The Microprocessor

I

In order to use computers effectively to solve problems in our environment, computer system is devised. Computer system may be divided in two parts. The first part is hardware – the physical, electronic and electromechanical devices. The second part is software – the programs that control and coordinate the activities of the computer hardware and that direct the processing of data.

In all PCs, the microprocessor is the chip that runs programs. The microprocessor, or central processing unit (CPU), carries out a variety of computations, numeric comparisons, and data transfers in response to programs stored in memory.

The CPU controls the computer's basic operation by sending and receiving control signals, memory addresses, and data from one part of the computer to another along a group of interconnecting electronic pathways called a bus. Located along the bus are input and output (I/O) ports that connect the various memory and support chips to the bus. Data passes through these I/O ports while it travels to and from the CPU and the other parts of the computer.

CPU is the portion of a computer composed of ALU and control unit. It is where instructions are fetched, decoded and executed, and the overall activity of the computer is controlled.

Bus is a circuit for the transfer of data or electrical signals between two devices.

Port is a connection between the CPU and another device, such as main memory. By means of it data can enter or leave the computer or be transferred between the CPU and memory.

Vocabulary:

to process- o6pa6aтывать

to fetch - вызывать, выбирать

by means of - при помощи, посредством

to send - отправлять

to receive -получать

to run - управлять, выполнять (программу)

to carry out - выполнять

bus - шина, канал передачи информации

to process - обрабатывать

Упражнение 1. Найдите английские эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний в тексте.

данные

данные проходят через

сравнение чисел

в ответ на/ реагируя на

посылая и принимая сигналы

взаимосвязанные электронные пути

посылать

получать

выполняет множество вычислений

Упражнение 2. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What does the microprocessor carry out?

2. What does the CPU control?

3. What do the input and output ports connect?

4. What is the CPU?

Упражнение 3. Закончите предложения, выбрав соответствующий вариант ответа.

1. The central processing unit ... a) the various memory and support chips to the bus.

2. The input ports connect ... b) sending and receiving control signals.

3. The CPU controls the computer's

basic operation by ... c) a variety of computations.

Упражнение 4. Выпишите из текста выделенные слова, определите к какой части речи они относятся.

Упражнение 5. . Напишите предложения, употребив нужные по смыслу слова. Переведите предложения.

1. The microprocessor is the chip that ... programs. 2. The microprocessor carries out a variety of computations, ... comparisons, and data transfers.3. The CPU controls the computer's ... operation by sending and ... control signals. 4. Input and output ports connect the various ... and support chips. 5. Data passes through these ... and output ports. 6. CPU is the portion of a computer composed of ALU and ... unit. 7. Instructions are fetched, ... and executed. 8. Bus is a circuit for the transfer of ... . 9. Port is a ... between the CPU and another device. 10. Data can enter or ... the computer. 11. Data can be transferred ... the CPU and memory.

a) control, data

b) leave,

c) connection

d) between

e) memory

f) runs

g) numeric

h) decoded

i) receiving

j) input

k) basic

Упражнение 6. Образуйте сравнительную и превосходную степени от следующих прилагательных:

Thin, large, old, long, good, hot, busy, fast, light, small, bad, many, clean, short,

little.

TEXT III

Chip

Computer components (such as transistors, diodes, resistors) can now be made from semiconductor materials of different shapes. Nowadays, complete circuits can be made from a single piece of semiconductor, called a chip. Such circuits are called integrated circuits (ICs). Computers using integrated circuits were first produced in the 1960s. Their integrated circuits had about 200 components on a single chip. Today, we can produce more than 100,000 components on a single chip. A chip can be as small as 0.5 cm square.

Chip is an integrated circuit created on a tiny silicon flake. Upon the flake a large number of gates and paths connecting them are formed. They are formed by very thin films of metal acting as wires. The chip can be used as main memory and logic capabilities are contained in the same chip, it is called a microprocessor or a computer on a chip. It consumes very little power, is compact and of low cost. It can currently process as many as a million or more instructions per second. The chip is used in a wide, ever-increasing variety of devices. They are PCs, calculators, digital watches, robots, and electronic games.