ENG 101

Lesson 18
Primary and Secondary memory[1] The term ‘memory’ is usually used to refer to the
internal storage locations of a computer. It is also called real storage or primary
memory, and is expressed as quantities of K. For example, computers are advertised as
having memories of 16K or 152k, depending on their storage capacity. Each k is equal to
1,024 bytes, and each byte is equal to 8 bits.
[2] Primary memory is closely associated with the CPU because it stores programs and
data temporarily, thus making them immediately available for processing by the CPU. To
facilitate processing, two things are needed: random access and speed. The former
means that any part of the memory may be read, or accessed, equally quickly. This is
made possible by the system of addresses in primary memory, where the storage
locations are like a series of tiny compartments, each having its own address.
These addresses are like the addresses of houses, in that they do not change. Because
they are always fixed, the control unit knows where to find them at a very high speed.
When it finds them, it puts into the compartments whatever must go there and wipes out
whatever was stored there. The information present in these compartments is called the
contents of the memory.
[3] Most primary memory is costly, and therefore it is used transiently, which means that
a program, or parts of it, is kept in internal storage while the program is being executed.
This, however, is not true for mini and micro applications where the computer performs
the same function, referred to as a dedicated function, all the time. But since
computers must process vast quantities of data and programs, a lot of storage space is
required. For this reason various secondary memory technologies have been developed.
[4] Secondary memory devices fall into two categories: sequential devices and
random-access devices. Sequential devices permit information to be written onto or
read off some storage medium in a fixed sequence only. In order to get at a particular
data item, it is necessary to pass over all the data preceding it. An example of such a
device is the magnetic tape. It’s cost is low, but access to specified data may take a
considerable length of time.
On the other hand, random-access devices are designed to permit direct, or almost
direct, access to specified data. These devices bypass large quantities of irrelevant data
and therefore reduce access time considerably. An example of this technology is the
magnetic disk, which is faster than the magnetic tape and also more expensive.
When disks are hooked up to the computer and used as an extension of internal storage
in order to increase the capacity of primary memory, this is called virtual storage. For
example, a computer with 256K bytes of real storage may seem to have 512K bytes of
virtual storage by using disks to provide additional storage.
1 Main idea :
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the text? Why did you eliminate the
other choices?
1. There are two types of memory: primary and secondary.
2. Primary memory is more important than secondary memory.
3. Secondary memory devices are unimportant in a computer system.
2 Understanding the passage:
Indicate whether the following ideas were stated or not stated (S/NS) in the text.
S NS
1. The term ‘memory’ can be expressed in other ways.
 2. Computers are often advertised according to their memory
capacity.

3. The CPU can easily access information from internal storage.

4. Minicomputers and microcomputers have a similar memory

capacity.

5. The control unit needs to know the location where information is

stored or needs to be stored.

6. Primary memory is more expensive than secondary memory.

7. There are two types of secondary memory device.

8. Information stored on magnetic disk can be retrieved faster than

if that same information were on tape.

9. Disks and tapes can be stored in a library.

10. Computers can process information even if complete programs

are not put in internal storage.
3 Locating Information
Find the passages in the text where the following ideas are expressed. Give the
paragraph reference.
……….1. Speed and random access are important in processing information.
……….2. Random-access devices are more efficient than sequential devices.
……….3. The CPU and primary memory work closely together.
……….4. Virtual storage increases the memory capacity of a computer.
……….5. Real storage, internal storage, and primary memory are all the same
……….6. Information is stored in memory in compartments with a specific location.
……….7. There are two classes of secondary memory device.
……….8. Only parts of programs are kept in primary storage while a program is being
run through.
4 Contextual reference
Look back at the text and find out what the words in bold typeface refer to.
1. It is also called ………...
2. depending on their ………... storage capacity
3. Thus making them ………...
4. The former means that ………..
5. where the storage ……….. locations
6. each having its own ……… address
7. in that they do not ……... change
8. where to find them ……….
9. whatever must go there ……….
10. or parts of it ……….
5 Understanding words
Refer back to the text and find synonyms for the following words.
1. represented ………...
2. erases ………...
3. carried out ………...
4. before ………...
5. very much ………...
Now refer back to the text and find antonyms for the following words.
6. latter ………...
7. disallow ………...
8. unnecessary ………...
9. go through ………...
10. imaginary ………...

6 Word forms
First choose the appropriate form of the words to complete the sentences. Then check
the differences of meaning in your dictionary.
1. expression, expressive, express, expressed
a. Information sent via a computer is faster than using the………….system
of airlines or postal services. b. An………….such as ‘He or she has a computer
of a brain’ means that he or she is a fast-thinking person.
c. Computers understand commands…………in the form of 0 and 1.
2. equality, equal, equally, equalize
a. The symbol # means that two things are not……………… . b. A microcomputer
doesn’t…………….a minicomputer in flexibility.
c. The two computer languages Pascal and PL1 are…………….difficult.
3. consideration, consider, considerable, considerably
a.There is a………….difference between written and spoken English.
b. It is important to………….the capabilities and limitations of a computer before
buying one.
c. New printers can print results…...…….faster than previously.
4. design, designed, designation, designer, designing
a. Due to the advances in computer technology, computer………..are faced with a
more challenging job.
b. Computers are…………to process information accurately and quickly.
c. Computer architects are constantly trying to improve on the…………..of
computers.
5. advertisement, advertise, advertised
a. There are many computer-related jobs…………..in The New York Times.
b. The Computers Center will soon………..for more operators and programmers.
c. Career opportunities in computer science and related fields can usually be found in
the………….section of newspapers.
7 Content review
Match the words in column A with the words or statements in column B.
A B
1. internal storage a. means any part of memory can be read equally
quickly

2. real storage b. the information contained in the storage locations

3. random access c. are storage locations in internal storage

4. addresses d. refers to memory contained in the storage

locations
 5. Contents e. hooking up secondary memory devices onto
memory to increase their capacity

6.sequential access f. sometimes called primary memory

7. Virtual storage g. information must be read from secondary

memory devices in a fixed pattern
8 Focus review
We learnt in earlier lesson how to use examples to explain a point or to illustrate an idea
in a given text. It is important to learn to differentiate between the idea and the illustration
of the idea with examples. Writers often say explicitly which things are examples by
using connectives like for example, such as, etc...
Complete the following table by referring back to the text on ‘Primary and Secondary
Memory’, and locating connectives used for illustrations and examples.

Para Items(s) to be Example Marker Example

Exemplified

[1] quantities of K

[4]a. an example

[4]b. Magnetic
disk

[4]c. virtual storage

Reinforcement (e.g )
1. In addition to their speed ,computers are accurate and can do repetitive operations
over and over again without becoming tired or bored .
2. Microcomputers are cheaper than mainframes , as well as being compact and
portable .
Similarity (e.g)
1. Microcomputers can have a storage capacity of up to 32k, likewise minicomputers .
2.Many minicomputers are used merely for a fixed application and run only a single
program . Microcomputers operate in much the same way as is the case in automobile
emission control systems.