 Assalamu alaikum, welcome to virtual university and welcome to yet another reading based lesson. In this lesson, we will be reading a text together and doing exercises based on that text which will again emphasize and improve your reading comprehension abilities. The text deals with characteristics of computers, an area that you are very familiar with, I am sure by now. Now, when you read the text, remember to try and understand the meaning of new words and expressions from the context, do not check new words in the dictionary until you read the whole text. Any words that you see in your text that are in bold face, you will find that they are explained in the glossary at the end of the book. I shall read a paragraph, computers are machines designed to process electronically, specially prepared pieces of information which are termed data. Adding or manipulating the information that has been given to the computer in such ways as doing calculations, adding information or making comparisons is called processing. Computers are made up of millions of electronic devices capable of sorting data or moving them at enormous speeds through complex circuits with different functions. All computers have several characteristics in common regardless of make or design. Information in the form of instructions and data is given to the machine after which the machine acts on it and a result is then returned. The information presented to the machine is the input, the internal manipulative operations, the processing, this internal manipulating operations is the processing and the result the output. These three basic concepts of input, processing and output occur in almost every aspect of human life whether at work or at play. For example, in clothing manufacturing the input is the pieces of cut cloth, the processing is the sewing together of these pieces and the output is the finished garment. Look at the slide on your screen and you will find that there are three boxes, the box on the left is termed input that is what is being fed into the computer and then the computer works on that information and it churns out the input output right. Now the figure that you show that you saw it shows schematically the fundamental hardware components in a computer system. The centerpiece is called either the computer, the processor or usually the central processing unit, the CPU. The term computer includes those parts of hardware in which calculations and other data manipulations are performed and the high speed internal memory in which data and calculations are stored during actual execution of programs. Attached to the CPU are the various peripheral devices such as card readers and keyboards to common examples of input devices. When data or programs need to be saved for long periods of time they are stored on various secondary memory devices or storage devices such as magnetic tapes or magnetic disks. Computers have often been thought of as extremely large adding machines but this is a very narrow view of their function. Although a computer can only respond to a certain number of instructions it is not a single purpose machine since these instructions can be combined in an infinite number of sequences. Therefore, a computer has no known limit on the kinds of things it can do. Its versatility is limited only by imagination of those using it. In the late 1950s and early 1960s when electronic computers of the kind in use today were being developed they were very expensive to own and run. Moreover, their size and reliability were such that a large number of support personnel were needed to keep the equipment operating. This has all changed now. This has all changed now that computing power has become portable, more compact and cheaper. In only a very short period of time computers have greatly changed the way in which many kinds of work are performed. Computers can remove many of the routine and boring tasks from our daily lives thereby leaving us with more time for interesting creative work. It goes without saying that computers have created whole new areas of work that did not exist before their development. Now we will see if you have comprehended the passage correctly. On your screen you will see four statements. These statements relate to the main idea of the passage that you have read and I have read. And you decide which statement or statements could be more than one best express the main idea of the text. And then you have to decide why you eliminated the other choice. Statement number one computers have changed the way in which we live. Number one computers have changed the way in which we live that statement number one. Now is that the main idea of the text just read? Number two all computers have an input, a processor, an output and a storage device. Number three computers have decreased man's workload. And number four all computers have the same basic hardware component. Now which one or ones out of these four are the main characteristics? Statement number one and statement number three describe the impact. Statement number two and four best express the main idea of the text. Statement number two which said all computers have an input, a processor, an output and a storage device. This is one of the main ideas of the text. The other statement, statement number four all computers have the same basic hardware components. This is also one of the main ideas. So statement number one statement number two and four express the main idea of the text. While statement number two and three sorry one and three they describe the impact. The impact that computers have had on our lives. They do statements number one and three do not describe the main characteristics of the computer. These two statements one and three they only describe the impact. Statements number two and four are the statements that best express the main idea of the text. Now let us see if you have comprehended the passage correctly. You will find a number of statements on your screen and you have to decide whether these statements are true or false by referring to the information in the