Tài liệu giảng dạy Tiếng Anh chuyên ngành Công nghệ thông tin (English for Information Technology) - Trường CĐ Kinh tế - Kỹ thuật Vinatex TP. HCM

BỘ CƠNG THƯƠNG
TẬP ĐỒN DỆT MAY VIỆT NAM
TRƯỜNG CAO ĐẲNG CÔNG NGHỆ TP.HCM
_________________________

KHOA NGOẠI NGỮ - TIN HỌC

TÀI LIỆU GIẢNG DẠY
TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH
CÔNG NGHỆ THÔNG TIN
ENGLISH FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

TP. HCM
LƯU HÀNH NỘI BỘ


English for Information Technology

UNIT 1: COMPUTER USES
Task 1 We use computers in many different places. In groups, make a list of
places where we can find computer documents. Try to say what the documents
are, and what they are used for.
Task 2 Match these words (1 -8 ) to the correct locations ( a- d)
1. games
a. a factory
2. machines
b. a supermarket
3. tickets
c. a travel agent
4. wages
d. a home

5. fight
6. letters
7. barcode readers
8. tills

READING: COMPUTERS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Computers are parts of our everyday lives. They have an effect on almost
everything you do. When you buy groceries at a supermarket, a computer is used
with laser and barcode technology to scan the price of each item and present a
total. Barcoding items (clothes, food, and books) requires a computer to
generate the barcode labels and maintain the inventory. Most television
advertisements and many films use graphics produced by a computer. In
hospitals, beside terminals connected to the hospital’s main computer allow
doctors to type in orders for blood tests and to schedule operations. Banks use
computers to look after their customers’money. In libraries and bookshops,
computers can help you to find the book you want as quickly as possible.
Task 3 Tick ( + ) the computer uses mentioned in the above article.
---- home
----- art
---- hospitals
----- banking
---- engineering
----- libraries
---- shopping
----- film-making
---- television advertising
----- schools
Language work: Articles ( with countable and uncountable nouns)

Language work: Articles ( with countable and uncountable nouns)

Study these nouns
a supermarket
technology
a computer
money
supermarket and computer are countable nouns.
We say a supermarket and supermarkets.
Technology and money are uncountable nouns.
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They have no plural and you cannot use them with a or an.
Study this paragraph.
Computers have many uses. In shops a computer scans the price of each item.
Then the computer calculates the total cost of all the items.
- We use a plural noun with no article, or an uncountable noun when we talk
about thing.
Ex: Computers have many uses.
Information technology is popular.
- We use a / an when we mention a countable noun for the first time.
- When we mention the same noun again, we use the.
- We use the with countable and uncountable nouns to refer to specific things.
Ex: The price of each item.
The total cost of all the items.
The speed of this computer.
Task 4 Here are some common nouns in computing. Divide them into countable
and uncountable nouns
1. capacity

2. data
3. device
4. disk
5. drive
6. memory
7. monitor
8. mouse
9. software
10. speed
Task 5 Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with a/ an or the where necessary.
The Walsh family have _________ computer at home. Their son uses
_______computer to help with ____________homework and to play
___________computer games.
Their student daughter uses __________computer for _______ projects and for
________email. All ________ family use it to get ___________information
from ________ Internet.
Task 6 Match the places in column A with the computer uses in column B.
A
Banks
Factories
Homes
Hospitals
Shops

B
Control machines
Calculate
Look after, patient records and medicines
Provide entertainments and information
Control our money

Task 7 Now fill in the gaps in this paragraph about computer uses.
Computers are now part of our everyday life. In shops, they ……………… . In
factories, they………………………. .In …………………….. they look after
patient records and medicines. When we have a bank account, a computer
…………………….. . In our homes computers …………………… .
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Reading comprehension

USES OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Computer technology is now seen in almost every activity. In addition to its
extensive use in research and control systems of all types, it is exploited in
education and training, police and intelligence, medical diagnostic, weather
forecast… It is changing our world from a natural-based economy to an
informative-based economy.
In business, computers are programmed to bill customers, take inventory, pay
employees, help with managerial decision…They can replace people in dull,
routine tasks and enable “office automation” but they have no originality: they
work under instructions given to them by programmers. They have no intuition
and no creation, i.e. they can only proceed as they have been programmed to.
Answer the questions:
1. Is Computer technology now seen every activity? Give examples?
2. Translate the phrases: natural-based economy, informative- based economy
3. Translate the paragraph into Vietnamese.

