Информатика: тексты по специальности на английском языке к учебному пособию Infotech 4th edition

Министерство транспорта Российской Федерации 

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное 

учреждение высшего образования 

«Российский университет транспорта (МИИТ)» 

 
 

__________________________________________________________________ 

Институт управления и информационных технологий 

Кафедра «Иностранные языки-5» 

 
 
 
 

Информатика: тексты по специальности 

на английском языке 

к учебному пособию  Infotech 4th edition 

 
 
 

 

 
 

Практикум 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Москва – 2018 

Министерство транспорта Российской Федерации 

 

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное 

учреждение высшего образования 

«Российский университет транспорта (МИИТ)» 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Институт управления и информационных технологий 

Кафедра «Иностранные языки-5» 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Информатика: устные темы на 

английском языке 

к учебному пособию  Infotech 4th edition 

 
 
 

Практикум 

для студентов направлений 

«Прикладная математика и информатика», 
«Информатика и вычислительная техника», 
«Информационные системы и технологии», 

"Информационная безопасность" 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Москва - 2018 

УДК 42 
И 74 
Информатика: тексты по специальности на английском  языке к учебному пособию  Infotech 4th 

edition: Практикум / Кузякин А.С., Попова Т.Г., Дмитриева Е.И., Сахаров Ю.А.  – М.: РУТ (МИИТ), 2018.  
–  114 с. 

 
«Информатика: тексты по специальности темы на английском языке»  представляет собой  

практикум, содержащий оригинальные статьи на английском языке, подобранные в соответствии с 
темами, затрагиваемыми в 30 уроках учебного пособия по профессиональному английскому для 
пользователей компьютеров  Remacha Esteras S. Infotech. English for Computer Users.  4th edition. — 
Cambridge University Press, 2008.    Практикум расширяет языковой запас студентов на английском 
языке в области профессионально значимых понятий из сфер аппаратного и программного 
обеспечения современных компьютеров, связанных с ними устройств ввода и вывода, хранения и 
обработки информации, особенностей применения информационных технологий для работы, 
обучения, общения, развлечения и др.  

Предлагаемая методическая разработка расширяет границы активного лексического запаса 

студентов  в пределах порядка 1200 - 1500 слов  и выражений. Цель практикума научить студентов 
самостоятельно ориентироваться в английских специализированных ИТ-текстах, переносить навыки 
текстуального 
анализа 
на 
описание 
новых 
технологий 
из 
мира 
ИТ 
и 
осуществление 

профессионально-ориентированной коммуникации.  Активация навыков аналитического чтения 
происходит на аудиторных занятиях, при обсуждении тем, толковании терминов, а также  при 
подготовке  и проведении обязательных презентаций по аналогичным темам с использованием 
проектора и/или интерактивной белой доски в аудитории. Используемый языковой материал 
сокращен под формат аудиторного занятия  и адаптирован  к знанию английского языка на уровне 
Pre-Intermediate и  Intermediate.  

Практикум «Информатика: устные темы на английском языке»   предназначен для студентов 

неязыковых вузов, изучающих английский язык в сфере прикладной информатики. 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                

                                                                                            © РУТ (МИИТ), 2018 

 
 
 
 

1     Living in a digital age 

1.1     How the Internet of Things Works 

                  after   Bernadette Johnson 

 

Active vocabulary 

1. web-enabled 
devices 
– 
устройства, 

подключенные к интернет 

2. embedded 
sensors 
- 
 
встроенные 

сенсоры 

3. unforeseen 
downtime 
-  

непредвиденный простой 

4. danger of crumbling – опасность 

разрушения 

5. hub – сетевой концентратор 
6. impending disaster – надвигающаяся 

катастрофа 

7. cloud-computing servers – серверы 

облачных вычислений 

8. to bypass  home network via cellular – 

обойти домашнюю сеть через сотовую 

9. tagging 
technologies 
– 
технологии 

нанесения меток 

10. RFID 
tag 
 
(от 
Radio 
Frequency 

Identification) 
- 
 
радиометка, 

электронная метка 

11. QR code (от Quick Response Code)  — 

код 
быстрого 
реагирования, 

двухмерный или матричный штрихкод  

12. barcode – штрихкод (из полосок разной 

ширины) 

