Материал: English_for_IT_I-II_years

Task 7. Complete the gaps using the verbs from the box.

Based on the data … (1), the systems analyst must … together an implementation plan. This plan should … a logical model of the proposed new system, with a representation how information … , through the new system from input, through processing, to output. The plan should … on every potential use of data throughout the organization. As with the reports … during the previous study stages, the report should be written in terms of the system’s user’s – in this case, in terms, of how users … the new system and how it …, them to carry out their jobs. The solutions report should … to management, to help them understand the need for the new system, the way the new system … , how it will help the entire organization and how it can … as a cost effective solution to the problems that … .

Task 8. Translate the following sentences.

1. Computer information systems may be designed to take care of just one operational area, but today’s more complex systems are more likely to be designed to integrate a variety of operational procedures. 2. New methods are developed to deal with the complex process of designing and maintaining computer systems. 3. A website designer wants to enable the data or his website to be easily processed by a number of different programs. 4. Each element of the system has a particular function and each unit must be designed to interact with the other elements of the system. 5. Although the complexity of the tasks to be performed and the number of the users to be served will help to determine the type of computer to be used, there may be a number of different hardware configurations that will meet the need. 6. When users of a system access the data for some useful purpose, they are accessing the data in order to learn from it or to add it to other types of data for decision making. 7. A computer information system must be seen as a system that is used to transform data into useful information. 8. If the information system is to be successful, it must be designed to provide information in a way that is usable and useful to all management personnel. 9. Using centralised system, computer communications will undoubtedly be used to transmit data electronically between locations. 10. To update or modify an existing system the same procedures can be used. 11. As the process of systems analyses and design has been formalised, a new kind of professionals, known as systems analysts has emerged with the special skill and knowledge required to deal with all aspects of systems development. 12. The systems analysts’ function is to design and implement system that facilitates the storage and processing of data, and methods for accessing that data.

Task 9. What do you know about programming? Answer the Internet Quiz.

1. When creating a computer program, the _____ designs the structure of the program.

1. end user

2. systems analyst

3. programmer

4. all of the above

5. none of the above

2. Checking a computer program for errors is called _____.

1. bugging

2. debugging

3. correcting

4. syntaxing

3. The computer itself uses _____ language.

1. natural

2. assembly

3. machine

4. high-level

5. none of the above

4. The language which is best for mathematical models is _____.

1. FORTRAN

2. BASIC

3. Java

4. C

5. COBOL

5. The term BASIC is an acronym for _____.

1. Balanced Assembly System Integrated Code

2. Basic All System Internal Code

3. Beginner's Assembly Syntax Instruction Code

4. Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Codу

6. A programming language which looks like normal English is a(n) _____ language.

1. normal

2. high-level

3. natural

4. 4GL

7. The process of writing the computer instructions is called _____.

1. coding

2. compiling

3. debugging

4. interpreting

8. The most widely used language for business programs is _____.

1. FORTRAN

2. BASIC

3. Java

4. C

5. COBOL

9. The _____ must decide what a new program is to accomplish.end user

1. systems analyst

2. programmer

3. supervisor

Task. 10. Work in groups and discuss the following questions.

1. Have you ever had any problems with the computer?

2. What kind of errors do you make with computers?

3. How do you behave when things go wrong with a computer?

Task 11. Read the text on the page below and complete the table.

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 work properly. For example, you might write a program to clear the screen and then print ‘hello’. Here is a code for this:

10 Message

20 PRINT ‘Hello’

30 CLS

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 errors from simple programs by ‘hand-testing’ them 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.

Task 12. Read the quotations about ‘programming’ below. Discuss with other students what point you think each quotation is trying to make and whether you agree with it.

• Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. (Rich Cook)

• To understand a program you must become both the machine and the program. (Alan J. Perlis)

• Perhaps if we wrote programs from childhood on, as adults we'd be able to read them. (Alan J. Perlis)

• It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa. (Unknown)

• One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. (Elbert Hubbard)

• Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. (Anonymous)

• The most harmful error of any program will not be discovered until the program has been in production for at least six months. (Troutman's programming postulates)

• Real programmers never work from 9 to 5. If any real programmer is around at 9 a.m., it’s because they were up all night. (Some computer geek)

Task 13. Read the text and do the exercises below.