Further reading

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
- Computer can help students perform mathematical operations and solve
difficult questions. They can be used to teach courses such as computer- aided
design (CAD), language learning, programming, mathematics,….etc.
PCs (personal computers) are also used for administrative purposes: for example,
schools use databases and word processors to keep record of students, teacher
and material…..
- Bank use computer to look after client’s money. Computer also helps staff to
access large database and carry out financial transaction at high speed. They also
control the automatic cash dispensers which, by the use of a personal coded card,
dispense money to clients.
- In business, computers support a lot for management to make report,
presentation, plan budget and to have an overview of revenue and expenditure of
the entities. Accountants also use computer to record accounting and prepare the
salary for staffs as well as related operations.
- Airline pilots use computer to help them control the plane. For examples,
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, price,
and times, stopovers and many other details.
Answer the questions:
1. What can computer help students?
2. What can they be used for?
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3. Why does bank use computers?

4. What are computers used in business for?
5. Give examples to show that computers are used in air traffic?

THE COMPUTER
A computer is a machine with an intricate network of eletronic circuits that
operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches, like the cores, are
capable of being in one of two possible states, that is, on or off; magnectized or
demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters,
and characters. The basic ideas of a computer is that we can make the machine do
what we want by inputting signals that turn certain swithches on and turn others off,
or that magnetize or do not magnetize the cores.
The baisc job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason,
computer can be defined as devices which accept information in the form of
instructions called a program and charaters called data, perform mathematical and/or
logical operation on the information, and then supply results of theses operations.
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.
Computers are thought to 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. Second, computers have a means of
communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn’t feed information in and get
results back, these machines wouldn’t be of much use. However, certain computers (
commonly minicomputers and microcomputers) are used to control directly things
such as robots, aircraft navigation systems, medical instruments, etc.
Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to use
punched cards, magnetic tapes, disks, and terminals. The computer’s input device (
which might be a card reader, a tape drive or disk drive, depending on the medium
used in inputting information) reads the information into the computer.

For outputting information, two common devices used are a printer which
prints the new information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the
results on a TV-like screen.
Third, computers have circuits which make decisions. The kinds of decisions
which computer circiuts can make are not of the type: “ Who would win a war
between countries?” or “ Who is the richest person in the world?” Unfortunately, the
computer can only describe three things, named: 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 hundreds, even
thousands, of logical decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the
solution to a problem in a fraction of the time it takes a human being to do the job. A
computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it has no originality; it works
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according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise any value judgements.
There are times when a computer seems to operate like a mechanical” brain”, but 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 appropriate information:
but because electric pulses can move at the speed of light, a computer can carry out
vast numbers of arithmeticlogical operations almost instantaneously. A person can
do everything a computer can do, but in many cases that person would be dead long
before the job was finished.
Main ideas
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text? Why did you eliminate
the other choices?
1. Computers have changed the way in which many kinds of jobs are done.
2. Instructions and data must be given to the computer.

3. Computers are machines capable of processing and outputting data.
4. Without computers, many tasks would take much longer to do.
Understanding the passage
Decide whether the following statements are true or false( T/F) by referring to the
information in the text. Then make the necessary changes so that the false
statements become true.
1. A computer can store or handle any data even if it hasn’t received information
to do so.
2. All computers accept and process information in the form of instructions and
characters.
3. The information necessary for solving problems is found in the memory of the
computer.
4. Not all computers can perform arithmetic operations, make decisions, and
communicate in some ways with the users.
5. Computers can still be useful machines even if they can’t communicate with
the users.
6. There are many different devices used for feeding information into a
computer.
7. There aren’t as many different types of devices used for giving results as there
are for accepting information.
8. Computers can make any type of decisions they are asked to do.
9. Computers can work endlessly without having to stop to rest unless there is a
breakdown.
Read the text again and try to find out what the bold words refer to.
1. that operate switches
2. which accept information
3. or part of it
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English for Information Technology

4. which tells the computer
5. which prints the new information
6. which shows the results
7. which can make decisions
8. it can be find the solution
9. it has no originality
10. tells it what to do
Translate the text into Vietnamese

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UNIT 2: TYPES OF COMPUTER
Task 1 Match these names to the different types of computer

