Professional English

PROFESSIONAL 

ENGLISH

Л.М. ФИШМАН

Рекомендовано 

Учебно-методическим советом ВО 
в качестве учебника для студентов 

высших учебных заведений, обучающихся по УГС 

02.03.00 «Компьютерные и информационные науки», 
09.03.00 «Информатика и вычислительная техника», 

10.03.00 «Информационная безопасность»

Москва

ИНФРА-М

2022

УЧЕБНИК

УДК 811.111(075.8)
ББК 81.2 Англ.я73
 
Ф68

Фишман Л.М.

Ф68  
Professional English : учебник / Л.М. Фишман. — Москва : ИНФРА
М, 2022. — 120 с. — (Высшее образование: Бакалавриат).

ISBN 978-5-16-014339-2 (print)
ISBN 978-5-16-106828-1 (online)
Учебник «Professional English» состоит из 23 профессионально направ
ленных модулей (тем), каждый из которых подразделяется на функциональные блоки.

Цель учебника — способствовать изучению иностранного языка с уче
том профессионального интереса студентов, совершенствовать знания, 
умения и навыки, необходимые для выбранной профессии, и обеспечить 
формирование общих и профессиональных компетенций.

Соответствует требованиям федеральных государственных образова
тельных стандартов высшего образования последнего поколения.

Предназначен для студентов укрупненных групп специальностей 

02.03.00 «Компьютерные и информационные науки», 09.03.00 «Информатика и вычислительная техника», 10.03.00 «Информационная безопасность».

УДК 811.111(075.8)
ББК 81.2 Англ.я73

Р е ц е н з е н т:

Шульженко Т.В., доцент, заведующий кафедрой иностранных язы
ков Санкт-Петербургского государственного электротехнического 
университета

ISBN 978-5-16-014339-2 (print)
ISBN 978-5-16-106828-1 (online)
© Фишман Л.М., 2014

ВВЕДЕНИЕ

Учебник «Professional English» является частью учебно-методического 
комплекса дисциплины «Иностранный язык» и предназначен для студентов, 
обучающихся по направлениям бакалавриата: 020000 «Компьютерные и информационные науки», 090000 «Информатика и вычислительная техника», 
100000 «Информационная безопасность».
Учебник разработан в соответствии с требованиями Федеральных государственных образовательных стандартов высшего образования, учебными 
планами указанных специальностей по направлениям, рабочими программами по дисциплине.
Практическая цель изучения иностранного языка специальности (иностранного языка в профессиональной деятельности) заключается в формировании у студента способности и готовности к деловой коммуникации, что 
предполагает развитие различных видов компетенций иноязычного общения, как рецептивного, так и репродуктивного характера.
Практическое владение языком специальности предполагает также умение самостоятельно работать со специальной литературой на иностранном 
языке для получения профессиональной информации.
Целью учебника является тесная интеграция знаний и навыков, приобретенных и приобретаемых в процессе изучения общепрофессиональных 
и профессиональных дисциплин и иностранного языка, способствуя при 
этом формированию соответствующих общих и профессиональных компетенций.
Структура учебника соответствует принципам информационной преемственности и лингвистического развития и предусматривает оптимальное 
соотношение между базовым текстовым материалом, заданиями, аудиторной и самостоятельной работой. При этом их тематика отражает как современный уровень, так и историю, и перспективы развития вычислительной 
техники, что способствует расширению технического кругозора студентов 
и мотивированному изучению иностранного языка.
Содержание и последовательность модулей предусматривают их поэтапное усложнение и, с опорой на межпредметные связи, позволяют обеспечить 
применение полученных знаний и приобретенных навыков.
Все модули содержат англоязычные технические тексты (Reading), грамматический блок (Language work) с упражнениями, словарные и грамматические задания (Writing), анализ ситуаций (Problem-solving), темы для коллективного обсуждения (Discussing) и др.
Приобретение и развитие навыков презентации (Speaking) — предмет 
неустанного внимания при работе в модулях.
Поскольку содержание и структура учебника направлены на реализацию 
компетентностного подхода в образовательном процессе (использование 
активных и интерактивных форм проведения занятий: компьютерных симуляций, деловых и ролевых игр, разбора конкретных ситуаций, групповых 
дискуссий и т.п.), при освоении модулей следует создавать соответствующую 
образовательную среду, максимально приближенную к профессиональной. 
При этом методика и организация применения информационных технологий в образовательном процессе зависит от уровня подготовки и специальности студентов. 
Учебник может быть использован для студентов других специальностей 
образовательных учреждений высшего образования.

