Verb phrases associated with computers
to switch on to cut the text
to switch off to paste the text
top load a programme to find and replace
to quit a programme to insert a symbol
to open a window to save your work
to close a window to print out
to type a document to use shortcuts
to select the text to use the mouth
to highlight the text to click and drag
to copy the text
I haven’t got enough memory.
My computer’s crashed.
I’ve lost work.
The screen’s frozen.
My computer’s got a virus.
I called the helpline.
The internet and e-mail
internet / net home page
service provider (SP) website
search engine password
I like surfing the net.
I go online between 8 p. m. and 8.30 p. m.
I e-mail my cousin regularly.
I sometimes forward jokes to my friends.
Computer knowledge
He’s a computer genius. I’m a computer-literate.
He’s a computer nerd. I’m a technophobe.
Exercise 3. Read and translate the text:
Computers in our life
Today's world is often called the computer world. Computer is an electronic machine that stores information and uses programmes to help you find, organize, or change the information. Computers store the information.
We cannot imagine our life without computers. Computer is one of the fascinating technologies that humans have ever invented. The first computers were developed during the Second World War. They were used to break the codes, used to send secret information.
After that, they were used for doing calculations for the first atom bomb tests. Basically, computers can do calculations very quickly, no man is capable of doing such calculations so quickly. The first computers were very big. They needed large and air-condition rooms. Modem computers are small enough and we keep them in our flats. They turn numbers into pictures, words and sounds.
The computer revolution has brought changes into many professions and spheres of knowledge. A modern office is unimaginable without computers. We can send messages by e-mail with the help of computers.
Besides computers may be connected with Internet. We can download a lot of important information, music, films, and a large amount of videos. We listen to music on computer and watch films. We can use computers in our study: we search for new information, reports and we can find out something really necessary, we can surf the net. Also, we can communicate with our friends who are in a long distance from us.
Still, computers have some dangers and disadvantages. Information from computers can be stolen by hackers. Sometimes computers are broken at the most important moment. In order to work on the computer you should have many skills. Even when you make a small mistake you often have to start your work from the very beginning. One must, be very patient working on the computer.
Computer spoils our health, because we can sit before the screen all day long: our eyes are tired and we get radiation. Some parents worry about computer games because they think their children won't be able to communicate with real people in the real world. Children can become computer addicts and spend all their time before the computer screen. Nowadays many people play a lot of computer games, which have a harmful effect on our psychological state of mind.
When my parents bought me a computer 1 was in the 7th heaven of delight. Of course I first played some games and watched cartoons but soon I got tired of it and started to do more serious things. I made calculations for my classes in Maths, typed topics for my English classes. I dream of having some translation programmes and good dictionaries on CD when I become a translator. Now, computer is an important part of my life.
Remember!
People who work with computers are: user, programmer, web designer, IT person, software engineer, (systems) analyst, administrator, webmaster.
Someone who tries to break into a computer system is: a hacker, a cracker.
Things you do with your computer: start up/power up your computer;
open a file or document; enter information; click on an icon; cut and paste pieces of the text; copy files or programmes; scroll up and down the page; delete things you do not want; download files or pictures from the Internet; burn CDs or DVDs; close a file or document; save your work; shut down your computer.
Computer problems: bug, virus, error, corrupted file/data, crash, wormcompute.
Exercise 4. Answer the questions:
Why can not we imagine our lives without computers?
What were the first computers like?
Why was the first computer used? What was its first function?
How can we use computers nowadays?
What are advantages of computer?
What are disadvantages of computer?
Why are more boys than girls interested in computers?
Who are computer addicts?
What are computer addicts like?
Is computer addiction harmful? Why?
Exercise 5. Translate below-given vocabulary, words and use them to make
a sentence on computer technology:
Group A: monitor • screen • window • keyboard- • mouse • mouse pad • floppy disk • CD-ROM • modem • printer
Group В: software • hardware • online • memory • website • e-mail • Internet • to log on • word processing • to start up • to connect • to crash • to surf • to print
Exercise 6. Insert the words from Group В in the text below:
'As soon as I get home from school, I (1)... my computer. It's a couple of years old now so I've had to expand the (2) ... First of all I (3) ... to the (4)... and go to Sporting Life, which is a sports news (5) ..., to find out the latest football results. Then I check my (6) ... to see if anyone has sent me any messages. If I have a homework project, I'll (7)... the Internet to see if there is any useful information. If I find a good text that's quite long, I'll (8)... it as it's often easier to read on paper. When my parents bought the computer, we got lots of free (9) ..., including an encyclopaedia and a (10) ... package, which is very useful for writing my projects. I sometimes get bad days when the computer seems to (11) ... all the time. And some days the Internet is busy, so when you dial it doesn't (12)... . People say it's because millions of users in the USA go (13) ... at that time. My mother is a bit worried that I'm going to run up huge bills on the Internet and that I'm going to become an Internet addict but I don't think I will.
Exercise 7. Computers are becoming more and more common at work and at home. Use the questions below to talk about computers in English:
1. Do you have your own computer or do you only use the computer at College?
2. Can you remember the first time you used a computer?
3. How often do you use the Internet?
4. What kind of websites do you visit most often?
5. Do you ever do "live chat", either with text of voice?
6. Would you rather use a desktop computer or a laptop?
7. What software do you use most often?
8. Which of these activities do you most often do with your computer – listen to music, watch videos, play games, chat with friends, read the news, send email, or edit photos?
Exercise 8. Discussion Questions. Use the questions below to have longer English conversations on the topic of computers. Try to keep the conversation going!
1. Do you consider yourself to be "computer literate" (знавець)?
2. Do your parents or grandparents use computers?
3. What do you think computers will be used for in the future?
4. Do you think computers will ever "take over" the world?
5. Do you have your own web page or blog? If yes, describe it. If no, would you like one in the future?
6. What are some good and bad things about using a computer every day?
7. Does having a computer help make your life easier or does it make your life more complicated? Explain.