13. power outlet - точка подсоединения к 

сети электропитания 

14. proprietary hardware and software – 

патентованное изделие и ПО 

15. seamless 
interaction 
– 
бесшовное 

взаимодействие 

16. interoperability 
- 
функциональная 

совместимость 

17. open-source, 
platform-independent 

software framework – общая структура 
для создания ПО с открытым кодом,  
не 
зависящая 
от 
платформы 

компьютера 

18. platforms 
out 
or 
coming 
out 
– 

платформы уже существующие или 
готовящиеся к выходу 

19. to implement a platform – внедрять 

платформу 

20. all encompassing – всеобъемлющий 
21. to route Internet traffic – направлять 

интернет поток 

22. still-prevalent ['prev(ə)lənt] – все еще 

преобладающий 

23. undecillion – ундециллион 
24. hexadecimal – шестнадцатиричный 
25. to exceed – превосходить 
26. interim 
solution 
– 
промежуточное 

решение 

27. network address translation (NAT)  - 

трансляция 
сетевых 
адресов

The Internet of Things (IoT), also sometimes referred to as the Internet of 
Everything (IoE), consists of all the web-enabled devices that collect, send 
and act on data they acquire from their surrounding environments using 
embedded sensors, processors and communication hardware. These 
devices, often called "connected" or "smart" devices, can sometimes talk to 
other related devices, a process called machine-to-machine (M2M) 
communication, and act on the information they get from one another. 
Humans can interact with the gadgets to set them up, give them instructions or access the data, but 
the devices do most of the work on their own without human intervention.  

We can monitor our homes and families remotely to keep them safe. Businesses can improve 
processes to increase productivity and reduce material waste and unforeseen downtime. Sensors in 

city infrastructure can help reduce road congestion and warn us when infrastructure is in danger of 
crumbling. Gadgets out in the open can monitor for changing environmental conditions and warn us 
of impending disasters. Sensors may now collect such data as temperature, moisture, light, chemical 
levels, heart rate and body movement, location (through accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS chips) etc. 

IoT devices often send data to cloud-computing servers where it's then aggregated and analyzed. 
We can usually access the results via apps or browsers on our mobile devices or home computers. 
Some can even be set up to update your status on various social networks. Some can bypass your 
home network entirely via cellular communication. 

By some accounts, there are already between 15 and 25 billion connected devices, with the count 
expected to grow to anywhere from 50 to 212 billion by 2020.   

Smart devices can work in conjunction with tagging technology including 
RFID tags, QR codes, barcodes and the like to obtain data about items. The 
devices also need a power source, which can include a connection to a power 
outlet, a solar panel, or even replaceable or rechargeable batteries. Companies 
are also working on wireless power for a possible future power source. 

Some Technical Issues and Solutions 

At the moment, a lot of connected devices can talk to the Internet and to our phones, and maybe 
even some related products, but most of them can't talk to one another because of proprietary 
hardware and software with differing standards, languages and communication protocols. 

There aren't any universal standards or platforms to allow seamless interaction between all smart 
gadgets and enable you to control them from a central app, but several groups are working on 
creating standard protocols and software to make interoperability of multiple devices from different 
manufacturers a reality. The AllSeen Alliance, created by Qualcomm and joined by other 
companies, is working on an open-source, platform-independent software framework called 
AllJoyn. Cisco, Samsung, Intel and others are also working on their own open-source platform 
called IoTivity.  

