Reading Comprehension Module for Informatics Engineering

Operating Systems

Figure 1: Unix

STARTER

A. Study the above screen display and answer these questions.

1. How do you enter Unix commands?

2. Let’sUnix
Which readcommands does it show?
3. What is the output of each command?
4. What will happen when the last command is entered?
5. Which other Unix commands do you know?
B. Read the text and understand the vocabulary contextually then fill the meanings of
vocabularies in the box.

LINUX

Linux has its roots in a student project. In 1992, an undergraduate called Linus Torvalds
was studying computer science in Helsinki, Finland. Like most computer science courses, a big
component of it was taught on (and about) Unix . Unix was the wonder operating system of the
1970s and 1980s: both a textbook example of the principles of operating system design,
and sufficiently robust to be the standard OS in engineering and scientific computing . But
Unix was a commercial product (licensed by ATEtT to a number of resellers), and cost more
than a student could pay.
Annoyed by the shortcomings of Minix (a compact Unix clone written as a teaching aid
by Professor Andy Tannenbaum ) Linus set out to write his own 'kernel' — the core of an
operating system that handles memory allocation , talks to hardware devices, and makes sure
everything keeps running . He used the GNU programming tools developed by Richard
Stallman's Free Software Foundation, an organisation of volunteers dedicated to fulfilling
Stallman's ideal of making good software that anyone could use without paying. When he'd
written a basic kernel, he released the source code to the Linux kernel on the Internet.
Source code is important. It's the original from which compiled programs are generated.
If you don't have the source code to a program, you can't modify it to fix bugs or add new
features. Most software companies won't sell you their source code, or will only do so for an eye-
watering price, because they believe that if they make it available it will destroy their revenue
stream.
What happened next was astounding, from the conventional, commercial software
industry point of view — and utterly predictable to anyone who knew about the Free Software
Foundation. Programmers (mostly academics and students) began using Linux. They found that
it didn't do things they wanted it to do - so they fixed it. And where they improved it, they sent
the improvements to Linus, who rolled them into the kernel. And Linux began to grow.

GLOSSARY
Roots : Core :
Project : Fulfil :
Wonder : Generate :
Annoyed : Astounding :
Shortcoming : Improvement :

C. Find the answers to these questions in the following

1. What did Linus Torvalds use to write the Linux kernel?
2. How was the Linux kernel first made available to the general public?
3. What is a programmer likely to do with source code?
4. Why will most software companies not sell you their source code?
5. What type of utilities and applications are provided in a Linux distribution?
D. Mark the Following Statements as True (T) or False(F):
1. Linux was created in the 1980s. [ ]
2. Minix was created by a university student. [ ]
3. Linus set out to write his own 'kernel'. [ ]
4. If you have the source code to a program, you can modify it to fix bugs [ ]
5. Programmers, academics and students are reluctant using Linux [ ]

Let’s speak

E. Work in pairs, A and B. Each of you has information about some popular operating
systems. Find out from the information you have and by asking each other.

1. What is your favorite OS?

2. Why do you like it?
3. What is the most benefit of your OS?
4. What is the weakness of your OS?

LANGUAGE WORK
-ing form (1) as a noun; after prepositions
We can use the -ing form of the verb as a noun. It can be the subject, object,
orcomplement of a sentence. For example:
1. Managing the computer's resources is an important function of the operating system.
2. The operating system starts running the user interface as soon as the PC is switched on.
3. Another function of the operating system is executing and providing services for
applications software.
The -ing form is also used after prepositions. This includes too when it is a preposition
and not part of the infinitive. For example:
4. Without the user being aware of the details, the operating system manages the
computer’s resources.
5. We begin by focusing on the interaction between a user and a PC operating system.
6. We look forward to having cheaper andfaster computers.

F. Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb: infinitive or -ing form.
1. Don't switch off without (close down) your PC.
2. I want to (upgrade) my computer.
3. He can't get used to (log on) with a password.
4. You can find information on the Internet by (use) a search engine.
5. He objected to (pay) expensive telephone calls for Internet access.
6. He tried to (hack into) the system without (know) the password.
7. You needn't learn how to (program) in HTML before (design) webpages.
8. I look forward to (input) data by voice in stead of (use) a keyboard.

Let’s write

G. This description of the Mac OS X is drawn from the table

below. Write a similar description of Linux.

Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system designed for use

on Apple Mac computers. It includes memory-protection, pre-
emptive multitasking and symmetric multiprocessing support.
Graphics are provided by a graphics engine known as Quartz. It
has advanced-PDF standards support, OpenGL and Quick time
integrated into the OS. The operating system features are
accessed through a graphical user interface called Aqua.
Linux is __________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
 Mac OS X Linux

Type Unix-based Unix-based

computer feature Apple Mac wide variety

Memory protection, pre- variety of distribution kits

available
emptive multi- tasking,

symmetric multiprocessing

support

XFree86
graphics engine Quartz

standard support advanced-PDF,

Open GL, Quick time

command line, GUI

user interface type GUI
KDE, Gnome
user interface Aqua

freely available
source code not available

availability
Let’s have fun

Task 1
Making list

There are many words in the ball. Sort and list them into the correct group.

Noun Pronoun
___________ ____________
______________ _____________
________________ _____________
__________________
Plants feed their Article
Adjective foods from roots ___________
___________ carefully The plant __________
______________ _____________
roots take and make
_________________
_________________ good mineral salts, Preposition
nitrates, phosphates _____________
Verb and sulphates from ____________
_________ water _____________
____________
Conjunction
Adverb ____________
_________ _____________
__________ ______________
____________

Task 2
Make 5 sentences using the words above in the ball.

1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________
 REFERENCES

Betts, G. (1985). Autonomous Learner Model for the gifted and talented. Greeley,
CO: Autonomous Learning Publications and Specialists. (ERIC Document Reproduction
Service No. ED 268 708)

Eric H.Glendinning | John McEwan.(2000). Oxford English for Information Technology.

OXFORD

Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003. 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved

Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes: A learning Centered
approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

http:// www.onestopenglish.com accessed in august 10th, 2013.

http://www.eslgamesplus.com accessed in august 10th, 2013.