Texto 1

A computer is a machine capable of executing computations on data. The

distinguishing feature of a computer is it ability to store its own instructions and to perform
thousands of operations each second.
The abacus, on which information is stored by moving beads along rods, was one of
the earliest calculating devices. Blaise Pascal developed an adding machine in 16! that used
toothed wheels to handle carries from one digit to the next. "harles Babbage developed the
concept of a stored program computer when he designed a calculating engine in 1#$$.
The first electronic digital computer was the %&'A" (%lectronic &umerical 'ntegrator
and "alculator), which was built for the *.+.Army in 1,-. 'n the same year .ohn von &eumann
introduced the modern concept of a stored program computer, in which the computer
memory can store both programs and data.
+ince then computer technology has evolved a great deal.

VOCABULARY
computer / computador / m01uina de calcular eletr2nica
data / pl. of 3datum4 / dados, fatos
feature / characteristic / caracter5stica, tra6o
to store / recolher e guardar para uso futuro7 arma8enar
to perform / to carry out / desempenhar
bead / pe1uenas bolas com orif5cio no meio7 contas
rods / varetas, hastes
devices / dispositivos, aparelhos inventados para ob9etos espec5ficos
toothed wheels / rodas dentadas7 engrenagens
to handle / to manage / manipular, lidar com
carries / portage / transportes, transfer:ncias
digit / 1ual1uer dos numerias de ; a ,7 d5gito
engine / m01uina, motor, mecanismo
program / s<rie de instru6=es para o computador7 programa
since then / desde essa <poca
has evolved / h0s developed / tem desenvolvido, evoluiu
a great deal / very much / muito, bastante


QUESTES

1. 'dentifi1ue, nos textos abaixo, os itens 1ue se pedem>

a) ?: uma olhada r0pida nos textos e observe se voc: pode predi8er algo sobre o seu
conte@do.

b) Bus1ue identificar algumas palavras 1ue voc: considera as mais importantes para a
compreensAo de cada texto.

c) Ative seus conhecimentos pr<vios, o 1ue voc: sabe 1ue pode a9udar a compreender os
textosB

d) Cue elementos da estrutura do texto podem ser @teis na sua compreensAo (n@meros,
manchete, ilustra6=es)B

e) %labore um texto indicando o 1ue voc: compreendeu da leitura reali8ada por voc:.


Texto 2

Dhen we sit down at a computer, we type on a Eeyboard which is one of the means of
inputting data. And when we type on this Eeyboard, each letter or numbers is converted into a
series of ;s and 1s. This binary language is what the computer understands.
After being converted into ;s and 1s, the data are then changed into electrical
impulses which travel over a cable to the computer, where they are stored in memory. %ach
computer word, called a byte, is assigned a place in a memory cell to await processing. The
data, now in the memory cells, are acted upon and processed according to the program being
used.
The output, or final result, is then achieved and converted bacE into numbers and
letters, which is displayed on a TF screen or printed on paper by a printer.

VOCABULARY
Eeyboard / teclado
binary language / linguagem 1ue o computador entende, composta de 8eros e uns7
linguagem bin0ria
travel / passam de um ponto para outro
byte / oito d5gitos bin0rios7 oito 3bits4
assigned / given /indicado, especificado
achieved / accomplished / alcan6ado
printer / m01uina 1ue imprime7 impressora



QUESTES

2. 'dentifi1ue, nos textos abaixo, os itens 1ue se pedem>

a) ?: uma olhada r0pida nos textos e observe se voc: pode predi8er algo sobre o seu
conte@do.

b) Bus1ue identificar algumas palavras 1ue voc: considera as mais importantes para a
compreensAo de cada texto.

c) Ative seus conhecimentos pr<vios, o 1ue voc: sabe 1ue pode a9udar a compreender os
textosB

d) Cue elementos da estrutura do texto podem ser @teis na sua compreensAo (n@meros,
manchete, ilustra6=es)B

e) %labore um texto indicando o 1ue voc: compreendeu da leitura reali8ada por voc:.