1. mainframe
2. laptop

3. notebook
4. handheld

5.PC
6. minicomputer

Task 2 Study these details of different types of computer. Find the answers to
these questions. Which type of computers is:

1. the most common?
2. small enough for a pocket?
3. the most common portable?
4. used by many people at the same time?
5. used like mainframes?
6. also called a handheld computer?
7. the most powerful?
8. not suitable for a lot of typing?
Types of computer
Mainframes

Minicomputers

Notes
Large, powerful, expensive
Multi-user systems- used by many people at the same
time
Used for processing very large amounts of data
The
most
powerful
mainframes
are
called
supercomputers.
Used like mainframes
Not as big, powerful, or expensive as mainframes
Less common now because microcomputers have

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improved.
Microcomputers or
The most common type of computer.
Personal
computers Smaller, cheaper, and less powerful than mainframes and
(PCs)
minicomputers.
Types of portable
Notes
Laptop
About the size of a small typewrite
Less common now because smaller and lighter portable
are
available.
Notebook
About size of a piece of writing paper.
The most common type of portable.
Subnotebook
Not quite as big as notebooks. Can fit into a jacket pocket.
Handheld and Palmtop
Small enough to fit into the palm of one hand. Not easy to
type with because of their size.
Often used as personal organizers.
Task 3 In pairs, decide what sort of computer is best for each of these users.
1. John Wilmott is a salesperson and he spends a lot of time visiting
customers. He wants a computer to carry with him so he can access data

about his customers and record his sales.
2. Pat Nye is a personnel officer. She needs a computer to keep staff records
and to keep a diary of appointments. She also needs a computer for writing
letters.
3. The University of the North needs a computer to look after its accounts, its
network, the records of all student and staff and to help with scientific
research.
4. The James family want a computer for entertainment writing letters, the
Internet, and for calculating tax.
Language work: Comparisons
1. Equal comparisons
2. Comparatives
3. Superlatives
Task 4 Choose the correct adjective. Then fill in the gaps with the correct
form of the adjective.
a. Laptops are ………………………..than desktop computers but
………………..than notebooks. (light / heavy)
b. The mainframe is the …………………….type of computer. A
minicomputer is …………………….than a microcomputer. (large / small)

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c. Personal computers are ……………………….than mainframes but
mainframes are ……………………. than
personal computers at
processing very large amount of data. ( common / good)
d. Minicomputers are ……………………………..than mainframes but they

are also………………………. (powerful / expensive)
e. New
computers
are
……………………and
sometimes
…………………………..than older machines. (fast / cheap)
f. Laptops are often ………………………than PCs but they are not as
………………………………………..( powerful / expensive)
Task 5 Put the words in brackets into the correct form to make an accurate
description of sizes of computers.
There are different types of computer. The (large) 1 …………………….and
(powerful)2………………………….are
mainframe
computers.
Minicomputers are (small) 3………………………..than mainframes but they
are still very powerful. Microcomputers are small enough to sit on a desk.
They are the (common) 4 …………………….type of computer. They are
usually (powerful) 5………………………….than minicomputers.
Portable computers are (small) 6………………………..than desktop. The
(large)
7…………………portable
is
a
laptop.
(Small)
8…………………….portables, about size of a piece of writing paper, are
called notebook computers. Subnotebooks are (small)9………………….than
notebooks. You can hold the (small) 10 …………………..computers in one
hand. They are called handheld computers or palmtop computers.

Reading Comprehension

THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY
Information processing
The computer technology
INFORMATICS is a study of the ways of processing information by the use of
a computer machine. The processing of information includes the collection of
instruction (or programs) and inputs ( or data), and the manipulation, storage,
retrieval and communication of data.
The processing of data is carried out by:
- Hardware industry, or business that designs, manufactures, or repairs the
physical, electronical and electromechanical parts of computer sets.
- Software industry , or business that provide programs to direct the
processing of data by coordinating the activities of the hardware.
* Note: Firmware is only the system software that is stored inside the computer
ROM. Do not confound this with any computer industry.
Answer the questions:
1. What is informatics?
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2. Translate the paragraph into Vietnamese?

