LEVEL 1 UNIT 3

COMPUTERS
READING 2

TABLET COMPUTER
SKILLS
Without a doubt, the biggest revolution in computing in

- Details
recent years is the rise of the tablet computer. With the
- Scanning
increasing power and decreasing size of computer

- Make inferences
components, it has been possible to pack a lot of processing - Vocabulary
in context
power into a small frame. Computers have become smaller, - Understand negative facts
more mobile, and easier to use than traditional desktop or

laptop computers. Tablet computers like American company

Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD 10 are designed to be lightweight

GETTING STARTED
and portable yet fast enough to complete everyday computing
tasks. A powerful processor allows users to easily switch
between different tasks, such as watching videos, reading e- What are 3 advantages of having

books, and playing games. a tablet?

READING 2
Tablet Components
The main component of a tablet computer is the
large touch screen, which must be really
efficient so that it doesn’t drain the battery. It
achieves this by adjusting the number of times
the image displayed on screen is updated. When
showing videos or games, the display is
refreshed 60 times a second, so the eye sees a
consistently moving image. However, when the
display is static, the refresh rate is lower, saving
valuable energy.

Kindle Kids Edition

The Kids Edition of the Fire HD 10 tablet comes
in a robust case to protect against damage from
accidental drops. A modified user interface
allows parents to control their child’s online FACTS
activity and limit usage to apps, games, and

books that are adequate for them. The tablet also TABLETS HAVE AN

AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF 4

includes educational applications designed to YEARS:

engage children between the ages of 3 and 12.

The tablet has 32 GB of storage, improved Wi-Fi, A s t u d y b y I D C s h o w s

immersive audio, and up to 12 hours of use. t h a t p e o p l e u s e t a b l e t

d e v i c e s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y

f o u r y e a r s b e f o r e t h e y b u y

a new one.
*Taken from How Super Cool Tech Works. DK Publishing.

Glossary:
- E-book: a book that is displayed on a computer
screen or on an electronic device that is held in
the hand, instead of being printed on paper.

READING 2
 1. The word yet in paragraph 1 is closest in
meaning to

a. because
b. but
c. also
d. in order to

2. The word drain in paragraph 2 relates to

a. charging the battery

b. destroying the battery
c. increasing the life of the battery
FACTS

d. decreasing the power of the battery

Tablets are mostly used for

3. According to paragraph 2, what activity
entertainment purposes:

is more likely to spend less battery
W h e r e a s s o m e e x p e r t s
energy?
p r e v i o u s l y c l a i m e d t a b l e t s

w o u l d b e c o m e t h e n e w o f f i c e
a. Playing video games
l a p t o p , t h e y t u r n e d o u t t o b e
b. Reading an e-book
a g r e a t d e v i c e f o r r e a d i n g

c. Having a video call

t h e n e w s , w a t c h i n g v i d e o s

and playing games. d. Watching a video on YouTube

4. What are 3 characteristics of a tablet

like the Kindle Fire?

a. It’s heavy, fast and it works with

energy.
b. It’s not heavy, it’s fast, but you can’t
use it to read books.
c. It has an efficient processor, it’s light,
and you can take it everywhere.
d. The battery needs to be charged
constantly, it is light, but the processor
is slow.

PAGE 3 READING 2
 5. What is NOT true about the Kindle Kids
Edition?

a. Parents can prevent their children from

watching inappropriate content.
b. The battery can run continuously for about
half a day.
c. You don’t have to pay for some educational
apps.
d. It may be damaged easily

Language Note – Adjectives

- The tablet comes in a robust case to protect against damage.

Adjectives in English come before a noun or after a linking verb.

- A powerful processor allows users to easily switch between different tasks.
- It has a large touch screen, which must be really efficient so that it doesn’t drain the battery.

We use comparative adjectives + than to compare people, things, or places, and say how different they are.
We add -er to one-syllable adjectives or two-syllable adjectives ending in -y. With longer adjectives use
more + adjective.
- Computers have become smaller, more mobile, and easier to use than traditional desktop or laptop computers.
- When the display is static, the refresh rate is lower, saving valuable energy.

We use the + superlative adjectives to mention an item that stands out among a group. We add -est to one-
syllable adjectives or two-syllable adjectives ending in -y. With longer adjectives use the most + adjective.

- The biggest revolution in computing in recent years is the rise of the tablet computer.
- Daniel is the youngest student in our class.
- The most important characteristic of this tablet is its weight.

What do you

think?

Should kids have access

to tablets or cellphones

from an early age?

PAGE 4 READING 2