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Learn the topical vocabulary.

intricate — сложный, запутанный.

electronic circuit — электронная цепь, схема

to operate switches — приводить в дей­ствие переключатели

to store numbers — запоминать числа

to manipulate — управлять; обращаться; преобразовывать

to input / to feed in — вводить (информацию)

to turn on = to switch on — включать

to turn off = to switch off — выключать

to process data — обрабатывать данные

to supply — подавать, вводить, снабжать, обес­печивать

addition — сложение

subtraction — вычитание

division — деление

multiplication — умножение

exponentiation — возведение в степень

user — пользователь

input device — устройство ввода

disk drive — дисковое запоминающее уст­ройство, дисковод

tape drive — запоминающее устройство на магнитной ленте

cathode-ray tube — электроннолучевая трубка

to make decisions — принимать решения

instantaneously — мгновенно, немедленно

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WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A computer is a machine with an intricate network of elec­tronic circuits that operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters (symbols).

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.

The basic job of computers is processing of information. For this reason computers can be defined as devices which accept information in the form of instructions, called a programme, and characters, called data, perform mathematical and /or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The programme, 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.

It is considered that computers 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.

Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to use terminals, diskettes, disks and magnetic tapes. The computer's input device (a disk drive or tape drive) reads the information into the computer. For outputting information two common devices are used: 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.

A computer can solve a series of problems and make thousands of logical decisions without becoming tired. It can find the solution to a problem in a fraction of the time it takes a human being to do the job.

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