UNIT 1

LIVING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Task 1 Read the text and try to answer these questions.

a. What is the digital generation?

b. Complete the table below to list what computers can be used in schools
to help

Students: Teachers:
- perform …………………………. - give …………… with ………
and ………….
- …………… their maths skills. - ……….. sciences, history or
………….
- access …………… - publish ………. for students to
do ………….
- do research and …….. with
other students.
- enroll courses ………….
- write letters by …………….
- ………….. databases.
- keep their ………

c. Why are mobile phones often called smartphones?

d. Instead of cash paying, now what can people use to pay for goods &
service they buy?
e. How are computers be used to regulate air traffic?

We are now living in what some people call the digital age, meaning that computers have
become an essential part of our lives. Young people who have grown up with PCs and mobile
phones are often called the digital generation. Computers help students to perform
mathematical operations and improve their math skills. They are used to access the internet, to
do basic research and to communicate with other students around the world. Teachers use
projectors and interactive whiteboards to give presentations and teach sciences, history or
language courses. PCs are also used for administrative purposes – schools use word processor
to write letters and databases to keep records of students and teachers. A school website allows
teachers to publish exercises for students to complete online. Students can also enroll for
courses via the website and parents can download official reports.
Mobiles let you make voice calls, send texts, email people and download logos, ringtones or
games. With a built-in camera you can send pictures and make video calls in face-to-face mode.
New smartphones combine a telephone with web access, video, a games console, an MP3
player, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a GPS navigation system all in one.
In banks, computers store information about the money held by each customer and enable
staff to access large databases and to carry out financial transactions at high speed. They also
control the cashpoints, or ATMs (automatic teller machines), which dispense money to
customers by the use of a PIN-protected card. People use a Chip and PIN card to pay for goods
and services. Instead of using a signature to verify payments, customers are asked to enter a
four-digit personal identification number (PIN), the same number used at cashpoints, this system
makes transactions more secure. With online banking, clients can easily pay bills and transfer
money from the comfort of their homes.
Airline pilots use computers to help them control the plane. For example, monitors display
data about fuel consumption and weather conditions. In airport control towers, computers are
used to manage radar systems and regulate air traffic. On the ground, airlines are connected to
travel agencies by computer. Travel agents use computers to find out about the availability of
flights, prices, times, stopovers and many other details.

Task 2 Match the words in column A (1-9) with the correct meanings in
column B (a-i)

Column A Column B
1. perform a. keep, save
2. word processor b. execute, do
3. online c. monetary
4. download d. screen
5. built-in e. integrated
6. store f. connected to the internet
7. financial g. collection of facts or figures
8. monitor h. programme used for text manipulation
9. data i. copy files from a server to your PC or
mobile

Task 3 Match the verbs (1-10) with the nouns (a-j) to make collocations from
the text (Task 1)

1. give a. the internet

2. keep b. data
3. access c. presentations
4. enter d. records
5. transfer e. a PIN
6. display f. research
 7. do g. information
8. make h. transactions
9. store i. money
10. carry out j. calls

Task 4 Use collocations from Task 3 to complete these sentences.

1. Thanks to Wi-Fi, it’s now easy to ………………… from cafes, hotels, parks
and many other public places.
2. Online banking lets you …………….. between your accounts easily and
securely.
3. Skype is a technology that enables users to ………… over the Internet for
free.
4. In many universities, students are encouraged to …………… using
PowerPoint in order to make their talks more visually attractive.
5. The Web has revolutionized the way people ……………… with sites such as
Google and Wikipedia, you can find the information you need in seconds.
6. Cookies allow a website to …………….. on a user’s machine and later
retrieve it; when you visit the website again, it remembers your preferences.
7. With the latest mobile phones, you can ………………. with multimedia
attachments: pictures, audio, even video.

Task 5 How do you pronounce the word RECORD used as a verb and as a
noun?

Task 6 What are the meanings of RECORD (n)?

Task 7 In pairs, discuss these questions.