MAINFRAMES
1. Large computer systems, or mainframes, as they are referred to in the field
of computer science, are those computer systems found in computer
installations processing immense amounts of data. These powerful
computers make use of very high-speed main memories into which data

and programs to be dealt with are transferred for rapid access. These
powerful machines have a larger repertoire of more complex instructions
which can be executed more quickly. Whereas smaller computers may take
several steps to perform a particular operation, a larger machine may
accomplish the same thing with one instruction.
2. These computers can be of two types: digital or analog. The digital
computer or general purpose computer as it is often known, makes up about
90 percent of the large computers now in use. It gets its name because the
data that are presented to it are made up of code consisting of digits single
character numbers. The digital computer is like a gigantic cash register in
that it can do calculations in steps, one after another at tremendous speed
and with great accuracy. Digital computer programming is by far the most
commonly used in electric data processing for business or statistical
purposes. The analog computer works something like a car speedometer, in
that it continuously works out calculations. It is used essentially for
problems involving measurements. It can simulate, or imitate different
measurements by electronic means. Both of these computer types the
digital and the analog- are made up of the electronic components that may
require a large room to accommodate them. At present, the digital computer
is capable of doing anything the analog once did. Moreover, it is easier to
program and cheaper to operate. A new type of scientific computer systems
called the hybrid computer has now been produced that combines the two
types into once.
3. Really powerful computers continue to be bulky and require special
provision of their housing, refrigeration systems, air filtration and power
suppliers. This is because much more space is taken up by the input output
devices the magnetic tape and disk unit and other peripheral equipment
than by the electronic components that do not make up the bulk of the
machine in powerful installation. The power consumption of these
machines is also quite high, not to mention the price that runs into hundreds

of thousands of dollars. The future will bring great developments in the
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mechanical devices associated with computer systems. For a long time
these have been the weak link, from the point of view of both efficiency
and reliability.
Comprehension
Main idea
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text? Why did you
eliminate the other choices?
1. Hybrid computers are a combination of digital and analog computers.
2. Digital computers are used more than any other type of computer.
3. There are three types of mainframes.
4. Analog computers can do more varied work than digital or hybrid
computers.
Understanding passage
Decide whether the following statements are true or false (T / F) by
referring to the information in the text. Then make the necessary changes so
that the false statements become true.
1. A mainframe is the type of computer that can sit on top of a desk.
2. Mainframes are very powerful and can execute jobs very rapidly and
easily.
3. Digital computers are used more than analog computers.
4. The analog computer is far smaller than a digital computer and therefore
occupies very little space.
5. The hybrid computer is a combination of both the digital and the analog
computer.

6. The analog computers does its calculations one step at a time.
7. The digital computer continuously works out calculations.
8. Mainframes are huge powerful machines whose peripheral equipment
takes up a lot of space.
9. Mainframes are expensive to buy and operate.
10. Mainframes technology has reached the end of the road. No further
development is needed.
Read this summary of the text and fill in the gaps using the list of the words
below.
Distinction
fibre-optic
protocols
synchronous
Distributed systems LANs
queries
workstations
Environments
parse
screen
handling

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Computer networks link computers locally or by external communication
lines and software (1)…………..allowing data to be exchanged rapidly and
reliably. The (2)…………..between local and wide area networks is,
however, becoming unclear. Networks are being used to perform

increasingly diverse tasks, such as carrying e-mail, providing access to
public databases, and for (3)……………… . Networks also allow users in
one locality to share resources.
Distributed
systems
use
networked
computers.
PCs
or
(4)…………….provide the user (5)……………. . Mainframes process
(6)……………… and turn the results to the users. A user at his PC might
make a query against a central database. The PC passes the query, written
in a special language, to the mainframes, which then (7)………….. the
query, returning to the user only the data requested. This allows both the
network and the individual PC to operate efficiently.
In the 1980s, at least 100.000 (8)…………….were set up world0wide. As
(9)……………orbit satellites have allowed the price of long-distance
telephone calls, data can be transmitted more cheaply. In addition,
(10)…………..cable has been installed on a large scale, enabling vast
amounts of data to be transmitted at a very high speed using light signals.
This will considerably reduce the price of network access, making global
networks more and more a part of our professional and personal lives.
Networks should also improve our work (11)…………… and technical
abilities.

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UNIT 3 : KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
Task 1 Match these key abbreviations with their full names
1. Esc
2. Alt
3. Ctrl
4. Pgup
5. Pgdn
6. Ins
7. Del

a. Alternate
b. Page up
c. Delete
d. Insert
e. Page down
f. Escape
g. Control

Task 2
1. Read the text.