Unit 1 
EvEryday UsEs of CompUtErs

speaking
Task 1 We use computers in many different places.  Make a list of places 
where you can find computer documents. Try to say what the documents 
are, and what they are used for.

reading: Computers in everyday life
Task 2 Tick (V) the computer uses mentioned in the following article.

 home 
 art

 hospitals 
 banking

 engineering 
 libraries

 shopping 
 film-making

 television advertising 
 schools

Computers are part 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. Bar coding 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, bedside 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.

Language work: articLes
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.
They have no plural and you cannot use them with a or an.
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 
things in general.
Computers have many uses. Information technology is popular.
We use a/an when we mention a countable noun for the first time.
In shops a computer scans the price of each item.
When we mention the same noun again, we use the.

The computer calculates the total cost.
We use the with countable and uncountable nouns to refer to specific things.
The price of each item. The total cost of all the items. The speed of this computer.

Task 3 Here are some common nouns in computing. Divide them into 
countable and uncountable nouns.

capacity    disk    monitor    speed    data    drive    mouse    device 
memory    software

Writing
Task 4 Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with a/an or the where 
necessary.

The Walsh family have (1) ____ computer at home. Their son uses 
(2)____ computer to help with (3)____   homework and play (4)____ 
computer games. Their student daughter uses (5) ___ computer for 
(6)____  projects and for (7)____ email. All (8)____ family use it to get 
(9)____ information from (10)____ Internet.

reading: the digital age
Task 5 Read the text.

We are now living in what some people call the digital age, meaning that 
computers have become an essential part of our lives. Young people who 
have grown up with PCs and mobile phones are often called the digital 
generation. Computers help students to perform mathematical operations 
and improve their maths skills. They are used to access the Internet, to do 
basic research and to communicate with other students around the world. 
Teachers use projectors and interactive whiteboards to give presentations 
and teach sciences, history or language courses. PCs are also used for 
administrative purposes — schools use word processors to write letters, and 
databases to keep records of students and teachers. A school website allows 
teachers to publish exercises for students to complete online. Students can 
also enroll for courses via the website and parents can download official 
reports.
Mobiles let you make voice calls, send texts, email people and download 
logos, ringtones or games. With a built-in camera you can send pictures and 
make video calls in face-to-face mode. New smartphones combine 
a telephone with web access, video, a games console, an MP3 player, 
a personal: digital assistant (PDA) and a GPS navigation system, all in one.
In banks, computers store information about the money held by each 
customer and enable staff to access large databases and to carry out 
financial transactions at high speed. They also control the cashpoints, or 
ATMs (automatic teller machines), which dispense money to customers by 

the use of a PIN-protected card. People use a Chip and PIN card to pay 
for goods and services. Instead of using a signature to verify payments, 
customers are asked to enter a four digit personal identification number 
(PIN), the same number used at cashpoints; this system makes transactions 
more secure. With online banking, clients can easily pay bills and transfer 
money from the comfort of their homes.
Airline pilots use computers to help them control the plane. For 
example, 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 аre connected to 
travel agencies by computer. Travel agents use computers to find out about 
the availability of flights, prices, times, stopovers and many other details.

speaking:
Task 6 Match the places in column A with the computer uses in column 
B and tell about each computer use.

A
B
banks
control machines
factories
calculate the bill
homes
look after patient records and medicines
hospitals
provide entertainment and information
shops
control our money

Writing
Task 7 Now fill in the gaps in this paragraph about computer uses.

Computers are now part of our everyday life. In shops, they (1) 
________. In factories, they (2)___________. In (3) ___________, they 
look after patient records and medicines. When we have a bank account, 
a computer (4)___________. In our homes, computers (5) ___________. 

Task 8 Match the verbs with the nouns.

1. recharge
a. digital photos
2. click on
b. faxes 
3. dial
c. a number on your mobile phone
4. give
d. a presentation 
5. move
e. something with the mouse 
6. print out
f. the battery 
7. send and receive
g. the mouse
8. take some
h. twenty pages

Task 9 Choose the best verb.