1. How are/were computers used in your school?

2. How do you think computers will be used in school in the future?

Task 8 In small groups, choose one of the areas below and discuss what
you can do with computers in that area.

1. Racing cars
2. Entertainment
3. Factories and industrial processes.
4. Schools/ Universities
 Racing cars: design and build the car, test virtual models, control electronic
components, monitor engine speed, store (vital) information, display data, analyze
and communicate data.
Entertainment: download music, burn CDs, play games, take photos, edit photos,
make video clips, watch movies on a DVD player, watch TV on the computer, listen
to MP3s, listen to the radio via the Web.
Factories and industrial processes: design products, do calculations, control
industrial robots, control assembly lines, keep record of stocks (materials and
equipment.
Schools/ Universities: access the internet, enroll online, search the Web, prepare
exams, write documents, complete exercises online, do research, prepare
presentations.

Task 9 Write a short presentation summarizing your discussion. Ask one

person from your group to give a summary of the group’s ideas to
the rest of the class.
 UNIT 2
COMPUTER ESSENTIALS
Task 1 Label the elements of this computer system.

1 5

6
7

3
4

Task 2 Read these advertising slogans and say which computer element
they refer to.

1. Point and click here – Obeys every impulse as if it were an extension of your
hand.
2. Displays your ideas with perfect brilliance – See the difference – sharp
images and a fantastic range of colours.
3. It’s quiet and fast – It’s easy to back up data before it’s too late.
4. Power and speed on the inside – Let your computer’s brain do the work.
5. A big impact on the production of texts and graphics – Just what you need: a
laser powerhouse.
Task 3 Find words in the slogans with the following meanings.

1. To press the mouse button

2. Selection
3. Shows
4. To make an extra copy of something

Task 4 Read the text and then explain the functions of computers’ main
parts in your own words.

What is a computer?

A computer 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.
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 is to
execute program instructions and coordinate the activities of all the other units. In a way,
it is the ‘brain’ of the computer. The main memory (a collection of RAM chips) holds the
instructions and data which are being processed by the CPU. Peripherals are the
physical units attached to the computer. They include storage devices and input/output
devices.
Storage devices (hard drives, DVD drives or flash drives) provide a permanent
storage of both data and programs. Disk drives are used to read and write data on
disks. Input devices enable data to go into the computer’s memory. The most common
input devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable 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 several ports into which we can plug a
wide range of peripherals – a modem, a digital camera, a scanner, etc. They allow
communication between the computer and the devices. Modern desktop PCs have USB
ports and memory cards readers on the front panel.
Task 5 Match the words (1-9) in column A with the correct meanings (a-i) in
column B.

Column A Column B
1. Software a. the brain of the computer
2. Peripherals b. physical parts that make up a computer
system
3. Main memory c. programs which can be used on a particular
computer system
4. Hard drive (hard disk) d. the information which is presented to the
computer
5. Hardware e. results produced by a computer
6. Input f. input devices attached to the CPU
7. Ports g. section that holds programs and data while
they are executed/ processed
8. Output h. magnetic device used to store information
9. Central processing unit i. sockets into which an external device may be
connected

Task 6 Use suitable classifying expressions to complete these sentences.

1. A computer …………….. hardware and software.

2. Peripherals ………………. three types: input, output, and storage devices.
3. A word processing program ……………. software which lets the user create
and edit text.
4. …………………. of network architecture: peer-to-peer, where all computers
have the same capabilities, and client-server (e.g. the Internet), where servers
store and distribute data, and clients access this data.
5. The control unit of the CPU …………………. a decoder, a counter and a
clock.

Task 7 Describe this diagram, using suitable classifying expressions.

Peripherals

Input devices Output devices Storage media

 Mouse  Monitor  Magnetic
 Keyboard  Printer  Optical
 Camera  Speaker  Flash
 Scanner
 Microphone
Task 8 Listen to the recording about computer and answer these:

1. What are the advantages of computers?

2. List what we can do with computers.
3. Why can’t computers be used to play cards?
4. Tell seven different points between human beings and computers.
5. How many kinds of computers are mentioned in the recording? What are
they?

