12. Read Text в and translate it with a dictionary. Make up a list of key words: text b russian supercomputer

Russia has started production of PS-2000 computers capable of performing 200 million operations per second. Any computer performs many functions: in addition to number processing the computer controls the whole computing process and determines the sequence in which information is to arrive at its processors. In fact, the computer takes only one-tenth of its total operating time to do the computing. Russian supercomputer is a computer with computing elements free from all other functions. This becomes possible if supervision is assigned to special processors acting as managers. Operating with computing circuits these processors give instructions and run the queue of information to enter the processor from storage, etc.

The new computer concept attracted interest from the American Control Data Corporation (CDC) and resulted in the production of the Cybers, the fastest computers in the USA. It works like an assembly line with individual operations. Data have to pass through the entire length of the conveyer, no matter how many processors are there to process them. The Russian approach differs radically from the above. We suggested a principle whereby all processors respond to a single control command that leaves them a certain margin of freedom, with the possibility to sort out their data independently. Receiving a command "command" they all start off doing similar operations, later switching over to successive operations until the whole problem is solved. The efficiency of this parallel system is obvious.

First, similar operations can be handled at any speed as it depends on the number of processors involved. Second, a single control system for all processors is simple and, consequently, low-cost.

So far there are no computers in this class in the West. It is high-speed and low-cost. It can be used in weather forecasting, to predict patients' post-operational states or the behaviour of an airfoil which only exists in a blue-print, and also helps to pinpoint drilling sites for oil and gas, etc. The American Cyber-73 takes nearly two hours for pinpointing drilling sites. The Russian computer performs this operation in ten minutes.

Notes:

to run the queue [kju:] – управлять очередностью

the CDC – фирма, выпускающая вычислительное оборудование

cyber ['saibə] – кибер (от слова «кибернетика»)

whereby – посредством которого

a certain margin – определенный предел

until the whole problem is solved – до тех пор, пока задача не будет решена полностью

weather forecasting – прогноз погоды

an airfoil – профиль крыла

to pinpoint – указывать

drilling sites – места для бурения скважин

13. Read Text с. Find the answers to the following questions:

What kinds of memories do you know?

What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

TEXT С

RAM AND ROM

Once the information is stored in a computer's memory, the computer can calculate, compare and copy this information. The memories are of different kinds. RAM and ROM are examples of the newest ones.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory, because information can be transferred into and out of any single byte of memory. The storage cells, i.e., bits of a RAM chip require power to retain their contents. If the power fails, the contents are lost.

ROM is firmware and stands for Read Only Memory. It is permanent memory chip for program storage. Instructions and information are stored in the ROM at the time of their manufacture and cannot be altered. All microcomputers use RAMs and ROMs.

Notes:

once [wлns] – как только, поскольку

to fail – иссякать, кончаться

to lose – терять

manufacture – изготовление

to alter ['o:ltə] – меняться

IT IS INTERESTING TO KNOW

Lady Loveless (1815-1852), the only daughter of the great English poet G.G. Byron, was the first programmer. She was a friend of Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first universal digital counting machine, and wrote the first program for this machine.

SECTION II. SOFTWARE

LESSON SEVEN

Text A. The Basic Principles of Programming.

Text B. Programming.

Exercises

1. Read the international words and guess their meaning:

fundamental, principle, tactics, student, format, utilization, term, routine, actual, practice, list, planning, personal, to concentrate, personnel, detective, coding, programming, symbolic, final, procedure

2. Pronounce the following words correctly:

Introduce [,intrə'dju:s] v – вводить, знакомить, представлять

subroutine ['sлbru:'ti:n] п – подпрограмма, часть программы

entire [in'taiə] а – весь, целый, полный

routine [ru:'ti:n] п – (стандартная) программа

change [tƒeindʒ] n – перемена, изменение, v изменять

assign [ə'sain] v – назначать, присваивать

procedure [prə'si:dʒə] n – процедура, методика проведения (опыта)

debugging [di'bлgiη] n – наладка, отладка программы

error ['erə] n – ошибка, погрешность

invalidate [in'vælideit] v – выводить из строя

technique [tek'ni:k] n – метод, методика, технический прием define [di'fain] v – определять, формулировать (задачу)

diagram ['daiəgræm] п – диаграмма, схема, v строить диаграмму (схему)

flow-chart ['flou'tƒa:t] п – блок-схема, схема потока информации

shorthand ['ƒo:thænd] п – стенография, сокращенная запись

evidently ['evid(ə)ntli] adv – очевидно

precisely [pri'saisli] adv – точно

observation [,obzə(:)'veiƒ (ə)n] n – наблюдение, соблюдение

reemphasize ['ri'emfəsaiz] v – вновь подчеркнуть

erase [i'reiz] v – стирать (запись)

remain [ri'mein] v – оставаться

replace[ri'pleis] v – заменять, подставлять, перемещать