Comprehension Tasks
1. Complete the sentences with the word from the list below.
1. The operating system for a computer does the following:
a) manages the disks and files
b) manages the computer's resources
c) manages the computer's memory
d) all of the above
e) none of the above
2. Spooling helps because _____.
a) it is a more secure method of accessing data
b) print jobs go more smoothly with less stop and go
c) the computer is released to do other things while still printing
d) none of the above
3. A proprietary operating system is ____.
a) unique to a manufacturer
b) similar to those of other manufacturers
c) used by many different computer manufacturers
d) properly configured to operate
4. A computer's BIOS will ____
a) check for the presence of peripherals like mouse, sound card, scanner
b) run a check of memory
c) be loaded first when the computer is powered on
d) none of the above
5. Windows versions before Windows 95 _____
a) are proprietary operating systems
b) are not operating systems at all
c) rely on DOS as the operating system
d) were the first successful graphical operating systems
e) both a and d
f) both b and c
g) a, b, c, and d
6. A backup program _____.
a) makes a copy of files you select.
b) returns you to the previous program
c) undoes the last change you made
d) none of the above
7. The autoexec.bat file can tell the computer where to look first for executable files. This set of locations is called _____.
a) the path
b) the command directory
c) home
d) the system directory
8. When a computer is "swapping", it is _____.
a) moving data from the hard drive to the floppy drive
b) moving data from memory to the swap file on the hard drive
c) moving data between registers in memory
d) none of the above
9. A computer virus can _____.
a) be annoying only
b) damaging to your data
c) copied without your knowledge onto floppies used in the infected computer
d) all of the above
10. A foreground task has more _____ than a background task.
a) buffers
b) microseconds
c) registers
d) time slices
2. Give the main meanings of the following abbreviations:
OS, BIOS, ROM, POST, PC, DOS, CPU, ID, MS-DOS, IBM, PC-DOS, NT, EOL.
3. Match the names of the operating systems with their logos:
1. Windows XP
2. Windows 2000
3. UNIX
4. The Apple Macintosh
5. Windows 95 and Windows 98
6. Windows NT
7. Windows CE
8. Linux
9. Mac OS X
10. Windows Me
11. OS/2
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Bibliography
1. Computers: From the Past to the Present. An on-line lecture presented by Michele A. Hoyle. http:// www.eingang.org/Lecture/.
2. Jan's Computer Basics. http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/.
3. Webopedia. http://www.webopedia.com/.
4. Infotech. On-line resources. http://uk.cambridge.org/elt/Infotech/study/.
5. Online Lesson Archive. http://www.learnersonline.com/weekly/index.htm.
6. Learning Matters On-line. http://www.learningmattersonline.co.uk.
7. English for Computer Science Students. http://www12.brinkster.com/fithoutraining/.