1. To turn on the computer, __________ the «Start» button.
a. touch 
b. press 
c. switch
2. The printer has __________ of ink.
a. finished 
b. ended 
c. run out
3. Unfortunately, my scanner isn’t __________ at the moment.
a. working 
b. going 
c. doing
4. Please __________ the CD ROM.
a. insert 
b introduce c. inject
5. The projector isn’t working because it isn’t __________
a. plugged 
b. plugged in c. plugged into
6. The batteries in my digital camera are nearly dead. They need
___________
a. to change b. exchanging 
c. changing
7. I have to __________ a computer screen for eight hours a day.
a. see 
b. look at 
c. watch
8. Switch off your computer and __________ it from the wall socket.
a. de-plug 
b. unplug 
c. non-plug
9. I turned off the photocopier and ___________ the plug.
a. pulled out b. extracted c. took away

Unit 2 
typEs of CompUtErs

speaking
Task 1 Match these names to the different types of computer.

mainframe    notebook    PC    laptop    handheld    minicomputer

Task 2 Who uses these types of computer? Where do they use them?

Task 3 Consider buying a computer. Words to be used: 

writing, graphics, sound, animation, telephone, multimedia, laptop, 
notebook, pocket computer, modem, printer, monitor, motherboard, 
videocard, RAM, disk drives, UPS.

reading: types of computers
Task 4 Study these details of different types of computer. Find the 
answers to the questions. Which type of computer 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 computers
Notes

Mainframes

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

Minicomputers
Used like mainframe.
Not as big, powerful, or expensive as mainframes. Less 
common now because microcomputers have improved

Microcomputers or 
Personal computers (PCs)
The most common type of computer. Smaller, cheaper, and 
less powerful than mainframes and minicomputers.

Types of computers
Notes

Laptop
About the size of a small typewriter.
Less common now because smaller and lighter portables are 
available

Notebook
About the size of a piece of writing paper.
The most common type of portable

Handheld or 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

Language work: comparison of adjectives
We compare things using adjectives in two ways.
1. We can compare one type of computer with another.
Minicomputers are bigger than microcomputers.
Mainframes are more expensive than microcomputers.
For negative comparisons, we can say:
Microcomputers are not as big as minicomputers.
Microcomputers are not as powerful as mainframes.
2. We can compare mainframes to all other types of computer.
Mainframes are the biggest computers. Mainframes are the most powerful 
computers.
Mainframes are the most expensive computers.
With short adjectives (big, small, fast), we add -er and -est (faster, fastest).
With longer adjectives (powerful, expensive) we use more/less and the most/
the least before the adjective (more powerful, the most powerful).
Remember those two exceptions: good — better — the best, bad — worse — the 
worst

Writing
Task 5 Choose the correct adjective. Then fill the gaps with the correct 
form of the adjective.

1. light/heavy Laptops are (1)_____________ than desktop computers, 
but (2)______________ than notebooks.
2. large/small The mainframe is the (3) ________________ type of 
computer. A minicomputer is (4) _________________________ than 
a microcomputer.
3. common/good Personal computers are (5) _______________ than 
mainframes but mainframes are (6)_________________ than personal 
computers at processing very large amounts of data.
4. powerful/expensive Minicomputers are (7) _______________ than 
mainframes, but they are also (8)_______________ .
5. fast/cheap New computers are (9)_______________ and sometimes 
(10)_______________ than older machines.
6. powerful/expensive Laptops are often (11) _______________ than 
PCs, but they are not as (12)_______________ .

Task 6 Complete the text below with the following words.
systems      memory      task      terminals      desktop      CAD      applications

The first microcomputers, also known as (1) ‘_______________’ PCs 
were for single users only, and this clearly distinguished them from 
minicomputers. Another important difference was that ‘minis’ were much 
more powerful than ‘micros’: they could execute more than one 
(2) _____________ simultaneously and were used as file servers for (3) 
__________________ and workstations.

However, modern microcomputers have operating (4) _____________ 
and network facilities that can support many simultaneous users. Today, 
most personal computers have enough (5) ________________ to be used 
for word processing and business (6) ____________________. Some PCs 
can even handle multitasking and (7) __________________________ 
applications. As a result, the division between ‘minis’ and ‘micros’ is now 
disappearing.

Task 7 Put the words in brackets into the correct form to make an 
accurate description of sizes of computers.

There are different types of computers. The (large) (1) _____________ 
and (powerful) (2) ____________________ are mainframe computers. 
Minicomputers are (small) (3) ______________ than mainframes but 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 desktops. 
The (large) (7) ___________________ portable is a laptop. (Small) (8) 
______________ portables, about the 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.

Task 8 Choose the best adjective.

1. Oh dear. I pressed the __________ button.
a. incorrect b. wrong 
c. false
2. I can’t use my mobile phone. The battery’s __________.
a. over 
b. flat 
c. exhausted
3. The battery isn’t completely flat, but its very __________.
a. down 
b. short 
c. low
4. My video camera is very __________.