Task 9 1) Your school is considering replacing all of the office PCs with
laptops. Write an email to your teacher explaining the benefits for
students and school.
2) Your company is considering replacing all of the office PCs with
laptops. Write an email to your boss explaining the benefits for
employees and company.
 UNIT 3
INSIDE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Task 1 Read the advertisement and translate the technical specifications

into Vietnamese.

Dell Computer

 Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 2.4GHz

 Mini Tower Chassis
 256MB RDRAM, expandable to 4GB
 500GB hard drive
 48 X CD-ROM Drive
 19” Colour SVGA monitor
 Microsoft Windows XP

- The main processing chip that has dual core and operates at a clock
speed of 2.4 thousand million cycles per second.
- A small size of tall and narrow style of case containing the computer
system.
- 256 megabytes of dynamic type of main memory chips, expandable to
4GB.
- A hard drive internal storage device with a capacity of approx. 500
thousand million bytes.
- A CD-ROM storage device that operates at 48 times the speed of the
original CD-ROM devices.
- A colour monitor for displaying output on a screen at resolutions
determined by the SVGA standard. The diagonal measurement of the
whole screen is 19 inches.
- The operating system that is used to control the system.

Task 2 Answer these questions. If necessary, refer to the Glossary.

1. What is the main function of a computer’s processor?

2. What unit of frequency is used to measure processor speed?
 3. What does RAM stand for?
4. What are mathematical calculations?
5. What are logic operations?

Task 3 Read the text below and then answer these questions.

1. What are the main parts of the CPU?

2. What does ALU stand for? What does it do?
3. What is the function of the system clock?
4. How much is one gigahertz?
5. What type of memory is temporary?
6. What type of memory is permanent and includes instruction needed by the
CPU?
7. How can RAM be increased?
8. What term is used to refer to the main printed circuit board?
9. What is a bus?
10. What is the benefit of having expansion slot?

What is inside a PC system?

Processing
The nerve center of a PC is the processor, also called the CPU, or central processing
unit. This is built into a single chip which executes program instructions and coordinates
the activities that take place within the computer system. The chip itself is a small piece
of silicon with a complex electrical circuit called an integrated circuit.
The processor consists of three main parts:
 The control unit examines the instructions in the user’s program, interprets each
instruction and causes the circuit and the rest of the component – monitor, disk
drives, etc. – to execute the function specified.
 The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs mathematical calculations and logical
operations (AND, OR, NOT).
 The registers are high-speed units of memory used to store and control data.
One of the registers (the program counter, or PC) keeps track of the next
instruction to be performed in the memory. The other (the instruction register, or
IR) holds the instruction that is being executed.
 The power and performance of a computer is partly determined by the speed of its
processor. A system clock sends out signals at fixed intervals to measure and
synchronize the flow of data. Clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). For example,
a CPU running at 4GHz (four thousand million hertz, or cycles per second) will enable
your PC to handle the most demanding applications.

RAM and ROM

The program and data which pass through the processor must be loaded into the
main memory in order to be processed. Therefore, when the user runs a program, the
CPU looks for it on the hard disk and transfers a copy into the RAM chips. RAM
(random access memory) is volatile – that is, information is lost when the computer is
turned off. However, ROM (read only memory) is non-volatile, containing instructions
and routines for the basic operations of the CPU. The BIOS (basic input/ output system)
uses ROM to control communication with peripherals.
RAM capacity can be expanded by adding extra chips, usually contained in small
circuit boards called dual in-line memory modules (CIMMs).

Buses and cards

The main circuit board inside your system is called the motherboard and contains the
processor, the memory chips, expansions slots, and controllers for peripherals,
connected by busses – electrical channels which allow devices inside the computer to
communicate with each other. For example, the front side bus carries all data that
passes from the CPU to other devices.
 The size of a bus, called bus width, determines how much data can be transmitted. It
can be compared to the number of lanes on a motorway – the larger the width, the more
data can travel along the bus. For instance, a 64-bit bus can transmit 64 bits of data.
Expansion slots allow users to install expansion cards, adding features like sound,
memory and network capabilities.