text. After you have done that the statements which you consider are false make necessary changes in the statement so that they become true. So you are going to do two things. Number one you are going to decide which of these statements are true and which ones are false and then you are going to convert the false statements by making necessary changes in the text and make them true. Statement number one all information to be processed must be prepared in such a way that the computer will understand it. Now is this statement true or is it false? Yes the statement is true because the information that has to be prepared that has to be processed must be prepared in such a way that the computer will grasp it. Statement number two because of the complex electronic circuitry of a computer data can be either stored or moved about at high speeds. Now is this statement true or false? You have had enough you studied computers it should not take long for you to decide according to the text and from your knowledge of computers this statement is true because the electronic circuitry of a computer because of that data can be either stored or moved about at high speeds. So both these statements statement number one and statement number two were correct but true. Statement number three not all computers can process data given to them and produce results. Now is this statement true or false? This statement is false. Now how can you make this statement true? You have to make necessary changes in the text of that sentence. You can make it true by saying that all computers are designed to process data given to them and to produce results. The false statement said not all computers can process data. You have changed that into all computers you removed the negative part not all computers are designed to process data given to them and to produce results. They are designed in such a way that they will process data which is given to them and they will produce results right it all depends on the way they have been designed. So that was a false statement and you corrected it and made it true. Statement number four the basic concepts of data processing are restricted to computers alone. Now is this statement true or false? This statement is again false how would you make it a true state? What changes would you bring about in that sentence? You can say the basic concepts of data processing occur in almost every aspect of human life. The basic concepts of data processing occur in almost every aspect of human life. The false statement said that basic concept of data processing are restricted to computers alone. In fact, in every aspect of human life there is processing of data. Statement number five the processor is the central component of a computer system. This statement is true. Now the next statement, statement number six all other devices used in a computer system are attached to the CPU true or false true it is a true statement. Statement number seven memory devices are used for storing information. This statement is also true it is a true statement. Statement number eight computers are very much restricted in what they can do false. This is a false statement how can you make this correct? How can you make it true? You can change this into computers have almost no limits to what they can do they are restricted by the people who program them computers have almost no limits to what they can do they are restricted by the people who program them. And statement number nine computers today cost less are smaller and need fewer people to operate them than in the past. Is this statement true or false? If you remember correctly if you remember the text the text said that computers today cost less they are smaller and they need fewer people to operate them than it was in the earlier days. So this was again a true statement and the last statement computers haven't changed our working conditions very much false because our working conditions have been changed a great deal. So to make it true you can change it into computers have changed our working conditions they have removed routine and boring tasks from our lives very simple way computers have you've removed the negative aspect computers have changed our working conditions mind you working conditions very much they have what have they done they have removed routine and boring tasks from our lives. Now we'll move on to locating information I shall read out statements sentences and you locate them in the passage in the text where they are expressed all you have to do is give the paragraph reference the text is there on your screen. Where it says all computers are basically the same all computers this idea that all computers are basically the same where does it occur in the reading passage it occurs in paragraph 2 now the next statement statement number 2 arithmetic and all decision making operations are performed where in the text does this occur quickly scan this is a scanning exercise you have to scan through the text and you will find that it is there in paragraph 2 this also is in paragraph 2 statement number 3 computers are limited by man's imagination more than anything else wherein the text does this occur this idea where is it expressed scan through the text it is paragraph 4 this idea occurs in paragraph 4 now statement number 4 all the equipment used in a computer system is the hardware where does this idea occur where is this idea expressed paragraph 3 can the text quickly and you will find that it occurs in paragraph 3 now statement number 5 computers are electronic machines used for processing data where does this information lie it lies in the first paragraph right at the very beginning it says computers are electronic machines which are used for processing date statement number 6 if programs or data need to be kept for a long time they are stored on tapes or discs come on scan the text and you will find that this information occurs in paragraph 3 and statement number 7 first the computer accepts data first the computer accepts data where does this occur paragraph 2 and the last statement