Supplier and tel. no.

Task 13

Writing

Imagine that you are the product reviewer for a PC magazine. Decide which word-processing product in Table 1 is the best, then write a paragraph explaining your choice.

Task 14

Speaking

Work individually, then in pairs, using the information in the table on word processors in Task 1 1.

Individually, list the word-processing packages in order of merit (1 = best; 7 =

worst).

In pairs, compare your lists. Explain the reasons for the order you chose. Try to

persuade your partner to change his/her list to match yours.

You may use the space below to write your lists.

\> Useful expressions / aaree with you about, I'm afraid 1 can't aaree with you about... I think... I don't think... X is too expensive. Y has more/fewer features.

Word-play

Task 15 Complete the puzzle and find the key word in 11 down.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Across

1 A program designed to perform a specific function.(11)

2 A general term for programs which do not form part of a computer but are
used when operating it. (8)

3 A facility which allows the user to read in a file of names and create
'personalized' letters. (4,5)

4 A sequence of instructions that is repeated until a desired condition is
reached. (4)

5 A program that manipulates rows and columns of figures, used especially for
accounting. (11)

6 The combined use on computer of text, graphics, video, animation, and
sound. (10)

7 The_____ editor is a systems program that fetches required systems routines

and links them to the object module. (7)

8 The business of preparing, printing, and distributing books or magazines, etc.
to the public. (10)

9 Someone who creates new software products. (9)

10 A program or series of programs directed at some generic application (e.g. word processing) that can be tailored by the user to match his individual needs. (7)

Down

An IBM-. (10)

. computer is one which can be used'with other IBM hardware.

Language focus E

Making comparisons

Formation

The regular comparative and superlative forms of descriptive words (adjectives and adverbs) are shown below:

1 Words of one syllable add the ending -er and -est.

Examples:

Adjectives with two syllables may be like ] or 2 above in that they will add the ending -er and -est if they end in -y or -ly, -ow, -le and -er.

Examples:

Most of the remaining two-syllable adjectives take more and most in front of them.

Examples:

S Some common two-syllabic adjectives can have either type of formation.

Examples:

6 Two-syllable adverbs ending in -ly take more and most.

Examples:

Absolute

quickly

slowly

badly

Comparative

more quickly more slowly more badly

Superlative

most quickly most slowly most badly

A small number of adjectives and adverbs have an irregular comparative and superlative form.

Examples:

Adjectives

Adverbs

Absolute

bad far good many

badly

far

little

much

well

62

Use in sentences

Comparisons may show equivalence, non-equivalence, the highest degree of something, and parallel increase.

Equivalence: the following words or constructions are used to show that things or people are similar in some way.

Examples:

1 Here, the term 'processor* is equivalent to the central processing unit.

2 Uiptops are as powerful as microcomputers.

3 Some companies have as many computers as employees.

4 Some companies use both disks and conventional filing systems for storing
data.

5 A computer virus is like a virus in the human body. It can do a lot of damage.

6 Many word-processing programs are similar in that they share certain
common functions.

Non-equivalence: the following words and constructions are used to compare or contrast things or people that are separate from each other.

Examples:

1 A mainframe is larger and more expensive than a microcomputer.

2 learning to use a computer is not as difficult as learning to program.

3 A fax board costs less than a fax machine.

4 Unlike factory-sealed software, pirated versions may contain viruses.

5 Desktop publishing is the same as electronic publishing.

6 You can save money with a network because you will need fewer printers.

3 The highest degree: the following words and cr— vuctions are used to compare one member of a group with the whole group (superlative).

the...-est

the most...

the least...

Examples:

1 This is the most popular package on the market today.

2 BASIC is probably the least difficult programming language to learn.

3 The best programs are those adapted specifically to your own needs.

Parallel increase: the following words and constructions are used to show parallel increase (two comparatives).

the...-er, the more... the more.... the...-er the...-er, the less...

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Examples:

1 The more memory your computer has, the more data it can store.

2 The bigger your computer system, the less time you spend waiting.

3 The more training you give to your employees, the better they will perform.

The following sentences express computer capabilities and limitations. Decide whether the sentences express equivalence, non-equivalence, or the superlative, then underline the words expressing the comparison. The first one has been done for you.

equivalence Speeds for performing decision-making operations are compa rable to those for arithmetic operations.

-------------------- Evcp the most sophisticated computer, no matter how good it is,

must be told what to do.

-------------------- A computer can perform similar operations thousands of times,

without becoming bored, tired, or careless.

-------------------- For example, modern computers can solve certain classes of

arithmetic problems millions of times faster than a skilled mathematician.

-------------------- One of the most important reasons why computers are used so

widely today is that almost every big problem can be solved by solving a number of little problems.

-------------------- Finally, a computer, unlike a human being, has no intuition.

Read the following sentences taken from previous units. Decide whether the sentences express equivalence, non-equivalence, or the superlative, then underline the words expressing the comparison.

-------------------- Digital Research have continued to develop their operating

system, DR/DOS, and it is considered by many people to be a better product than Microsoft's. (Unit 1)

-------------------- For the last generation, Silicon Valley and Tokyo have been

working to design computers that are ever easier to use. (Unit 2)

------------------- There is one thing, however, that has prevented the machines

from becoming their user-friendliest:... (Unit 2)

----------------- Clipboard PCs - which, as their name suggests, are not much

bigger than an actual clipboard - replace the keyboard with a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and an electronic stylus. (Unit 2)

----------------- ~ When the computer finds the closest match, it encodes the

character in memory and displays it on the screen as if it had been typed. (Unit 2)

------------------- There are a handful of clipboard computers now on the market,

including GRIDPad, which is sold in the US; Penvision, manufactured by NCR and sold around the world; and Sony's Palmtop and Canon's Al Note, both sold only in Japan. (Unit 2)

------------------- I'm frequently asked which online service is 'best' but, the

answer is, there is no best. (Unit 3)

64

8 _-___________ They tend to judge all other online services based on this first

service - often preventing themselves from seeing the advantages of a specific service. (Unit 3)

9_____________ Each offers one or more products or features that either do not

exist elsewhere or are superior to the same features on other services. (Unit 3)

10_____________ Judge it based on what it offers and how it meets your needs -

not in comparison to what you're used to using. (Unit 3)

Exercise 3 Refer back to the table of word-processing packages (Unit 5, page 58) and write

ten sentences comparing the products advertised.

Examples:

Upword is more expensive than JustWrite.

Ami Pro 2.0 has the largest spell check dictionary.

Computer networks

'There! That should make life easier!'

Taski

2 3

Start-up

Try to answer these questions.

What is a LAN?

What is a WAN?

What is a distributed system?

Task 2

Reading

Before reading the text opposite, match these words and phrases with their definitions.

1 protocol

2 bulletin board

3 user interface

4 make a query

5 parse

6 synchronous

a analyse the syntax of a string of input symbols b a teleconferencing system allowing users to read

messages left by other users c agreement governing the procedures used to

exchange information between co-operating

computers d means of communication between a human user and

a computer system e taking place at exactly the same time as something

else f request a search

ilk

Task 3 Read quickly through the text below, then match each paragraph with the
appropriate summary.

a LJ Network uses, past and present

b LJ How distributed systems work

c LJ Networks and the future

d LJ What networks are and how they operate

e LJ The growth of networks, past and present

Computer networks

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