There are a number of other smart device platforms out or coming out, including Apple's HomeKit, 
Google's Project Brillo, SmartThings,  Evrythng, Samsung Artik and Wink. Some of these are 
hardware hubs and software, and others are just software applications or platforms (either to be set 
up by a user or implemented by the manufacturers themselves). Some require licensing, and others 
are open-source. For the most part, they are compatible with multiple types and brands of devices, 
but none are all encompassing. 

Another major issue for the Internet of Things is a finite number of IP addresses. The standard 
identifier used to route Internet traffic to and from networked devices is the IP (Internet protocol) 
address. In its first and still-prevalent form (the IPv4 32-bit standard created in 1981), an IP address 
consists of four numbers separated by periods, each between zero and 255 (that's 256 possibilities 
for each of the four slots). Because of those limitations, the maximum number of available 
addresses on this standard is capped at around 4.295 billion and  will soon be exhausted. Obvious 
decision – moving to the new IPv6 system. 

IPv6, a 128-bit standard, could allow for more than 340 undecillion addresses (that's 340 followed 
by 36 zeros). Its format consists of eight sets of four-character hexadecimal values separated by 
colons. The available number of addresses will still far exceed the number of devices that will be 
available in the years to come (or maybe ever).  

An interim solution that a lot of entities already use is network address translation (NAT). NAT 
allows you to map whole networks of devices to a single IP address, which allows the Internet to 
see the network as its destination device. Then the network servers differentiate between the devices 

within that network to get data to and from the right places. This scheme is better for computing 
equipment within organizations than for gadgets in peoples' homes, however. 

 

Source:  https://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-of-things.htm 

 

Which of the following statements are true and which are false? 

1. The term “smart device” is synonymous to “connected device”.
T/F

2. Smart devices are now used at home and in business.
T/F

3. With IoT gadgets we can keep our homes and families safe 
T/F

4. RFID tags, QR codes, barcodes give info about items we may be interested in
T/F

5. Proprietary hardware and software make M2M communication of devices from 

different manufacturers easy

T/F

6. All IoT applications are designed to be set up by a user
T/F

7. The structure of IPv4 address is basically the same as that of IPv6
T/F

8. The number of IPv6 addresses is practically unlimited
T/F

9. NAT converts one IPv4 address into many concealed IPv4 addresses on the 

Intranet

T/F

10. NAT may be good for home users
T/F

 

2   Computer essentials 

2.1     Mainframe’s internal structure. Part 1 

 

Active vocabulary 

1. mainframe 
- 
большая 

многопользовательская 
вычислительная 
система, 

суперкомпьютер 

2. frame – (металическая) рама, шасси 
3. input/output 
cage 
– 
коробка 
для 

устройств ввода/вывода 

4. mission-critical 
systems 
- 
системы 

непрерывного действия, системы с 
непрерывным доступом к данным, 
системы 
для 
решения 
критически 

важных/боевых, ответственных задач 

5. to 
suspend 
 
access 
– 
временно 

прекратить доступ 

6. fluctuating workload – меняющаяся 

рабочая нагрузка 

7. to undergo 
a 
rigorous 
testing – 

подвергаться жесткому контролю 

8. to reside in a cage – располагаться в 

коробке 

9. personal-computer 
counterpart 
– 

соответствующий по функции элемент 
ПК 

10. book 
– 
логический 
блок, 
том, 

процессорный пакет (термин IBM) 

11. to disrupt the work – нарушить работу 
12. computing resources – вычислительные 

ресурсы 

13. to power down the server – обесточить 

сервер, отключить питание 

14. EC (Enterprise class) – для крупных 

корпораций 

15. backplane – коммутационная панель, 

кросс-шина 

16. scalability – масштабируемость 
17. raised 
floor 
– 
фальшпол, 

технологический пол, устанавливаемый 
в больших вычислительных центрах, 
под которым проходят все кабели. Изза высокой стоимости в настоящее 
время применяется крайне редко 

