III. Study the following words and word combinations and make sure you know their translations. Use a specialized dictionary in case of any difficulties.
main (primary) memory
secondary memory
random-access memory (RAM)
static RAM
dynamic RAM
flip-flop
capacitor
access time
IV. Using the method of conversion form verbs from the following nouns, check their pronunciation and meaning in the dictionary.
process — |
base — |
access — |
change — |
input — |
charge — |
output — |
control — |
increase — |
record — |
subject — |
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V. Read the text attentively and name the operating principle of the main memory.
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The memory unit of a digital computer typically has a main (or primary) memory, cache, and secondary (or auxiliary) memory. The main memory holds data and instructions for immediate use by the computer's ALU. It receives this information from an input device or an auxiliary storage unit. In most cases, the main memory is a high-speed random-access memory (RAM) — i.e., a memory in which specific contents can be accessed (read or written) directly in a very short time regardless of the sequence (and hence location) in which they were recorded.
T
The cache is a SRAM-based memory of small capacity that has faster access time than in the main memory and that temporarily stores data and part of a program for quicker processing by the ALU. |
wo
types of main memory are possible with random-access circuits —
static random-access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random-access
memory (DRAM). A single memory chip is made up of several million
memory cells. In a SRAM chip, each memory cell consists of a
single flip-flop (for storing the binary digits 1 or 0) and a few
more transistors (for reading or writing operation). In a DRAM
chip, each memory cell consists of a capacitor (rather than a
flip-flop) and a single transistor. When a capacitor is
electrically charged, it is said to store the binary 1, and when
discharged, it represents 0; these changes are controlled by the
transistor. Because it has fewer components, DRAM requires a
smaller area on a chip than does SRAM, and hence a DRAM chip can
have a greater memory capacity, though its access time is slower
than that of SRAM.VI. Main idea Which statement or statements best express the main idea of the text? Why did you eliminate the other choices?
1. SRAM is more important in the computer memory than DRAM.
2. Various types of memory have different access time and thus are used for different purposes.
3. Cache memory is the only memory used in modern computers because of its faster access time.
4. Speed and random access are important in processing information.
VII. 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.
T F
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