Task 4 Look at these extracts from the text. What do the words in bold refer
to?

1. This is built into a single chip.

2. … which executes program instructions and coordinates ……..
3. …… that is being executed.
4. …….. performance of a computer is partly determined by the speed of its
processor.
5. ……. the CPU looks for it on the hard disk …….
6. …….. inside the computer to communicate with each other.

Task 5 Complete the sentences below with suitable relative pronouns. Give
alternative options if possible. Put brackets round the relative
pronouns you can leave out.

1. That’s the computer …………….I’d like to buy.

2. Core 2 Duo is a new Intel processor ………….contains about 291 million
transistors.
3. A webmaster is a person ……….. designs, develops and maintains a website.
4. A bus is an electronic path way ……….. carries signals between computer
devices.
5. Here’s the.DVD ……….. you lent me !
6. Last night I met someone ………… woks for GM as a software engineer.

Task 6 Listen to the recording about bit and byte then answer these
questions.

1. How many digits does a binary system use?

2. What is a bit?
3. What is a collection of eight bits called?
4. What does ASCII stand for?
5. What is the purpose of ASCII?
Task 7 Complete these descriptions with the correct unit of memory.

Unit of memory Abbreviation Exact memory amount

Binary digit bit, b 1 or 0
Byte B 8 bits
Kilobyte KB or K 1,024 bytes (210)
Megabyte MB 1,024 KB or 1,048,576 bytes (2 20)
Gigabyte GB 1,024 MB or 1,073,741,824 bytes (230)
Terabyte TB 1,024 GB or 1,099,511,627,776 bytes (2 40)

1. A ……………… is about one trillion bytes – about as much text as the books
and magazines in a huge library.
2. A ……………… is about one million bytes – about as much text as a 300-
page novel.
3. A ……………… is about one thousand bytes – equivalent to one sheet of A4.
4. A ……………… is about one billion bytes – about as much as 1,000 books.
5. A ……………… can store a single character, such as the letter h or number 7.

Task 8 Complete this diagram of a PC system.

PC System

(1) (2)

(3) Main memory (4)

(5) (6)

ROM (8) Keyboard

…………

Output Devices

(9) Printer
…………….

(7)

(10) DVD drive

…………..
Task 9 Make notes about the features of the computer that you would like to
have. Think about the features in the box.

CPU Speed Optical disk drives Wireless connectivity RAM

Minimum/maximum Monitor Ports and Card Memory slots
Hard disk Software

Task 10 Describe your ideal computer system. Give reasons for your choices.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
It’s got …….
It’s very fast. It runs at ……
The standard RAM is ……. and it’s expandable ……….
The hard disk can hold …………
I need a large, flat LCD screen because …………
As for the Internet, ……………
 UNIT 4
INPUT/ OUTPUT DEVICES

Task 1 Read the description of input devices and then label pictures with
words from the text.

Input devices are the pieces of hardware which allow us to enter

information into the computer. The most common are the keyboard
and the mouse. We can also interact with a computer by using one of
these: a scanner, a trackball, a graphics tablet, a game controller or a
microphone.

Task 2 Label the picture of a standard keyboard with the group of keys (1-4).

1. Cursor control keys include arrow keys that move the insertion point up,
down, right and left, and keys such as End, Home, Page Up and Page Down,
which are used in word processing to move around a long document.
2. Alphanumeric keys represent letters and numbers, as arranged on a
typewriter.
3. Function keys appear at the top of the keyboard and can be programmed to
do special tasks.
4. A numeric keypad appears to the right of the main keyboard. The Num Lock
key is used to switch from numbers to editing keys.
Task 3 Match the description (1-8) with the names of the keys (a-h).

