IT World

Unit 12 Analog-to-digital conversion

A. Reading Comprehension

Discuss the following questions

1. Is your computer connected to the Internet?
2. What device do you need to connect your computer to the Internet?
3. How does that work?

Read the texts and complete the tasks that follow

Passage 1

1. In transmission of speech, audio, or video

information, the object is high fidelity – that is,
the best possible reproduction of the original 1. gi¶m chÊt lîng
message without the degradations1 imposed by 2. t×nh tr¹ng mÐo
signal distortion2 and noise. The basis of tÝn hiÖu
relatively noise-free and distortion-free
telecommunication is the binary signal. The
binary signal consists of only two possible values. 3. t¬ng øng víi
These values are represented3 by the binary
digits, or bits, 1 and 0. Unless the noise and
distortion picked up during transmission are
great enough to change the binary signal from 4. x¶y ra
one value to another, the correct value can be
determined by the receiver so that perfect
reception can occur4.

2. If the information to be transmitted is already in

binary form (as in data communication), there is
no need for the signal to be digitally encoded. 5. tµu th¨m dß vò
But ordinary voice communications taking place trô
by way of a telephone are not in binary form;
neither is much of the information gathered for 6. thay ®æi
transmission from a space probe5, nor are the
television or radio signals gathered for
transmission through a satellite link. Such
signals, which continually vary6 among a range
of values, are said to be analog, and in digital
communications systems analog signals must be
converted to digital form. The process of making
this signal conversion is called analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion.
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Task 1 Using the line reference given, look back in the text and find
words that have the similar meaning to:
1. truthfulness (lines 1-3 of para 1) ......................................
2. of two values (lines 3-5 of para 1)
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3. decided (lines 11-13 of para 1) ......................................
4. put into code (lines 1-3 of para 2)
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5. changed (lines 10-13 of para 2) ......................................

Task 2 Answer the following questions using the information in the

text.
1. What is the advantage of the binary signal?
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2. What are the two values of the binary signal?
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3. Why is it necessary to digitally encode the signal?
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4. Give some examples of analog signals.
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5. What is analog-to-digital conversion?
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Passage 2
1. Modem1 is a device that converts between
analog and digital signals. Digital signals, which 1. modem, bé
®iÒu gi¶i
are used by computers, are made up of separate

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units, usually represented by a series of 1's and

0's. Analog signals vary continuously; an example
of an analog signal is a sound wave.
2. Modems are often used to enable computers to
communicate with each other across telephone
lines. A modem converts the digital signals of the
sending computer to analog signals that can be
transmitted through telephone lines. When the
signal reaches its destination, another modem
reconstructs the original digital signal, which is 2. song c«ng hoµn
processed by the receiving computer. If both toµn
modems can transmit data to each other
simultaneously, the modems are operating in full 3. b¸n song c«ng
duplex2 mode; if only one modem can transmit at
a time, the modems are operating in half
duplex3 mode. 4. t¹o ra
3. To convert a digital signal to an analog one, the
modem generates4 a carrier wave and
modulates it according to the digital signal. The 5. ®iÒu biÕn biªn
®é
kind of modulation used depends on the
application and the speed of operation for which
the modem is designed. For example, many high- 6. ®iÒu biÕn pha
speed modems use a combination of amplitude
modulation5, where the amplitude of the carrier
wave is changed to encode the digital
information, and phase modulation6, where the 7. gi¶i ®iÒu biÕn
phase of the carrier wave is changed to encode
the digital information.
4. The process of receiving the analog signal and
converting it back to a digital signal is called
demodulation7. The word “modem” is a
contraction of its two basic functions: modulation
and demodulation.

Task 3 Choose the best subtitle in the followings for the four
paragraphs of the text
A. How to convert a digital signal to an analog signal.
B. What is a modem?
C. What is modulation?
D. How modems operate in communication.
E. What is phase modulation?
F. What is the word “modem”?

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Paragraph 1 Subtitle ...................
Paragraph 2 Subtitle ...................
Paragraph 3 Subtitle ...................
Paragraph 4 Subtitle ...................

Task 4 Using the line reference given, look back in the text and
find the words that have the similar meaning to:
1. change (lines 3-6 of para 1)
....................................
2. builds again (lines 5-7 of para 2)
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3. at the same time (lines 7-10 of para 2)
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4. regulates (lines 1-3 of para 3)
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5. shortened form (lines 3-4 of para 4)
....................................

B. Translation practice

Task 1 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese

1. The binary signal consists of only two possible values.

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2. These values are represented by the binary digits, or bits, 1 and 0.
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3. Ordinary voice communications taking place by way of a telephone are
not in binary form.
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......................

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4. Such signals, which continually vary among a range of values, are said to
be analog, and in digital communications systems analog signals must be
converted to digital form.
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5. The process of making this signal conversion is called analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion.
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Task 2 Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese

1. Modem is a device that converts between analog and digital signals.

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2. Modems are often used to enable computers to communicate with each
other across telephone lines.
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3. To convert a digital signal to an analog one, the modem generates a
carrier wave and modulates it according to the digital signal.
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4. The process of receiving the analog signal and converting it back to a
digital signal is called demodulation.
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5. The word “modem” is a contraction of its two basic functions: modulation
and demodulation.

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Task 3 Translate the following passage into Vietnamese

Digital-to-Analog Converter or DAC, device for converting digital data

into current or voltage analogs. DACs are now widely used in compact disc
(CD) players, in digital audio- and videotape players, and in digital signal
processing audio and video equipment. Most DACs use some form of
resistor network. Digital data is applied to the resistors in groups of bits.
The resistances vary in definite ratios; the current flow in each one relates
directly to the binary value of the bit received.

Analog-To-Digital Converter or ADC, an electronic device for converting

data from analog to digital form for use in electronic equipment such as
digital computers, digital audio and video recorders, and communication
equipment. Analog or continuously varying electrical waveforms are
applied to the device and are sampled at a fixed rate. Sample values are
then expressed as a digital number, using a binary numbering system
consisting only of 0's and 1's. The resulting digital codes can be used in
various types of communications systems.
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C. Speaking

1. Using the answers to the questions in Part I, Task 1, make a

speech on analog-digital conversion.
2. Using the details in Part II, Task 2, talk about the modem.

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