:::::::Searle himself is updating the file cabinets, with precisely the same unreadable symbols that the computer program used to update its memory. Remember that Searle is simulating a computer program that, we assume, was capable of fully intelligent behavior. If he can't, or if the program can't exist, then the thought experiment is sort of pointless. 

 :::::::The original computer program could only answer the question about time if it had access to some kind of clock. To tell you the truth, I don't know how operating systems actually access their clocks. I assume it's some kind of special assembler statement. For the thought experiment to make sense, we have to assume that Searle has access to the same resources as the original program. In my example, I substituted "look at the clock" for whatever special hardware call a program needs to get at the host computer's clock.