1. It produces UPPER CASE characters. a. arrow keys

2. A long key at the bottom of the keyboard. Each time it is b. return/enter
pressed, it produces a blank space. c. Cap Lock
3. It moves the cursor to the beginning of a new line. It is also d. shift
e. tab
used to confirm commands. f. space bar
4. It works in combination with other keys. For example, you g. backspace
press this key and C to copy the selected text. h. Ctrl
5. It removes the character to the left of the cursor or any
selected text.
6. It produces UPPER CASE characters, but it does not affect numbers and
symbols.
7. It moves the cursor horizontally to the right for a fixed numbers of spaces (in
tabulations and data fields).
8. They are used to move the cursor, as an alternative to the mouse.

Task 4 Listen to a computer technician description and then answer these

questions.

1. What are usually soldered directly on the motherboard?

2. On the motherboard, how many slots are there for the RAMs?
3. When talking about graphics cards, what does AGP stand for?
4. What is the function of the fan in the power supply?
5. What is the other name of hard disk? What does it contain?
Task 5 Use the notes below to write a description of the Sony Playstation 3
Controller.

Sony Playstation 3 controller

Functions
 control video games
 hold it with both hands, use thumbs to handle directional sticks and face
buttons
Features
 six-axis sensing system (capable of sensing motion in 6 directions: up,
down, left, right, forwards and backwards).
 wireless controller (Bluetooth)
 USB miniport and capable for wired play and automatic battery charging

Task 6 Complete this text about the mouse with words from the box.

click double-click drag grab select move control position pointer buttons

Mouse actions

A mouse allows you to (1) ………. the cursor and move around the screen very
quickly. Making the same movements with the arrow keys on the keyboard would take
much longer. As you (2) ………….. the mouse on your desk, the pointer on the screen
moves in the same direction. The (3) ……………. usually looks like an I-bar, an arrow,
or a pointing hand, depending on what you are doing.
A mouse has one or more (4)…………to communicate with the computer. For
example, if you want to place the insertion point or choose a menu option, you just (5)
……… (press and release) on the mouse button, and the option is chosen.
The mouse is also used to (6) …………. text and items on the screen. You can
highlight text to be deleted, copied or edited in some way.
The mouse is widely used in graphics and design. When you want to move an
image, you (7) ………. the pointer on the object you want to move, press the mouse
button, and (8) ………. the image to a new location on the screen. Similarly, the mouse
is used to change the shape of a graphic object. For instance, if you want to convert a
square into a rectangle, you (9) ………… one corner of the square and stretch it into a
rectangle.
 The mouse is also used to start a program or open a document: you put the pointer
on the file name and (10) ……….. on the name – that is, you rapidly press and release
the mouse button twice.

Task 7 In groups, discussion these questions.

1. What are the benefits of speech recognition software?

2. What kind of tasks would you find speech recognition useful for?
3. Who would benefit most from advances in speech recognition technology?
4. What is the future of this kind of technology? Do you think it will ever be possible
to control your computer using only your thought?

Task 8 Look at the notes you made about your ideal computer system in
Unit 3 Task 10. What did you want? Study the descriptions of the
computers below and choose the one that is closest to your ideal.

Toshiba Satellite Laptop Palm TX handheld

2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor Dell desktop PC Intel 312MHz ARM- based
2GB RAM Expandable to 4GB AMD Athlon at 2.4GHz processor
160GB hard drive 1GB RAM expandable to 4GB 128 MB flash memory
Super Multi drive (double layer) 320GB hard drive Support for memory cards
15.4” wide XGA display DVD+/- RW drive 320x480 TFT touch screen
Wireless LAN, WIFI compliancy 17” LCD monitor Wi-fi and Bluetooth
£1,099 £680 Lithium-ion battery
£216

Task 9 Explain the main differences of desktop computer, laptop computer,

and handheld computer.

Task 10 A friend has asked you to recommend a computer that suits his
needs. He needs to be able to access the Internet, play games and
work with graphics, music and video files. Write an email describing
its technical features and saying why you recommend it.