usually be
found in the.. section of newspapers..
6. Translate into English
Bộ nhớ trong là thiết bị đặc biệt để lưu trữ dữ liệu và chương trình.
Như ta đã biết, máy tính điện tử chỉ có thể xử lý thông tin theo chương trình một
khi cả dữ liệu và chương trình đã nằm trong bộ nhớ trong của máy tính. Bộ nhớ
trong của máy tính điện tử được chia thành 2 loại: Bộ nhớ truy nhập ngẫu nhiên,
gọi tắt là RAM, và bộ nhớ chỉ đọc, gọi tắt là ROM. Người sử dụng có thể đọc
thông tin từ RAM hoặc viết thông tin vào RAM, nhưng bộ nhớ RAM không lưu
trữ được thông tin lâu dài. Khi 1 chương trình đã nằm trong RAM đã thực hiện
xong thì 1 chương trình mới có thể được sao chép vào RAM, thay thế cho
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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chương trình cũ. Đối với dữ liệu cũng tương tự. RAM là nơi lưu trữ dữ liệu và
chương trình của người sử dụng
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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Unit 8. TYPE OF MEMORY
 As mentioned previously, one of the most important
characteristics of a computer is its capability of storing information in its
memory long enough to process it. Not all computers have the same type of
memory. In this section, three types of memory will be discussed: core memory,
semiconductor memory ( or chip ), and bubble memory
 The memory of the first computers was made up of a kind of
gird of fine vertical and horizontal wires. At each intersection where the wires
crossed, there was a small ferrite ring called a core ( hence the name “ core
memory”) which was capable of being either magnetized or demanetized. Every
intersection had its unique address; consequently, when an electrical current was
passed through the wires, the magnetized as well as the unmagnetized cores
were identified by their respective addresses. Each core represented a binary
digit of either 0 or 1 , depending on its state. Early computers had a capacity of
around 80,000 bits; whereas now, it is not surprising to hear about computers
with a memory capacity of millions of bits. This has been made possible by the
advent of transistors and by the advances in the manufacture of miniaturized
circuitry. As a result, mainframes have been reduced in both size and cost.
Throughout the 1950s, 1960, and up to the mid- 1970s, core memory dominared
the market, but it is now obsolete
 In the 1970s, there was a further development which revolutionized the
computer field. This was the ability to etch thousands of integrated circuits into
a inty piece ( chip) of silicon, which is a non- metallic element with
semiconductor characteristics. Chips have thousands of identical circuits, each
one capable of storing one bit. Because of the very small size of the chip, and
consequently of the circuits etched on it, electrical signals do not have to travel
far; hence, they are transmitted faster. Moreover, the size of the components
containing the circuitry can be considerably reduced, a step which has led to the
introduction of both minis and micros. As a result, computers have become
smaller, faster, and cheaper. There is one problem with semiconductor memory,
however: when power is removed, information in the memory is lost- unlike
core memory, which is capable of retaining information
during a powerful failture
 Another development in the field of computer memories is
bubble memory. The concept consists of creating a thin film of metallic alloys
over the memory board. When this film is magnetized, it produces magnetic
bubbles, the presence or absence of which represents one bit of information.
These bubblesb are extremely tiny, about 0.1 micrometer in diameter. Therefore,
a magnetic bubble memory can store information at a great density than existing
memories, which makes it small in size, and are highly reliable. There is
probably a lot more to learn about them, and research in this field continues
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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* Vocabulary
Previous trước, trước đó
Bubble bong bóng, bọt, tăm
Bubble memory bộ nhớ bọt từ
Core lõi, nhân
Core memory bộ nhớ lõi từ
Grid lưới
Wire dây điện (kim loại)
Vertical đứng, thẳng đứng
Horizontal ngang, nằm ngang
Intersect cắt ngang, cắt chéo
Intersection sự cắt nhau, sự giao nhau
Ring nhẫn, vòng
To identify nhận dạng, nhận ra
Respective riêng từng người, tương ứng
Early sớm, ban đầu
Advent sự xuất hiện, sự ra đời
To dominate thống trị, chiếm phần lớn
To revolutionize cách mạng hóa
Element nguyên tố (hóa học), nhân tố
To consist of gồm có, bao gồm
Film màng, lớp màng mỏng phủ bên trên
Alloy hợp kim
Metallic thuộc kim loại
To consume tiêu thụ, dùng
* Grammar notes
I/ There was a small ferrite ring called a core which was capable of being either
magnetized or demagnetized
Có một vòng ferrit nhỏ gọi là lõi có khả năng hoặc là bị nhiễm từ hoặc là bị khử từ
