Audioscripts

Unit I. Tasks 4, 5.

… as I'll explain to you now, computers can be divided into five main types, depending on their size and power. These are: mainframes, desktop PCs, laptops, tablet PCs and personal digital assistants, or PDAs.

Mainframes are the largest and most powerful computers. The basic configuration of a mainframe consists of a central system which processes immense amounts of data very quickly. This central system provides information and computing facilities for hundreds of terminals connected together in a network. Mainframes are used for large-scale computing purposes in banks, universities and big companies.

PCs, or personal computers, carry out their processing on a single microchip. They are usually classified by size and portability. A desktop PC is designed to be placed on your desk. It is used as a home computer or as a workstation for group work. Typical examples are the IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh.

A laptop is a portable computer that has a flat LCD screen and uses batteries for mobile use. Small laptops are also called notebooks. The latest models can run as fast as similar desktop computers and have similar configurations. They are ideal for business executives who travel a lot.

A tablet PC is a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which you can write with a stylus or digital pen. Your handwriting is recognized and converted into editable text. You can also input text by using speech recognition or a small keyboard. You can fold and rotate the screen easily.

Finally, a PDA is a lightweight, handheld computer.

The letters stand for personal digital assistant. The term refers to a wide variety of handheld devices, including palmtops and pocket PCs. For input, you type using a small keyboard or you use a stylus - a special pen to select items on the screen. PDAs can be used as mobile phones, personal organizers or media players. They also let you access the Internet via Wi-Fi networks, and some include a GPS navigation system.

Unit II. Tasks 3, 4.

Assistant: Do you need any help?

Paul: Um, yes, we're looking for a Mac computer. Have you got any fairly basic ones?

Assistant: Yes, sure. If you'd like to come over here ...

Paul: What different models are there?

Assistant: At the moment we've got these two models: the iMac, which is a desktop computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor operating at 2.33 gigahertz, and the portable MacBook, which has a processor running at 2.0 gigahertz. Core Duo technology actually means two cores, or processors, built into a single chip, offering up to twice the speed of a traditional chip.

Sue: So they're both very fast, then. And which one has more memory? I mean, which has more RAM?

Assistant: Well, the iMac has two gigabytes of RAM, which can be expanded up to three gigabytes, and the MacBook has one gigabyte, expandable to two gigabytes. It all depends on your needs. The iMac is suitable for home users and small offices. The MacBook is more practical if you travel a lot.

Sue: And what's the storage capacity of the hard drive?

Assistant: The iMac has a storage capacity of 500 gigabytes, and the MacBook has a hard drive of 160 gigabytes.

Sue: Do they have a DVD drive?

Assistant: Yes, they each come with a DVD SuperDrive that lets you burn all types of DVDs and CDs. And they feature a camera built right into the display so you can start a video chat instantly.

Sue: And how much do they cost?

Assistant: The iMac is £819 and the MacBook is £1,029. They both come with wireless networking and Bluetooth.

Paul: What about the operating system?

Assistant: Well, every Mac comes with the latest version of Mac OS pre-installed; that includes internet software and some programs to organize and edit your photos, music and movies.

Paul: OK, well, thanks very much. I think we need to go away and think about it for a bit.

Unit II. Task 12.

1

This device is used to enter information into the computer. As well as having normal typewriter keys for characters and a numeric keypad, it may also have function keys and editing keys for special purposes.

2

This is a device for controlling the cursor and selecting items on the screen. The ball underneath is rolled in any direction across the surface of a desk to move the cursor on the screen. It may have an optical sensor instead of a ball. It usually features two buttons and a wheel. By clicking a button, the user can activate icons or select items and text. A wireless version works without cables.

3

In shape, this input device is similar to an ordinary pen. It works by detecting light from the computer screen and is used by pointing it directly at the screen display. It allows the user to answer multiple-choice questions and to draw diagrams or graphics.

Unit II. Task 35.

Tony: There are a number of health and safety problems that may result from the continuous use of computers. Anyone spending more than four hours a day working on a PC may start to suffer from aching hands, neck or shoulders, occasional headaches, and eyestrain.

Worker one: Is there anything we can do to avoid it?

Tony: Yes, there's a lot you can do. For example, if you take the trouble to position your computer properly, you can avoid backache. Get a good chair, one that supports your lower back and is adjustable so you can change its height and angle. Make sure your feet rest firmly on the floor or on a footrest. Position the keyboard at the same height as your elbows, with your arms parallel to the work surface, and position the monitor at or just below eye level. You should look down at it slightly, not up. Don't put your monitor in front of a window, and make sure there isn't a lamp shining directly into your eyes or reflecting off the screen. You should sit at arm's length from the front of the monitor – about 50 to 70 centimetres away. It's a good idea to have a monitor with a tilt-and-swivel stand. Does anyone know what that is?

Worker two: Yes. I think it's a kind of stand that lets you move the monitor up or around, so you can use it at the correct angle and height.

Tony: That's right. Now, do you know of any health problems caused by using a computer?

Worker three: I've heard of something called RSI. But I'm not exactly sure what it is.

Tony: RSI stands for repetitive strain injury, and it causes pain in the upper arms and back. People who type constantly at high speed often suffer from it.

Worker four: My eyes often feel really sore and tired after I've been using the computer for a few hours. How do I stop that from happening?

Tony: Well, as a general rule, you shouldn't use a monitor that's fuzzy or that distorts the image. Give your eyes a rest. Look away from the monitor from time to time out of the window or across the room.

Unit III. Tasks 10, 11.

Paul: Hi. I need to buy some blank discs, but I'm not sure whether to buy CDs or DVDs. What's the difference?