THE MOUSE
The computer mouse is a hand-operated device that lets you control more
easily the location of the pointer on your screen. You can make selections and
choices with the mouse button.
The mouse contains a rubber-coated ball that rests on the surface of your
working area or a mousemat. When the mouse is moved over that surface, the
ball rolls.
The ball’s movements up and down, and left and right, turn the two axles

inside the mouse. As they turn, detectors register the changing position. A
small integrated circuit inside the mouse sends signals to the operating system,
which instructs it to move the pointer on your screen.
2. Complete the sentences .
a. Move the mouse to the left and the cursor moves to the ……………………..
b. The mouse contains a rolling ……………………….
c. There are ……………………….axles inside the mouse and two interrupter
wheels.
d. When you move the mouse, the ball……………………… .
e. The mouse moves over a …………………… .
Language work: The simple present tense ( We use the present simple to
describe things which are always true.)
Task 3 : Match each word from column A (1-8 ) with its partner from column B (
a- h ) to make a computing term.
A
1. memory
2. power

B
a. code
b. key
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3. function
4. expansion
5. bar
6. floppy

7. disk
8. cache

c. drive
d. supply
e. card
f. chip
g. memory
h. disk

Task 4 : Read and translate the following passage into Vietnamese
Some definitions
Most computers have a Graphical User Interface. The interface is the connection
between the user and the computer. The most common type of GUI uses a WIMP
system. WIMP stands for Window, Icon, Menu (or Mouse). Pointer ( or Pulldown/ Pop-up menu).
Windows A window is an area of the computer screen, where you can see the
contents of a folder, a file, or a program. Some systems allow several windows on
the screen at the same time and windows can overlap each other. The window on
the top is the one which is “active”, the one in use.
Icons are small pictures on the screen. They represent programs, folders, or files.
For example, the Recycle Bin icon represents a program for deleting and restoring
files. Most systems have a special area of the screen on which icons appear.
Menus give the users a list of choices. You operate the menu by pressing and
releasing one or more buttons on the mouse.
The pointer is the arrow you use to select icons or to choose options from a menu.
Then you click a button on the mouse to use the object selected by the pointer.
Reading Comprehension

INFORMATICS in ENINEERING TASKS
By late 1970’s, the US auto industry got into CAD/CAM in a big way. Ford

has 1200 CAD/ CAM work-stations at its engineering facilities worldwide. The
company also has a $14 million Cray supercomputer which is used for research.
But it is also used by the engineering staff or aerodynamic studies, NVH ( noise,
vibration, harshness) improvements, emission studies, and ride and handling
evaluations. Ford has developed its own CAD/ CAM software and Prime hold
exclusive marketing rights.
It takes about three months for someone to learn to use CAD /CAM as well as
paper-and-pen drafting methods. But CAD / CAM can produce a three-to-one
productivity gain. Its goal is to eliminate 60 % of the design steps needed to make
a car.
Ford’s old design methods involved making clay models from
stylists’drawings. Then wooden templates were made off the clay model, and
detailed drawings were made off the templates. With its CAD / CAM operations,
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however, Ford has computerized most of their hand work. A full size drawing of a
car is put up on a wall in a design studio which depicts a 2-D front, rear and side
views, and the outline of these views are traced with a reflective tape. The tape is
optically scanned and a computer transforms this image into a 3-D wire grid
display on a CAD / CAM screen. The computer then help with the milling of a full
scale clay model.
The Cray has been put to use extensively in FEA ( finite element analysis ). It
enables engineers to anticipate where annoying noises may crop up. By simulating
certain road conditions, they can use FEA to compute which panels will vibrate
and cause noise.