finally new information is presented to the user finally new information is presented to the user and this as you must have guessed is from the same paragraph from which you had the last sentence that is paragraph 2 because the last statement started with the word first and this one this statement also begins with the word finally so you realize that the text is sequencing these statements so the first one was from paragraph 2 this one is also from paragraph 2 now we will look at the text again and find out what certain phrases which I shall read out and which you will see on your text in bold what to those words refer to this is if you remember your earlier lessons we are making reference we are trying to find out what these words in bold type refer to do you remember your lesson on connectives and references these are all exercises to help develop your comprehension of text in paragraph 1 you will see this on the screen in paragraph 1 look for the word which are termed data this phrase which are termed data now in this phrase what does which refer to this is in paragraph 1 I am giving you the clue it is in paragraph 1 as the word the term the phrase which are termed data what does which refer to quick glance and you will notice that which refers to pieces of information it refers to pieces of information number 2 in paragraph 1 look for the phrase or moving them look for the phrase or moving them and the word them you will find is highlighted what does the word them refer to them refers back to something else what does it refer to it refers to data it refers to the word data number 3 in paragraph 2 look for the phrase the machine acts on it the machine acts on it and the word it in that phrase is highlighted that means you have to find what the word it refers to word it in paragraph 2 refers to information number 4 in paragraph 3 look for the phrase they are stored on they are stored on and the word is they what does they refer to since it's the plural it must be two things so in paragraph 3 this phrase they are stored on refers to programs and data it refers to programs and data number 5 in paragraph 4 look for this phrase it is not a single purpose machine it is not a single purpose machine and the word is it what does it refer to in paragraph 4 it refers to computer simple it refers to the word computer number 6 again in paragraph 4 look for this phrase the kinds of things it can do the kind the kinds of things it can do in paragraph 4 the word the phrase the kind of things it can do it you have to look for the word it what does it refer to it refers to again the word computer and number 7 in paragraph 4 we are still on paragraph 4 look for the phrase of those using it of those using it now what does it refer to of course the computer it refers to computer remember in paragraph 4 the word it is being substituted for the word computer instead of writing computer computer computer all the time the writer has used the word it as a substitute for the word computer number 8 again in paragraph 5 look for the phrase they were very expensive to own they were very expensive to own and the word is they what does they refer to again using your knowledge of English because the word is they so they must be referring to two things paragraph 5 they refers to electronic computers number 9 again paragraph 5 look for the phrase more over their size and reliability more over their size and reliability and the word is there T H E I R what does their refer to paragraph 5 it refers to it refers to electronic computers number 10 paragraph 6 that did not exist the phrase that did not exist what does that refer to that refers to well now we shall again look back at the text and find words that have similar meanings to the words given on your screen they are small words you have to hunt through the text and find words that are similar synonyms you have to find synonyms from the text the first word called I will give you the clue it is in paragraph 1 the clue where to look for that word paragraph 1 there is the word called can you think of another word which would be similar the word is there in the text which means the same as the word called and it is in paragraph 1 of course it's the word termed you have come across this word in various sentences it is termed meaning it is called alright the next word is tremendous look for a word which is similar in meaning to the word tremendous in paragraph 1 there is a word in paragraph 1 which has the same meaning as the word tremendous and the word is enormous the word ideas is there a word in paragraph 2 which means the same as ideas is there a word in paragraph 2 which means the same as ideas a synonym for the word ideas and the word is concept concepts and ideas are more or less similar in meaning number 4 the word react in paragraph 4 look for a word which is similar in meaning as react react there is a word in paragraph 4 which means the same as react and the word is respond respond and react are synonyms number 5 take away the phrase take away in paragraph 6 is there a is there a word in paragraph 6 which can be used for the word for the phrase take away and you take away something is there a word in paragraph 6 similar in meaning yes there is and it is the word remove remove means to take away right now you refer back to the text and find antonym words that are opposite in meaning to the words that I shall call out the first phrase is taken away give me a word from the text paragraph 2 a word that is opposite in meaning to the phrase taken away last time it was synonyms this time it is the opposite the opposite of taken away is return lot idea what is the take away and the next word is wide look for a word in paragraph 4 which is the opposite of wide and the word is narrow number 8 in paragraph 4 there is a word which means the opposite of limited in paragraph 4 look for a word which is the opposite in meaning to the word limited and you will find the word infinite infinite is the opposite of limited limited something that is for a short period infinite for a very long time long