Assistant: OK, I'll explain. CD stands for compact disc, as you probably know, and DVD is short for digital versatile disc. A DVD is a type of optical disc technology used for storing movies, music and data. It's made from polycarbonate plastic coated with an aluminum layer, but that's probably more information than you need! Paul. So, what's the difference between them?

Assistant: Well, they look the same and both are 1.2 mm thick and 12 cm in diameter. Both technologies use a laser beam to read the digital data encoded on the disc. But they differ in internal structure and capacity. The major difference is that a DVD has a greater data capacity. A CD usually has a capacity of 650 megabytes, while the smallest capacity you'll find on a DVD is 4.7 gigabytes. Paul: And do you need a special drive to read and write data onto DVD, or can I use my CD drive?

Assistant: No, you need a DVD player or a DVD computer drive.

Paul: And what sort of information can a DVD hold?

Assistant: It depends on the type of DVD. DVD-Video discs contain films, including the video content, soundtracks in different languages, and subtitles. DVD-Audio discs contain high-definition sound, and DVD-Data discs contain computer data. Of course, a DVD can contain any combination of video, audio and data content.

Paul: And what about my old CDs? Can I use a DVD drive to play different types of CDs?

Assistant: Yeah – one of the best features of new DVD Writers is that they are backward-compatible, which means they can play old CDs and CD-ROMs as well as DVDs.

Unit IV. Tasks 9, 10.

Anna: Ben, do you know how I can move this paragraph? I want to put it at the end of this page.

Ben: Er ... I think so. First, use the mouse to select the text you want to move. Then choose the Cut command from the Edit menu.

Anna: Like this?

Ben: Yes. The selected text disappears and goes onto the Clipboard. Now you find where you want the text to appear, and you click to position the insertion point there.

Anna: Mm, OK. Is that right?

Ben: Yes, if that's where you want it. Next, choose Paste from the Edit menu, or hold down CTRL and press V. Finally, check that the text has appeared in the right place.

Anna: OK, I've done that now. Is that everything?

Ben: Yes, that's it. If you make a mistake, you can choose Undo from the Edit menu, which will reverse your last editing command.

Anna: Brilliant! Thanks a lot.

Ben: That's OK, it's my pleasure.

Unit VI. Task 18.

Interviewer: Sarah, what's the first step in building a website?

Sarah: First of all, you should always plan it carefully. Decide what sort of information you're going to include and how you're going to organize it. I like to start with the home page, because this is the starting point of your site, almost like the table of contents in a book. It's a good idea to design the site on paper first – a few diagrams will help you clarify the relationships between the pages.

Interviewer: That sounds sensible. What editing tool do you recommend?

Sarah: I recommend using a web editor; it'll make it easier to design your site. You can download a web editor from the Internet quite easily.

Interviewer: I suppose a big part of the job is writing the text and formatting the pages.

Sarah: Yes. You need to type the text and decide the formatting effects. You can also apply styles to text and other page elements.

Interviewer: And what about graphics and sounds?

Sarah: Well, that's the next step. You can insert all sorts of pictures and sounds, but they should have a clear purpose, some sort of communicative intention. Don't insert photos or animations just to make the pages look nice, and avoid having a large number of graphics.

Interviewer: Why's that?

Sarah: Because graphics can take a long time to download, and visitors might give up and leave.

Interviewer: I see. Any advice about the use of colour?

Sarah: It's fun to experiment with colour. You may like to choose different colours for the background and the text. But make sure that all the text is easy to read and avoid very bright colours.

Interviewer: OK. What's next?

Sarah: Once you've created and saved a few pages, it's time to join them together with hyperlinks. A good design principle is not to put too many links on one page – people may lose patience or get distracted. And check that all the links work, since web addresses sometimes change.

Interviewer: So, be careful with links. What do I do if I then want to publish my website on the Net?

Sarah: To publish your site, you have to find a web server and then transfer all the files from your PC to the server. This is called going live.

Interviewer: Right, sounds easy! Any final comments, Sarah, before we take some calls?

Sarah: Yes, try to keep the pages updated, improving the content and design if necessary. And the final touch: always include the date to show that your site is up-to-date.

Unit VII. Tasks 9, 10.

Extract 1

Like many people, I regularly buy things online, mostly books, music and airline tickets. Many online retailers offer good rates or discounts. Occasionally, I also buy things on internet auction sites such as eBay, where people sell things to the highest bidder.

There are four main steps to buying online. First, you enter a site dedicated to e-commerce and browse their products. Then you put the items you want to buy into a virtual shopping cart, a program that lets you select the products and buy with a credit card. Thirdly, you enter your personal data - you may have to log in with a username and a password if you have an account with the site - and finally, you confirm the order and log out.

But before buying things online, you should take a few basic precautions. Read all the product information clearly; check whether you are entitled to cancel the purchase; always keep a printout of your order; don't give any private information that is not directly required for your transaction, for example about your shopping habits; only give your credit card number to suppliers that you know and trust, and make sure their website is secure.

Extract 2

Online banking is the term used for performing transactions and payments through a bank's website. The greatest advantage of online banking is obviously convenience. I can access my account, check balances, pay bills and transfer funds at any time and to anywhere.

But the big issue with online banking is of course security and cybercrime. Most banks use various layers of authentication to prevent fraud: they give you a PIN with a username and a password, and for some transactions you'll be required to use a TAN, a transaction authorization number.

Nevertheless, there are some basic precautions you should take. Never give your PIN to anyone and don't even write it down. Be aware of phishing – you may receive fake emails claiming to be from your bank and asking for personal information or account details in an attempt to steal your identity. Don't provide any sensitive information unless you're sure it's your bank that is requesting it. Finally, don't forget to invest in some good anti-spy software.