HISTORY OF COMPUTER

Let us take a look at the history of the computer that we know today. The
very first calculating device used was the fingers of man’s hands. This, in fact, is
why today we first count in tens and multiples of tens. Then the abacus was
invented, a bead frame in which the beads are moved from left to right. People
went on using some form of abacus well into the 16th century, and it is still being
used in some parts of the world because it can be understood without knowing
how to read.
During the 17th and 18th centuries many people tried to find easy ways of
calculating. J.Napier, a Scotsman, devised a mechanical way of multiplying and
dividing, which is how the modem slide rule works. Henry Briggs used Napier’s
ideas to produce logarithm tables which all mathematicians use today. Calculus,
another branch of mathematics, was independently invented by both Sir Isaac
Newton, an Englishman, and Leibnitz, a German mathematician.
The first real calculating machine appeared in 1820 as the result of several
people’s experiments. This type of machine, which saves a great deal of time and
reduces the possibility of making mistakes, depends on a series of ten-toothed gear
wheels. In 1830 Charles Babbage, an Englishman, designed a machine that was
called” The Analytical Engine”. This machine, which Babbage showed at the Paris
Exhibition in1855, was an attempt to cut out the human being altogether, except
for providing the machine with the necessary facts about the problem to be solved.
He never finished this work, but many of his ideas were the basis for building
today’s computers.
In 1930, the first analog computer was built by an American named
Vannevar Bush. This device was used in World War II to help aim guns. Mark I ,
the name given to the first digital computer ,was completed in 1944. The men
responsible for this invention were Professor Howard Aiken and some people
from IBM. This was the first machine that could figure out long lists of
mathematical problems, all at a very fast rate. In 1946 two engineers at the
University of Pennsylvania, J.Eckert and J. Mauchly, built the first digital
computer using parts called vacuum tubes. They named their new invention

ENIAC. Another important advancement in computers came in 1947, when John
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Yon Newman developed the idea of keeping instructions for the computer inside
the computer’s memory.
The first generation of computers, which used vacuum tubes, came out in
1950. Univac I is an example of these computers which could perform thousands
of calculations per second. In 1960s, the second generation of computers was
developed and these could perform work ten times faster than their predecessors.
The reason for this extra speed was the use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
Second-generation computers were smaller, faster and more dependable than
first-generation computers. The third – generation computers appeared on the
market in 1965. These computers could do a million calculations a second, which
is 1000 times as many as first generation computers. Unlike second- generation
computers, these are controlled by tiny integrated circuits and are consequently
smaller and more dependable. Fourth- generation computers have now arrived,
and the integrated circuits that are being developed have been generally reduced in
size. This is due to microminiaturization, which means that the circuits are much
smaller than before; as many as 1000 tiny circuits now fit onto a single chip. A
chip is a square or rectangular piece of silicon, usually from 1/10 to 1/ 4 inch,
upon which several layers of an integrated circuit are etched or imprinted, after
which the circuit is encapsulated in plastic, ceramic or metal. Fourth- generation
computers are 50 times faster than third-generation computers and can complete
approximately 1,000,000 instructions per second.
At the rate computer technology is growing, today’s computers might be
obsolete by 1985 and most certainly by 1990. It has been said that if transport
technology had developed as rapidly as computer technology, a trip across the

Atlantic Ocean today would take a few seconds.
Main idea
Which statement best express the main idea of the text? Why did you eliminate
the other choices?
1. Computers, as we know them today, have gone through many changes.
2. Today’s computer probably won’t be around for long.
3. Computers have had a very short history.
Understanding passage
Decide whether the following statements are true or not false (T/ F) by referring
to the information in the text. Then make necessary changes so that the false
statements become true.
1. The abacus and the fingers are two calculating devices still in use today.
2. The slide rule was invented hundreds of years ago.
3. During the early 1880s, many people worked on inventing a mechanical
calculating machine.
4. Charles Babbage, an Englishman, could well be called the father of
computers.
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English for Information Technology

5. The first computer was invented and built in the USA.
6. Instructions used by computers have always been kept inside the
computer’s memory.
7. Using transistors instead of vacuum tubes did nothing to increase the speed
at which calculations were done.
8. As computer evolved, their size decreased and their dependability
increased.
9. Today’s computers have more circuits than previous computers.

10. Computer technology has developed to a point from which new
developments in the field will take a lone time to come.
Translate the text into Vietnamese.

