Read carefully and put 8 questions (2 general questions, 2 special questions, 2 alternative questions and 2 disjunctive questions) to the text. 1. in 1960’s advances in microelectronic, components led to the development of the minicomputer followed more recently by an even smaller microcomputer. both have filled a need for small but relatively flexible processing systems able to execute comparatively simple computing functions at lower costs. in 1971 intel corporation delivered the first microprocessor, the 4004. all the logic to implement the central processing unit of a tiny computer was put onto a single silicon chip less than ¼ inches square. that design was soon followed by many others. the progress toward smaller computers is continuing, designers are working at nano-computers and pico-computers. when the central processing unit of a computer is implemented in a single or very small number of integrated circuits, we call it a microprocessor. when a computer includes a microprocessor as its major component, such device is called a microcomputer. today the hardware in data-processing machines is built out of microelectronic devices. advances in microelectronic devices give rise to advances in data-processing machinery. 2. the computer has made it possible to mechanize much of the information interchange and processing that constitute the nervous system of our society. the versatility and convenience of the microprocessor has changed the entire architecture of modern computer systems. no longer is the processing of information carried out only in the computer’s central processing unit. today there is a trend toward distributing more processing capability throughout a computer system, with various areas having small local processors for handling operations in those areas. there are a number of advantages of distributed processing. first, since many elements of the computer can be working on different portions of the same task, the work may be done faster. second, if one element in the network malfunctions, its workload can be shifted to another element or shared among several elements, so that the entire work is relatively immune to failure. third, the network can be small enough to be contained within a single laboratory or building, or it can be spread out over a wide area.