1. To be capable of doing something: Có khả năng làm gì
Eg: - He is capable of running a mile in 4 minites
- He’s quite capable of lying to get out of trouble
2. Either or.
Either John or Alec will go with you
Either you or I am to do it
II/ Each core rerpresented a binary digit of either 0 or 1, depending on its state
“ Depending on” là phân tử I làm chức năng trạng ngữ chỉ tình huống kèm theo
Eg: - Gwendolen was silent, again looking at her hands
- Our teacher is standing at the blackboard, writing some new words
* Exercise
Ex 1: Main idea
Which statements don’t express the main idea of the text?
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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.1. Core memory was the first type of computer memory
developed
.2. There are at least three different kinds of memory used in
computers
.3. Bubble memory is the latest development in computer
memory
Ex 2: Understanding the passage: T/ F
....................... 1. The first important function of a computer is to hold
information in its memory in order to process it
....................... 2. Minicomputers, microcomputers, and mainframes all
have the same kind of memory
....................... 3. Semiconductor memory was developed before core
memory and after bubble memory
....................... 4. Core memory uses small metal rings which can be
magnetized or unmagnetized
....................... 5. The state of the core can be represented by either 0 or 1
....................... 6. Early computer memories had less storage capacity than
newer ones
....................... 7. A transistor and a chip are the same kind of device
....................... 8. The development of chips made it possible for
minicomputers and microcomputers to be invented
....................... 9. Bubble memory is smaller than a chip
....................... 10. Bubble memory doesn’t have very many advantages
Ex 3: Locating information
Find the passages in the text where the following ideas are expressed. Give the
line references.
....................... 1. First there is cory memory
....................... 2. Further to this development, chips evolved
....................... 3. There are three types of memory
....................... 4. This consist of producing a thin film over a memory board
....................... 5. Then semiconductor memory was developed
....................... 6. There is still a lot to learn about this process
....................... 7. This is made up of thin wires and rings
....................... 8. Finally, bubble memory was invented
Ex 4: Word form
1/ alteration, alter, altered
a. When a program doesn’t work properly,it is often necessary to
make..to it
b. The omission of data from a program can.its result drastically
c. The use of the computer in business has.the workload of
many people
2/ electricity, electric, electrical, electrically
a. A lot of. Is needed to operate large computer systems.
b. Alexander Graham Bell invented the .. light bulb.
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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c. Many students today are studying to becomeengineers
3/ reduction, reduce, reduced
a. The introduction of the computer in the workplace has the
workload of many people
b. There will probably be a great. in the consumption of oil in
the next decade due to the use of computer technology.
4/ creation, create, created, creative
a. A programmer usually has a .as well as a logical mind
b. It takes a lot of inspiration and hard work to come up with a
new..in computer technology
c. Computers have certainly.new opportunities for fraud.
Ex 5: Translate into English
Cũng như RAM, ROM là phần của bộ nhớ trong để lưu trữ thônh tin
nhưng khác với RAM, thông tin trong ROM được duy trì vĩnh viễn,chúng không
bị xoá đi ngay cả khi mất nguồn điện. Người sử dụng có thể đọc thông tin trong
ROM, nhưng không thể ghi thông tin mới vào hoặc sửa đổi thông tin tại đó.
Trong ROM lưu trữ các chương trình điều khiển các hoạt động cơ sở của máy
tính. Chúng được ghi vào đó ngay trong quá trình sản xuất bằng các công cụ
chuyên dụng. Trong qua trình làm việc hệ điều hành cũng như các chương trình
ứng dụng có thể truy cập tới ROM để sử dụng các chương trình cơ sở được lưu
trữ sẵn tại đó
English for informatics students
 By: Trịnh Thị Thu Hương
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* REFERENCES
1. Nguyễn Tường Luân, Lê Đức Mẫn (1997), English for students of
informatics; Nhà xuất bản Hải Phòng
2. Raymond Murphy (1995) English grammar in use; Cambridge University
Press.
3. Glen dinning, E.and McEvan,J, (1999), Basic English for Computing, Oxford
University Press.