long infinite no end in the same way in paragraph 5 you will find a word which is the opposite of the word immovable in movable prefix in movable it means not capable of being moved so find a word in paragraph 5 which is the opposite of being of immovable meaning not capable of being moved and that is the word portable portable means that which can be carried portable is the opposite of immovable something that can be carried carried away is portable something that cannot be carried it stays put in one place you cannot move it which is immovable and similarly in paragraph 5 6 the last paragraph there is a word which is the opposite of after very easy word and the word is before now we look at words and the different forms you have to fit them in sentences use the correct form the form that would suit that sentence sentence the first lot you have got the word imagination imagine imagine imaginable imaginative and imaginary now in the sentence a computer is limited in its ability by the dash of man which form of the word imagine is suitable over there and it is imagination be some people are good at inventing stories which form of imagine the word imagine it is the form imaginative some people are good at inventing imaginative stories the same way the sentence number C it is practically impossible to the speed at which computers calculate number it is practically impossible to imagine this is the base form of the word imagine imagine the speed at which a computer calculates numbers now next we have 6 forms of the word add added addition additional additive and use them appropriately in these sentences sentence a to a many terminals can be dash to a basic system if the need arises the correct form would be many terminals can be added a d d can be added number be sentence be and subtraction are two basic mathematical operations so you have got the word subtraction it has to be addition because subtraction ends with I o n so the word that you are going to fill in the blank has to end with I o n same forms addition and subtraction are two basic mathematical operations sentence C when buying a system there is often no charge for the program there is no additional the correct form is additional there is no additional charge for the programs now number three there are five words complicate complication complicated complicating complicatedly now which ones will you choose for sentence A there can be many involved in setting up a computer in an old building of course it is complication complications there can be many complications involved in setting up a computer in an old building the form that ends with I o n s for sentence B 3 B which is sometimes a very process getting into a computer installation for security reasons the word is complicated the form is the ed form which is sometimes a very complicated process getting into a computer installation for security reasons and the last one in three in number three is it is sometimes very complicated it is the same form that is used here it is sometimes very complicated to explain computer concepts the fourth lot it's from the word differ these are different forms of the word differ differ in differently differential differentiate difference six forms of the word differ for a you will use the word difference there isn't a very big difference in flow charting for a program to be written in cobalt of Fortran B there are many different computer manufacturers today and a buyer must be able to differentiate between the between the advantages and disadvantages of each and sentence C the opinions of programmers as to the best way of solving a problem often differ greatly this is the base for you have to use the base form differ right and the last sentence you have four words the base word is rely and from rely you get reliably reliable reliability a sentence a computers are reliable machines B if you don't know the meaning of a computer term you cannot always rely on an all purpose dictionary for the answer here you would have to use the preposition on rely on an all purpose dictionary number C computers can do mathematical operations quickly and reliably quickly you've got one word ending with L a Y is an adverb so the second will also be an adverb reliably right now we shall review the contents of the passage that you have read complete the following statements you will find a word bank on your screen and try to think of a definition for each of those items in that bank complete the following statements with the appropriate words you can use some of these words more than once but make sure that you choose the correct form that is C that you choose a singular a word in the singular form where singular is required and the word in the plural form where a plural is required right the first sentence is information processing takes place in the processor not in the input device or output device sentence number two I did the first one for you you try your hand at the second one which word would fill in would be best over there in number two the hardware refers to read the sentence first in your mind and see what word would fit in there and it refers to all the electromagnetic devices so it has to be the word hardware the hardware refers to all the electromechanical devices used in a computer installation number three what is used as secondary a storage devices it is magnetic tape and magnetic disk units are used as secondary memory storage devices and number four a computer is usually a single purpose machine and they acquire quite specialized personal to operate it and all its related equipment now that was one part of the content review you are asked to fill in a table and that table summarizes the text you will have it all in a table form the table is divided in two parts one part deals with the system and the second part deals with the component parts and you have to fill out the parts some parts have been done for you so that you know the what comes after what right so with that we end today's lesson next time we will move on to a more interesting exercise Allah Hafiz see you next time