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English for Information Technology

UNIT 4

INPUT DEVICES

Task 1

Match these pictures of input devices with their names
- joystick
- barcode reader
- graphics tablet
- digital camera
- trackerball
- scanner
- touchscreen
- microphone
Task 2 Each test describes one of these devices: trackerball, joystick, lightpen,
scanner. Identify the device each text describes. Write your answers in this
table. Then compare your answers with other students.
Text
Device
1

…………………………………………..
2
…………………………………………..
3
…………………………………………..
4
…………………………………………..
1. A ………………………is another input device you can connect to a
computer system. The …………….. is able to move in eight directions.
…………………….s are mostly used in computer games to control the
way a picture on the screen moves. Sometimes two …………………s are
connected to a computer so two people can play the game at the same time.
2. A ………………… works in exactly the same way as a mouse except that
the ball is on the top. The user rolls the ball around with her hand to operate
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English for Information Technology

it . If you use a …………………… , you don’t need any extra space on
your desk to move it around (like you do with a mouse).
…………………..s are often used on small portable computers and on
some video game machine.
3. A ………………….. can be used to draw pictures directly on a computer
screen or to read the pattern on a barcode. A …………………… that can
read barcodes detects the difference between the light reflected from a
black barcode line and its lighter background.
4. Using a ……………….. , you can input printed drawings, photographs, or
text directly into a computer. A ………………… works like a photocopier
– a light is shone on the material and the ………………… detects the

reflected light. You can use a ……………… with optical character
recognition (OCR) software to input the scanned text into a word
processing package.
Task 3 Match the device ( 1 –7 ) with its use (a – g)
A
Device
1. Joystick
2. lightpen
3. scanner
4. digital camera
5. mouse
6. keyboard
7. microphone

B
Use
a. draw pictures on to a computer screen
b. copy documents
c. input sound
d. input text
e. select from a menu
f. move the cursor rapidly
g. produce photos without film

Language work : Function
We can describe the function or use of a device in different ways. Study these
examples.
Joysticks are used in computer games.
Using a scanner, you can input printed drawings directly into a computer.
You can use a scanner to input text.

A microphone is used for inputting sound.
Task 4
Describe the use of each device in a sentence. Use these structures from the
language work section
………….is / are used in ………….
………….is / are used for ………….- ing
Using …………. you can ……….
You can use ……………………. to
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English for Information Technology

Example:
You use a mouse to select from a menu.
Task 5 In groups, decide which input device is best for :
1. controlling fast-moving objects in a game
2. reading the price of things in a shop
3. making copies of a page of text and graphics
4. storing sounds on a computer
5. producing pictures of people and places for storing in a computer
6. controlling a computer using speech
7. typing text into a computer
Reading Comprehension
Read the paragraph and put it into Vietnamese.
Types of error
System errors affect the computer or its peripherals. For example, you might have
written a program which needs access to a printer. If there is no printer present
when you run the program the computer will produce a system error message.
Sometimes a system error makes the computer stop working altogether and you

will have to restart the computer. A sensible way of avoiding system errors is to
write code to check that peripherals are present before any data is sent to it. Then
the computer would warn you by a simple message on the screen, like “ printer is
not ready or available”.
Syntax errors are mistakes in the programming language (like typing PRNIT
instead of PRINT). Syntax errors cause the program to fail. Some translator
programs won’t accept any line that has syntax errors. Some only report a syntax
error when they run the program. Some languages also contain special commands
such as debug, which will report structural errors in a program. The programming
manual for the particular language you’re using will give details of what each
error message means.
Logic errors are much more difficult to detect than syntax errors. This is because
a program containing logic errors will run, but it won’t properly. For example, you
might write a program to clear the screen and then print “hello”. Here is a code
for this:
10// Message
30 CLS
20 PRINT “Hello”
40 END.
The code has a logic error in it, but the syntax is right so it will run. You can get
rid of logic error from simple programs by handtesting or doing a” dry run” which
means working through each line of the program on paper to make sure it does
what you want it to do. You should do this long before you type in the code.

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English for Information Technology

HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

In order to use computers efficiently to solve problems in our environment,
computer systems are devised. A “ system” implies a good mixture of
integrated parts working together to form a useful whole. Computer system
may be discussed in two parts.
The first part is hardware- the physical- electromechanical devices that are
thought and recognized as” computers”. The second part is software- the
programs that control and coordinate the activities of the computer
hardware and that direct the processing of data.
INPUT

