1. What capabilities should data-processing systems combine when designed? 2. What are the main advantages of comput- ers? 3. What do you know of computers accuracy? 4. What is the function of communication networks? 5. Give examples of a data communication network. 6. What do you understand by capacity storage? 7. What other values of computer data pro- cessing systems do you know? 8. What is an important objec- tive in the design of computer data processing systems? 9. What is the most effective computer data processing system? 10. What is the best way of responding to the challenges and opportuni- ties of our post-industrial society?

1. What is a computer? Что такое компьютер?

A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic circuits that operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores.

2. Каковы два возможных состояния переключателей?

The switches, like the cores, are capable of being in one or two possible states, that is, on or off; magnetized or demagnetized.

3. Каковы основные функции компьютера?

The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters (symbols).

4. Каким образом мы можем сделать с компьютером то, что мы хотим?

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 others off, or magnetize or do not magnetize the cores.

5. Какова основная задача компьютера?

The basic job of computers is processing of information.

6. В какой форме компьютер принимает информацию?

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 on the information, and then supply results of these operations.

7. Что такое программа? Information in the form of instructions is called a program.

8. Что такое data? Information in the form of characters is called data.

9. Что такое память?

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.

10. Какие три основные возможности имеют компьютеры?

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.

Third, inputting information using terminals, diskettes, disks and magnetic tapes.

11. Каковы ввода информации в компьютер? The computer's input device is a disk drive (or tape drive).

12. Какова функция ввода устройства? It reads the information into the computer.

13. Какие устройства используются для вывода информации? For outputting information two common devices used are: a printer, printing the new information on paper, and a cathode-ray-tube display, which shows the results on a tv-like screen. Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions.

14. Какие решения может принимать компьютер?

The kinds of decisions which computer circuits can make are 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 thousands of logical decisions without becoming tired.

15. Чем достижения компьютера ограничены?A computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it works according to the instructions given to it. 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 necessary information