18. director  –  блок управления 
19. bus adapter –  шинный адаптер 
20. SCSI ['skʌzɪ] (small computer system 

interface) 
- 
 
интерфейс 
малых 

компьютерных систем 

21. Token Ring – сеть передачи данных с 

маркерным доступом (использующая 

передачу маркера как символа права 
доступа к сети) (термин IBM) 

22. Asynchronous Transfer Mode = ATM  

– 
асинхронный 
режим 
передачи 

[данных], когда 53-байтовые ячейки 
данных, 
принадлежащие 
одному 

соединению, могут поступать в канал 
связи в непредсказуемые моменты 
времени (т. е. нерегулярно) 

23. Fiber Connection – оптоволоконное 

соединение 

24. tailgate – нижний люк 
25. concurrently 
 
- 
одновременно, 

параллельно 

 
 
This article introduces  one model of IBM® mainframe computer, 
the IBM System z9™, comparing its major hardware parts and 
their function to hardware parts of personal computers or 
notebooks. 

Frames and cages 

Under the covers, the mainframe has one or two metal frames, 
containing processor and input/output cages, as well as other 
physical elements.  

This diagram shows the interior front view of an IBM System z9 
Enterprise Class (z9 EC) model that has: 

•Two frames  

•One central processor complex, or CPC, cage  

•Three input/output cages   

 

24x7 design 

Every hardware component inside the mainframe is designed so that the z9 can operate 
continuously: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Companies use mainframes for mission-critical work, which usually consists of applications and 
data that have to be available at all times. If the mainframe goes off line and access to these 
applications and data is suspended or lost, companies could potentially lose millions of dollars, 
sometimes in a matter of minutes. Mainframes also have to run efficiently, or they become too 
costly for companies to operate. 

Although mainframes and personal computers have similar hardware parts, you will notice big 
differences in the quality of parts, design, and function that allow mainframes to process work 
continuously. Another difference is the mainframe’s ability to expand its processing resources to 
match fluctuating or ever-increasing workloads. These built-in functions and features contribute to 
IBM’s goal of achieving five 9s availability for its mainframes. The term ‘five 9s’ means that a 
system is available and running at least 99.999% of the time. 

All IBM mainframes undergo a rigorous testing process before they are shipped to customer sites. 

Central processor complex 

The central processor complex, or CPC,  resides in its own cage, and consists of one to four book 
packages. Just like its personal-computer counterpart, the motherboard or system board, each book 
package consists of processors, memory, timers, and input/output connections.  

These collections of hardware parts are called book packages because you can slide them in or out 
of the CPC cage almost as easily as you can slide a book on or off a bookshelf. 

Modular design 

This modular packaging allows you to add or remove book packages without disrupting any work 
that the server is currently processing.  

With System z9 models, you can add computing resources (processors, memory, or input/output 
connections) to your system at any time, without powering down the server.  

You also can replace System z9 book packages as necessary, without powering down the server.  

Having this capability is like being able to change a tire on your car while it is traveling at 70 miles 
(or 110 kilometers) per hour! 

Inside the book package 

The book package consists of three distinct areas, one each 
for:  

•The z9 EC's processors, which are inside one multichip 
module  

•Memory cards  

•Connections to input/output devices  

All of the book packages plug into a backplane in the z9 EC's 
frame. A backplane  is a circuit board that allows all 
connected book packages to share resources. 

 

More about the CPC 

The book package and multichip module design, as well as the design of other internal hardware, 
allows the z9 EC to provide continuous processing power and the capability to handle fluctuating or 

increasing workloads. These mainframe characteristics are known as reliability, availability, and 
scalability. 

Input/output subsystem 

System z9 models can have up to three input/output cages, which consist primarily of slots for 
input/output adapters.  

Together with hardware parts  in the z9 EC’s central processor complex, or CPC, cage and other 
specialized input/output equipment on the raised floor, the hardware elements in the input/output 
cages constitute the high-speed subsystem that provides a path between the mainframe and 
peripheral devices such as printers, directors, and storage units.  

The capacity of this subsystem is measured by the number of available channels, which are 
independent pathways that transfer data. 

