Vocabulary work
Read the poem “Life before computer”. Write out the words that have two meanings − the basic ordinary meaning and a computer term. Supply them with definitions and translations.
Make sure you understand the other words in the poem!
Help Hint: to find a definition on the web go Google with “define:word”
Life before computer
Application − 1) a verbal or written request for employment or admission to a school 2) a program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task Program − 1)… |
An application was for employment A program was a TV show A cursor used profanity And a keyboard was on a piano!
Memory was something that you lost with age And a CD was a bank account And if you had a corrupted disk It would hurt when you found out!
Compress was what you did to garbage Not something you did to a file And if you unzipped anything in public You'd be in jail for a while!
Log on was adding wood to a fire A hard drive was a trip on the road A mouse pad was where a mouse lived And a backup happened to the commode!
Cutting, you did with a pocket knife, Pasting, you did with glue. The Web was where a spider lived And a virus was the flu! Life Was Good Back Then!
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L isten and Speak
Record 1.
Listen to the people telling how they use their computers at work. Fill in the table below:
Speaker |
Job |
What they use computers for and how |
Electrical engineer |
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Secretary |
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Librarian |
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Composer |
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Write an Essay
Most people interact with a computer several times a day. Write a short report (300 words) about how computers are being used around you. For example, have you ever used an automatic teller machine? Have you seen someone use a supermarket scanner? During the course of a few days, take note of how you see computers being used. In the examples you give, describe why you think a computer is used.
A closer look Warm up
Match the photos: Desktop, Laptop or Server?
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Define the concepts and say where and what for these types of computers are used:
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Read and Talk
<key words>
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keyboard |
upgrade |
boot |
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printer |
click |
desktop |
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double click |
laptop |
firmware |
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CD/DVD-ROM |
re-boot |
software |
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server |
MAC and PC |
storing and processing |
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Buying your first computer |
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Practice the conversation: |
− Hi Jim. How's it going? − Pretty good, John. I'm going to buy a new computer this afternoon. − Wow! What kind are you going to buy? − I think I'll buy a desktop. − Why not a laptop? − Well, I’ve got my old Mac and it’s ok. I need a workstation now. You know, new games need some powerful PCs. Besides I’m in for video and slideshow montage and it takes resources. I need a bigger hard disk and memory and cards. − I see. You should make a good system and upgradeable of course. Are you buying a ready made computer or create it by selecting all the parts yourself? − I think I’ll build it myself at a local store or even from some sites on the internet. This is because all the big computer companies use proprietary components and if you buy a ready made one it is harder to upgrade. − I know the prices in the local shopping mall are really coming down. − No, it’s a bad idea, I prefer specialized computer shops, they can assemble the parts you buy from them and help with advice. − And I suppose you can have some tech support from the shop later? − Sure. And upgrades are easier.
Have you used a desktop? A laptop? A Mac? A PC? What type do you have? A ready made or a built up one? Have you ever upgraded your computer?
Reproduce the talk with your partner. |
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Give a definition to the words: |
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Mac: |
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Workstation: |
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PC: |
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Proprietary components: |
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Hard disc: |
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Memory and cards: |
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Tech support: |
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Upgrades: |
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