UNIT 9 Can You Use a Computer?

Integrated Skills Development

Passage I Have Never Used a Computer

Janet decides it's time to learn how to use a computer, and goes to the computer room in her college. She asks someone there how to use the computer. The following is the conversation between Janet (J) and another student (AS) in the computer room.
J: Excuse me, can you help me?
AS: Oh, yeah, sure. What's the problem?
J: Well, I've never used a computer before, I'm afraid, so I have very little idea what to do.
AS: Oh, yeah, OK, sure, well you'd better start at the beginning then... Well, first you need to switch it on. (He switches on the computer.) OK. Now we've just got to wait for a minute or so while the computer checks itself out... now just wait. Right, here it is, you see this coloured screen, this is Windows 95.
J: What is Windows 95?
AS: Windows 95 is an operating system, which controls the hardware, reading from and writing to the disk, sending information to the printer and so forth. Now, move the mouse. You see the arrow on the screen? It is controlled by the mouse. Move the arrow to the "Start" icon at the bottom of the screen and click the left-hand button of your mouse and you will get a menu.
J: What does the menu mean?
AS: The menu is just the list of programs which are on the computer so you can choose the one you want.
J: Well, I just want to do some typing, type my essay, so what do I want actually? AS: Right, you want the word processor, that is, the "Microsoft Word" in this computer. Point the cursor to "Program" and you can find some of the programs that come with Windows 95 (right, OK), that's it, OK. To start the typing program, click "Microsoft Word" now... There you are, blank screen. You could just start typing now, as if it's a typewriter.
J: Er, OK... what if I make a mistake, I know it'll correct it, but how do I do that?
AS: OK, um, well, the mouse you used before, you can use it to move the cursor to the front of the mistake and click, then press "Delete", and type in whatever you want to correct it to. Very important is saving your document so that you can go away, come back to it... In order to save your document, you should use your mouse to click the "File" menu and find "Save" function there. Now click the "Save" and see what happens. Now you can see it asks you for a name, so now you need to type in a name you want to call your document.
J: OK, so if I call it by my name, Janet?
AS: Right, OK, and press "Enter" again, and there you can see it's, er, it's saving it for you.
J: OK, er, it seems quite easy actually.
AS: The other thing you need to know is, um, how to finish, er, how to exit. I'll tell you what — I'll go and get on with my work over there and er, let me know when you've finished, and I'll come and help you exit.
J: Oh thanks very much, you've been very helpful and kind. Thank you. Will you be here actually?
AS: Yeah, I'm going to be here for the next couple of hours, so, er, sure.
J: So if I get stuck you can help me?
AS: Yes, of course.
J: Thanks a lot.

New Words and Expressions

arrow
n. 箭；箭头

blank
a. 空白的
n. 空白

click
V. 揿，使发出卡嗒声

cursor
n. 光标

delete
V. 删除；擦掉

disk
n. 磁盘

enter
V. 走进，进入；参加

essay
n. 短文，散文，小品文

forth
ad. 向前；向外，往外

hardware
n. 硬件（计算机的机械及电子部件）

icon
n. 图标

menu
n. 菜单；饭菜，菜肴

mouse
v. 鼠标；老鼠

operate
v. 操作

press
v. 压，揿，按

printer
n. 打印机

processor
n. 处理器

screen
n. 屏；屏幕

select
v. 选择；挑选

stuck
a. 不能动，不能继续做某事

switch (on/off)
n. 开关；转换
v. 转换，开，关

system
n. 系统，体系；制度

typewriter
n. 打字机

whatever
a. & pron.无论什么

check sth. out
检查某事物（是否真实、安全等）

and so forth
等等（表示列举未尽）

that is
亦即，也就是说

there you are
事情办到了；目的达到了

make a mistake
犯错误

I'll tell you what
你听我说

get on with
继续做某事

Merry Learning

Challenge to Think

When the bus I was waiting for finally arrived, the woman in front of me handed the driver a transfer (转乘票). "Lady," he said, "this transfer is from yesterday."
"That tells you how long I've been waiting for this bus," she replied.