Lesson -04

Reading: Topic, Main Idea

In this lesson we will practice skills learnt in previous lessons. These skills are:

A. Identifying the topic of each paragraph.

B. Identifying the main idea.
C. Identifying supporting ideas.

The given text is about computers. It consists of six paragraphs. Read the text once through without stopping. As you read the text you will come across many words and expressions that you are not
familiar with. Do not be upset. Keep on reading. In your second reading, pause after every paragraph and ask yourself - what the paragraph is about? You will find that each paragraph has a topic, a
main or a primary idea and / or secondary ideas that support the main idea.

What is a computer?

1- A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic circuits that operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches, like the cores, are capable of being in one of two possible
states, that is, on or off: magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters. The basic idea of a computer is that we can make the machine
do what we want by inputting signals that turn certain switches on and turn others, off, or that magnetizes or de- magnetizes the cores.

2.The basic job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason, computers can be defined as a device which accepts information in the form of instructions called a program and
characters called data, perform mathematical and / or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The program, or part of it, which tells the computers what to do
and also provides the information needed to solve the problem, is kept inside the computer in a place called memory.

3.Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, the most of computers, whether large or small have three basic capabilities. First, computers have circuits of performing arithmetic
operations, such as: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and exponentiation. Second, computers have a means of communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn’t feed information in and
get results back, these machines wouldn’t be of much use. However, certain computers (commonly minicomputers and microcomputers) are used to control directly things such as robots, aircraft's
navigation systems, medical instruments, etc.

4.

Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to sue punched
cards, magnetic tape, disks and terminals. The computer’s input device (which might be
4. Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to sue punched
cards, magnetic tape, disks and terminals. The computer’s input device (which might be
a card reader, a tape drive or disk drive, depending on the medium used in putting information) reads the information into the computer. For outputting information, two common devices used are a
printer which prints the new information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the results on a TV-like screen.

5.Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds of decisions which computer circuits can make are not of the type: ‘Who would win a war between two countries?’ or ‘Who is
the richest person in the world?’ Unfortunately, the computer can only decide three things, namely: Is one number less than another? Are tow numbers equal? Is one number greater than another?

6.A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even thousands, of logical decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the solution of a problem in a fraction of time. A
computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it has no originality; it works according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise any valuable judgments. There are times when a
computer seems to operate like a mechanical ‘brain’, but its achievements are limited by the minds of human beings. A computer cannot do anything unless a person tells it what to do and give it the
appropriate information; but as electric pulses can move at the speed of light, a computer can carry out vast numbers of arithmetic-logical operations almost instantaneously. A person can do
everything a computer can do, but in many cases that person would be dead long before the job was finished.
(N. Mullen & P. Brown: English for Computer Science; OUP 16-18)

Paragraph 1:
A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic circuits that operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches, like the cores, are capable of being in one of two possible
states, that is, on or off: magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters. The basic idea of a computer is that we can make the
machine do what we want by inputting signals that turn certain switches on and turn others, off, or that magnetizes or de-magnetizes the cores.

Topic: A computer is a machine.

Main Idea: We can make the machine do what we want it to do.
Supporting Idea: Machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers letters, and characters.

Paragraph 2:
The basic job of computers is the processing of information. For this reason, computers can be defined as a device which accepts information in the form of instructions called a program and
characters called data, perform mathematical and / or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The program, or part of it, which tells the computers what to do
and also provides the information needed to solve the problem, is kept inside the computer in a place called memory.

Topic: Processing of information.

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Main Idea: The program, which tells the computer what to do and stores the information, is called memory.
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Paragraph 3:
Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, the most of computers, whether large or small have three basic capabilities. First, Computers have circuits of performing arithmetic
operations, such as: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and exponentiation. Second, computers have a means of communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn’t feed information in and
get results back, these machines wouldn’t be of much use. However, certain computers (commonly minicomputers and microcomputers) are used to control directly things such as robots, aircraft's
navigation systems, medical instruments, etc.
Topic: Powers of computers.
Main Idea: Three basic capabilities of computers
Supporting Idea: Computers are used to control robots, aircraft navigation systems, medical instruments, etc.

Paragraph 4:
Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to sue punched cards, magnetic tape, disks and terminals. The computer’s input device (which might be a card reader, a tape drive or disk
drive, depending on the medium used in putting information) reads the information into the computer. For outputting information, two common devices used are a printer which prints the new
information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the results on a TV-like screen.
Topic: Method of inputting information.
Main Idea: Input and Output devices. Supporting Idea: Examples of devices. 14

Paragraph 5:
Computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds of decisions which computer circuits can make are not of the type: ‘Who would win a war between two countries?’ or ‘Who is the richest
person in the world?’ Unfortunately, the computer can only decide three things, namely: Is one number less than another? Are tow numbers equal? Is one number greater than another?
Topic: Circuits that make decisions.
Main Idea: Computer can only make logical decision

Paragraph 6:
A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even thousands, of logical decisions without becoming tired or bored. It can find the solution of a problem in a fraction of time. A
computer can replace people in dull, routine tasks, but it has no originality; it works according to the instructions given to it and cannot exercise any valuable judgments. There are times when a computer
seems to operate like a mechanical ‘brain’, but its achievements are limited by the minds of human beings. A computer cannot do anything unless a person tells it to do something and give it the
appropriate information; but as electric pulses can move at the speed of light, a computer can carry out vast numbers

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of arithmetic-logical operations almost instantaneously. A person can do everything a computer can do, but in many cases that person would be dead long before the job was finished.

Topic: Speed at which a computer works

Main Idea: A computer works according to instructions.
Supporting Idea: Computer operations are limited.

Main idea
Now that you have read each paragraph in detail, let us look at the text as a whole.

Read the following four statements and choose the statement that best expresses the main idea.
1. Computers have changed the way in which many kinds of jobs are done.
2. Instructions and data must be given to the computer to act on.
3. Computers are machines capable of processing and outputting.
4. Without computers, many tasks would take much longer to do.

Which statement did you choose? The correct answer is choice no.2 Why didn’t you select the other choices?
The other choices do not give the distinctive characteristics of what a computer is i.e. the
main idea of the passage. They simply provide the details.

Understanding the Passage:

Decide if these statements are true or false by referring to the text. T F
1. A computer can store or handle any data even if it hasn’t received
information to do so.
2. All computers accept and process information in the form of instructions and characters.
3. The information necessary for solving problems is found in the memory of the computer.
4.Not all computers can perform arithmetic operations, make decisions and communicate in some way with the user.
5.Computers can still be useful machines even if they can’t communicate with the user.
6.There are many different devices used for feeding information into a computer.
7.There aren’t as many different types of devices used for giving results as there are for accepting information.
8. Computers can make any type of decision they are asked to.
9. Computers can work endlessly without having to stop to rest unless there is a breakdown.

Statements no. 1, 4 and 8 are false. These false statements can be made true by making necessary changes.
1. Computer can store or handle any data which is input.
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4. All computers can perform arithmetic operations, make comparisons and output information.
8. Computer can decide only these things:
-Is one number less than another?
- Are two numbers equal?
- Is one number greater than another?

Content Review
The following statements are all taken from the text you have just read. Certain words are missing in these statements. Complete these statements with the appropriate words from the word bank given
below. Make sure that you use the correct form i.e. singular or plural. Some words can be used more than once.

core device data medium circuit terminal switch CRT display

programme memory

1. Every computer has circuits for performing arithmetic operations, operating

or magnetized .
2. A with a screen is normally referred to as a unit.
3. A computer is a that processes information in the form of and
and can store this information in a .
4. Card readers, tape drives, or disk drives are different for inputting information.

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