Tuning-in Task 1 A Graphical User Interface (GUI) makes computers easier to use. A GUI uses icons. Icons are pictures which represent programs, folders, and files. Can you identify any of these icons?
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Task 2 Find the icons for the software which controls these items. 1 date and time 3 fonts 5 a modem 2 the mouse 4 the keyboard 6 sounds
Listening: Dialog box Task 3 Study this dialog box. Tick (✔) the features you can identify. 1 text box 3 checkbox 5 drop-down list box 2 tab 4 title bar 6 command button
Find: Files named*.doc containing text sport a - + File Edit View Options Help
b Name & Location Date Advanced c Find Now
Named: *.doc Stop
Containing text: sport d New Search
Look in: C:\Personal e
Include subfolders f Browse…
0 file(s) found Monitoring New Items
Task 4 Now listen and check your answers.
Task 5 Listen again. Match the 1 command button a Find features of a dialog box 2 dialog box b Advanced (1–4) with the examples 3 tab c Look in from the screen (a–d). 4 drop-down list box d Stop
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BASIC ENGLISH FOR COMPUTING STUDENT’S BOOK © Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt Task 6 Here are the steps for using this dialog box. Put them in the correct order. a Enter name, location, and text required. c Choose tab. b Press Find Now command button. d Open dialog box.
Reading: WIMP Task 7 Study this screen display. Can you find these items?
1 a window 2 an icon 3 a pointer 4 a menu
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Task 8 Find definitions in the text of these items.
1 menu 3 window 5 pointer 2 interface 4 active window 6 icon
Most computers have a Graphical User Interface. The interface is the connection between the user and the computer. The most common type of GUI uses a WIMP system. WIMP stands for Window, Icon, Menu (or Mouse), Pointer (or Pull-down/Pop-up menu).
Windows A window is an area of the computer screen where you can 5 see the contents of a folder, a file, or a program. Some systems allow several windows on the screen at the same time and windows can overlap each other. The window on the top is the one which is ‘active’, the one in use.
Icons are small pictures on the screen. They represent programs, 10 folders, or files. For example, the Recycle Bin icon represents a program for deleting and restoring files. Most systems have a special area of the screen on which icons appear. Menus give the user a list of choices. You operate the menu by pressing and releasing one or more buttons on the mouse. 15 The pointer is the arrow you use to select icons or to choose options from a menu. You move the pointer across the screen with the mouse. Then you click a button on the mouse to use the object selected by the pointer.
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BASIC ENGLISH FOR COMPUTING STUDENT’S BOOK © Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt Language work: Making definitions Study these descriptions of an icon. An icon is a small picture on a computer screen. An icon represents items such as floppy disks. We can link these sentences to make a definition of an icon. An icon is a small picture on a computer screen which represents items such as floppy disks. Study these other examples of definitions. A mainframe is a very large computer which is used by universities, businesses, and government departments. A palmtop is a very small computer which can be held in one hand. A byte is a small unit of memory which can hold one character of data.
Task 9 Add to the statements (1–10) using the extra information (a–j). Example A barcode is a pattern of printed black lines which supermarkets use for pricing. 1 A barcode is a pattern of a it contains the main electronic printed black lines components. 2 A floppy is a disk b it adds features to a computer. 3 A motherboard is a printed c it is about the size of a piece of circuit board paper. 4 A password is a secret set of d supermarkets use them characters for pricing. 5 A monitor is an output device e it reads and writes to disks. 6 A disk drive is a unit f it can hold 1.44MB of data. 7 An expansion card is an g it allows access to a computer electronic board system. 8 A CD-ROM drive is a common h it controls all the other boards storage device in a computer. 9 A notebook is a portable computer i it displays data on a screen. 10 The system unit is the main j it reads data from a CD-ROM disk. part of the computer
Task 10 Work with a partner. Ask for and make definitions of these items. Add other examples of your own.
1 PC 4 active window 2 menu 5 pointer 3 window 6 CD
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BASIC ENGLISH FOR COMPUTING STUDENT’S BOOK © Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt Aids to communication You can use these phrases when you’re discussing possibilities. I think it’s ... It might/could be ... Possibly it’s ...
Problem-solving Task 11 Work in pairs. Study these forms the cursor can take on your computer. Try to match each icon to one item from the list below.
abc defg
1 hourglass 5 crosshair 2 arrow pointer 6 magnifying glass 3 pointing finger 7 drag and drop arrow 4 not available
Writing Task 12 Write a description of the Shut Down Windows dialog box. Your description should answer these questions.
1 What does this computer screen show? 2 What do you use this dialog box for? 3 What features does the dialog box contain? 4 What happens if you click on each button?
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BASIC ENGLISH FOR COMPUTING STUDENT’S BOOK © Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt