Unit 13: English for Computers

Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn and practise vocabulary related to computers.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

• understanding computer hardware

The grammar focus of this unit is:

• Articles

Vocabulary

	anpassungsfähig
	die Anwendung
	die Pfeiltaste
	helfend, unterstützend
	der Anhang
	die Datensicherung
	die Farbpatrone, das Steckmodul
	kompatibel, Verträglich
	Kurzform für die Zentraleinheit eines Computers
	die Cursorsteuerung
	die Daten
	die Datenbank
	die Vorrichtung, das Gerät
	die Bildschirmanzeige
	herunterlagen
	das E-Mail
	die Eingabetaste
	die Festplatte
	die Hardware
	eingeben
	die Informationstechnik
	die Taste
	die Tastatur
	das Tastenfeld
	der Laptop
	der Hauptspeicher
	der Mikroprozessor
	die Maus
	das Netzwerk
	das Betriebssystem
	die Datenausgabe
	Kurzbegriff für den Personalcomputer
	das Peripheriegerät
	der Drucker
	programmieren
	der Scanner
	der Bildschirm
	die Tabellenkalkulation
	die Lagerung
	verbinden, anschließen
	abstürzen
	löschen
	drucken
	sichern
	abspeichern
	surfen
	aktualisieren
	technisch aufrüsten
	der Virus
	das Textverarbeitungsgerät

Exercises

Section 1: Vocabulary Practice

Fill in the correct translation for each of the terms below.

1. anpassungsfähig [?]
2. technisch aufrüsten [?]
3. der Anhang [?]
4. helfend, unterstützend [?]
5. abstürzen [?]
6. die Eingabetaste [?]
7. das Betriebssystem [?]
8. das Tastenfeld [?]
9. die Daten [?]
10. der Mikroprozessor [?]
11. abspeichern [?]
12. der Bildschirm [?]
13. der Scanner [?]
14. löschen [?]
15. die Cursorsteuerung [?]
16. die Maus [?]
17. kompatibel, Verträglich [?]
18. das Netzwerk [?]
19. die Anwendung [?]
20. programmieren [?]
21. die Informationstechnik [?]
22. das Textverarbeitungsgerät [?]
23. Kurzbegriff für den Personalcomputer [?]
24. die Vorrichtung, das Gerät [?]
25. der Laptop [?]
26. die Tabellenkalkulation [?]
27. das Peripheriegerät [?]
28. die Datensicherung [?]
29. verbinden, anschließen [?]
30. der Virus [?]
31. die Festplatte [?]
32. der Hauptspeicher [?]
33. surfen [?]
34. die Pfeiltaste [?]
35. sichern [?]
36. die Datenausgabe [?]
37. die Tastatur [?]
38. Kurzform für die Zentraleinheit eines Computers [?]
39. herunterlagen [?]
40. drucken [?]
41. die Hardware [?]
42. die Datenbank [?]
43. das E-Mail [?]
44. die Taste [?]
45. aktualisieren [?]
46. der Drucker [?]
47. eingeben [?]
48. die Bildschirmanzeige [?]
49. die Farbpatrone, das Steckmodul [?]
50. die Lagerung [?]

Section 2: Listening Comprehension

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. The basic tasks of the microprocessor are:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
2. Peripheral equipment is:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
3. Information is stored:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
4. Another word for information is:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
5. The mouse is connected to:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. The keyboard is:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
2. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
3. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
4. Arrow keys allow the user to:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
5. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. What is assistive technology?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
2. Assistive computer technology works with:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
3. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
4. Most blind people:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
5. A screen reader is:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
6. What is 'hard copy'?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. Jonathan has got:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
2. He's had it:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
3. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
4. Which is correct?

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]
5. Jonathan mentions:

   a. 
   b. 
   c. 
   

   [?]

Section 3: General Comprehension

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

1. The initials CPU stand for Central Processing Unit.

   
   
   

   [?]
2. Hardware cannot perform tasks without software.

   
   
   

   [?]
3. Data is often stored on a scanner.

   
   
   

   [?]
4. The numeric keypad is on the left of the keyboard.

   
   
   

   [?]
5. Arrow keys allow you to move around the screen.

   
   
   

   [?]
6. Devices exist for Braille input and output.

   
   
   

   [?]
7. Screen readers are people who read screens.

   
   
   

   [?]
8. A hard copy is a copy on a hard disk.

   
   
   

   [?]
9. The Microsoft Windows operating system never crashes.

   
   
   

   [?]
10. Adaptive technology is another expression for assistive technology.

    
    
    

    [?]

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Press Play to listen to the instructions:

Section 4: Grammar Practice

In this exercise let's practise changing from a sentence without the definitive article to a sentence with the definite article.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Example:

1. A. Do you like fish? (the fish in this restaurant)
   B. [?]
2. A. Do you like Windows? (the latest version)
   B. [?]
3. A. Modern printers are very fast. (the printer in my office)
   B. [?]
4. A. Computers always crash. (the computers we use)
   B. [?]
5. A. Computer software is usually expensive. (the software we are developing)
   B. [?]