COMPUTER

OUTPUT

SEC.STORAGE
Figure shows diagrammatically the basic components of computer
hardware joined together in a computer system. The centerpiece is called
either the computer, the processor, or usually the central processing unit(
CPU). The term “computer” usually refers to those parts of the hardware in
which calculations and other data manipulations are performed, and to the
internal memory in which data and instructionc are stored during the actual
execution of programs. The various peripherals, which include input/ or
output devices, various secondary memory devices, and so on, are attached
to the CPU.
Computer software can be divided into two very broad categories systems
software and application software. The former is often simply referred to as
“ systems”.These, when brought into internal memory, direct the computer
to perform tasks. The later may be provided along with the hardware by a
system supplier as part of a computer product designed to answer a specific
need in certain areas. These complete hardware / software products are

called turnkey systems.
The success or failure of any computer system depends on the skill with
which the hardware and software components are selected and blended. A
poorly chosen system can be a monstrosity incapable of performing the
tasks for which it was originally required.
Main idea
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text? Why did you
eliminate the other choices?
1. Only hardware is necessary to make up a computer system.
2. Software alone doesn’t constitute a computer system.
3. A computer system needs both hardware and software to be complete.
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Understanding passage
Decide whether the following statements are stated or not stated (S/NS) in
the text.
1. A system implies a good mixture of parts working together.
2. Input and output devices operate more slowly than the decision making
devices.
3. The control unit and the arithmetic- logical unit are part of the
processor.
4. The “ computer” is the hardware.
5. Software is the programs on cards, tapes and disks.
6. The processor is usually referred to as the CPU.
7. The word “ computer” means the processor and the internal memory.
8. Systems software is usually referred to as programs.
9. Complete hardware/ software products are called turnkey systems.

10. Computers process specially prepared items of information.
Translate the text into Vietnamese.

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UNIT 5 OUTPUT DEVICES
Task 1 Think about a typical workstation. Match the items (1 –7 ) to the
guidelines (a –g)
1. keyboard
2. monitor screen
3. lamp
7. printer
4. copyholder
5. chair
6. footrest
a. This should be adjustable and provide good back support.
b. This should be more than a metre away from you and as quiet as possible
c. Keep this level with your eyes. Don’t have it level with the desk. Make sure
it is flicker- free, and that you can read everything easily. Avoid any glare
from the window.
d. Use this if your feet do not rest flat on the floor.
e. Make sure this lights your work and not screen.
f. Don’t get stiff neck. Use this when you enter a lot of data.
g. Keep this directly in front of you and within easy reach.
Task 2 Work in groups
Look at the table.
Type

Print
quality
Dotmatrix Low
Inkjet
Laser

Speed

Running
cost
Cheap

Noise
level

Relative
slow

Price

Colour
No

A
bit
more
Expensive quiet

Exchange information with other students in your group to complete the table

for all three kinds of printer. Ask questions like these.
What’s the print quality like?
How fast is it?
Does it cost a lot to run?
How noisy is it?
Is it expensive?

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English for Information Technology

Reading: HOW TO READ A MONITOR AD
Study this text about monitors. Translate it into Vietnamese.
Price
The price mainly depends on the screen size. Common monitor sizes are 14inch, 15- inch, 17- inch, and 21-inch. The price also depends on aperture grill
pitch, resolution, and the number of controls.
Screen size
The size of the screen is the diagonal distance from one corner to another. The
actual area for images is smaller than this.
Aperture grill pitch
This controls the space between the dots which make up the image. The less
space between the dots, the better the display.
Most monitors offer 0.28mm dot pitch but some go as high as 0.31 mm or as
low as 0.25.
Maximum resolution
The quality of the display depends on the number of dots which make up the
image. The more dots, the better the display.
Refresh rate
The monitor refreshes the image on the screen all the time. The faster this

happens, the less the screen flickers. You should have a refresh rate of at least
72 Hz.
Safety standards
These are international standards to control harmful signals.
Power –saving feature
The power the monitor uses automatically reduces when it is not in use.
On-screen menu
Digital controls on the screen allow you to adjust the image.
Comprehension check: Are these sentences true or false. Give reasons for your
answers.
1. Twenty- two inches is a common monitor size.
2. A dot pitch of 0,31 mm is better than one of 0,25 mm.
3. A maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 is better than 1280 x1024
4. A refresh rate of 85 Hz is better than 75 Hz.
5. A 17-inch monitor is 17 inches wide.
6. You can change the picture using controls on the screen.
7. The price of a monitor depends only on the size.
8. The monitor uses less power because of the Power- Saver feature.
Language work: Giving advice
You can advise people in different ways. Study examples:
Advising people to do something:
Why don’t you buy an inkjet?
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