Channel types 

Just as a personal computer has different types of bus adapters (for example, USB or SCSI), the z9 
EC has different types of channels. Specific slots in the input/output cages are reserved for specific 
types of channels, which include the following:  

•Open Systems Adapter, or OSA Express2, which provides connectivity to various industrystandard networking technologies, including Ethernet, Token Ring, and asynchronous transfer mode 
(known as ATM).  

•Fiber Connection, or FICON® Express2, which is the most flexible channel technology. With 
FICON Express2, input/output devices can be located many miles or kilometers from the z9 EC to 
which they are attached.  

•Enterprise Systems Connection, or ESCON®, which is an earlier type of fiber-optic cabling and 
technology. ESCON channels can provide performance almost as fast as FICON channels 

 

Channel characteristics 

Many System Z customers still use ESCON channels in 
their data centers. You can tell the difference between 
FICON (yellow) and ESCON (orange) cables in the view of 
cables routed from the input/output cages through the z9 
EC’s tailgate. 

Regardless of the channel type, each z9 EC channel is an 
independent pathway that transfers data concurrently with 
other channels and the z9 EC’s processors.  

In contrast, the SCSI bus in a personal computer is a shared channel between all devices plugged 
into it. With independent channels, I/O performance on the z9 EC is significantly faster 

Which of the following statements are true and which are false? 

1. IBM system Z9 is the only mainframe computer now available on the market
T/F

2. The contents of the two frames in Z9 is identical
T/F

3. When the configuration of a mainframe is changed it is normally switched off
T/F

4. Book packages  of the mainframe use computational resources of each other
T/F

5. Scalability of a mainframe means that its size is adequate to its function
T/F

6. z9  may have less than three input/output cages
T/F

7. The capacity of the input-output system is  assessed according to the amount of 

data which can pass through the various channels

T/F

8. OSA Express2 provides connectivity not only through fiber-optic  cables
T/F

9. ESCON is a modern fiber-optic cabling system
T/F

10. FICON and ESCON represent shared channels for data transfer between the 

mainframe and its periphery

T/F

 

2.2   Mainframe’s  internal structure.     Part 2 

 

Active vocabulary 

1. built-in redundancy -  запланированная 

избыточность 

2. to off-load input-output processing – 

передать 
другой 
вычислительной 

системе часть функций по обработке 
данных ввода-вывода 

3. patch 
panel 
- 
коммутационная 

(распределительная) 
панель,  

содержащая 
набор 
гнёзд 
для 

соединения устройств в шкафу с 
сетевым оборудованием 

4. сlose-up – фото крупным планом 
5. coolant – охлаждающая жидкость 
6. CPU heat sink – радиатор процессора 
7. to draw the heat off – отводить тепло 
8. to dissipate the excess heat – рассеивать 

избыточное тепло 

9. raised floor and the crawl space  – 

фальшпол 
и 
полупроходное 

техническое подполье (высотой до 1,5 
м) 

10. solid and perforated tiles – сплошные и 

перфорированные пластины пола 

11. power supply –  электроснабжение 

12. state-of-the-art 
mainframe 
– 

высококачественная 
вычислительная 

машина 

13. internal bulk power unit – внутренний 

блок 
магистрального 

электроснабжения 

14. to switch from the power units to 

internal batteries – переключиться от 
блоков 
питания 
к 
внутренним 

аккумуляторам 

15. subsidiary 
power 
unit 
– 

дополнительный блок питания 

16. support element – устройство для 

технического обслуживания 

17. ThinkPad 
- 
семейство 
ноутбуков 

фирмы IBM 

18. customer engineer (CE) - инженер по 

эксплуатации, 
ремонту 
и 

профилактическому обслуживанию 

19. flexible 
processor 
– 
гибко
программируемый процессор 

20. LAN (Local area network)  Ethernet  – 

локальная сеть передачи данных по 
протоколу канального уровня / в среде 
Ethernet