Text 14 B. STEPS IN COMPUTER PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Although the programmer is responsible for writing the computer program, the system analyst must communicate the computer program requirements to the programmer. The function of each program was defined for the programmer when functions were allocated during system design. Detailed data flow diagrams (DFD) are prepared for each program from the decomposed DFDs created during the design phase. These DFDs define the function of each program.

In program planning, the logic to be used to solve the problem is developed. Algorithms, computer program logic flowcharts, and structure charts are useful tools for program planning. Algorithms are sets of rules or instructions used to accomplish tasks. They may be stated as formulas, decision tables, or narratives.

The next step, writing, or coding, a program, is the actual writing of computer instructions. These instructions will be translated to machine code and followed by the computer; they should follow the steps of the program logic plan.

Several programming languages, particularly COBOL, PL/I, and RPG, are commonly used to solve business problems. In addition to these traditional languages, organizations using database management systems may choose to generate programs using the query language of the DBMS.

These query languages are part of a package of programming tools known as fourth-generation languages. Each language has its advantages and disadvantages. Most computer installations have a standard language used by their programmers. Programmers usually are not given a choice of language unless some special circumstances exist.

Testing and debugging a program involve:

• translating the coded program into machine language, a process called compilation;

• testing the translated program with sample data and checking the result.

If the results of testing are not correct, the program is said to have "bugs". Debugging is the process of correcting computer programs to obtain correct results.

The last step is to complete the documentation for the program. The documentation must include a statement of the purpose of the program, a description of the solution logic, a listing of the program instructions, and sample outputs from the completed programs. Information provided to the programmer by the analyst, such as descriptions of program inputs, outputs, and files, should be included. Instructions to operators explaining how the program is to be used must be written before the program documentation is completed.

Task 14. There are answers to questions about the text. Write the questions.

1. There are five main steps in the computer program development.

2. For writing the computer program.

3. It is developed in program planning.

4. As formulas, decision tables, or narratives.

5. Yes, it is the actual writing of computer instructions.

6. No, programmers usually are not given a choice of languages.

7. It is called compilation.

8. When the results of testing are not correct.

9. To obtain correct results.

10. They must be written before the program documentation is complete.

Task 15. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. You may have to change some words slightly.

compilation, compiler, compile, compiled

1. It took weeks __________ the new customer database.

2. A source program cannot be directly processed by the computer until it has been __________.

3. If the errors are removed and the program re-run, the process of __________ starts all over again, but this time the __________ program will be executed.

4. A computer needs its own __________ for the various high-level languages if it is expected to accept programs written in those languages.

program, programmer, programming, programmable

1. The __________ CD-player allows the user to change the order tracks are played in.

2. She __________ the VCR to come on at eight.

3. Most computer __________ make a plan of the program before they write it. This plan is called a flowchart.

4. It is unusual for a __________ to work correctly the first time it is tested.

bug, debug, debugger debugging

1. The best compilers usually include an integrated __________ which detects syntax errors.

2. New programs need __________ to make them work properly.

3. Once you have written your program you have to test it with sample data to see if there are any __________ or errors.

instruction, instruct, instructed, instructor

1. The next step is to design an algorithm, which is a step-by-step plan of __________ used to solve the problem.

2. We have been __________ that a decision will not be made before the end of the week.

3. Our maths __________ explained to us the principles of binary arithmetic.

Task 16. Work in pairs and translate the following poem by Gene Ziegler into Ukrainian.

Programmers

10 young programmers began to work online,

One didn’t pay for Internet, and then there were 9.

9 young programmers used copies that they made,

But one was caught by FBI, and then there were 8.

8 young programmers discussed about heaven,

One said, “It’s Windows 95”, and then there were 7.

7 young programmers found bugs they want to fix,

But one was fixed by the bug, and then there were 6.

6 young programmers were testing the hard drive,

One got the string “Format complete”, and then there were 5.

5 young programmers were running the Front Door,

The BBS of one was hacked, and then there were 4.

4 young programmers worked using only C,

One said some good about Pascal, and then there were 3.

3 young programmers didn’t know what to do,

One tried to call the on-line help, and then there were 2.

2 young programmers were testing what they done,

One got a virus in his brain, and then there were 1.

1 young programmer was as mighty as a hero,

But tried to speak with users, and then there were 0.

Boss cried: “Oh, where is the program we must have?!”

And fired one programmer, and then there were 10.

WORD FORMATION

Suffixes