home page /'haom ,peid3/ [n C] the first
page of a website
137
COMPUTERS
COMPUTERS
the advantages of computers
О
Computers let you accos a tot of information.
о Computers let you communicate very quickly, by e-mail or using the Internet.
о
Computers can do some jobs very quickly, for example sending out large numbers of letters, or bills.
о
Computers make \i possible to work from home.
/ can access any information I need from fhe office using a modem.
0
Word processors make it easier to write letters and reports, and to do work for school or college.
vocabulary
OCCMS /"aekses/ [uT] if you information on a com
puter. you fire! it using a computer: The new system made it easier to access patients' medico/ records.
advance /^Va:nsg-v#n- [v J] if technology advances, it develops and improves
bu9 /Ьлд/ [n CI a small mistake in a computer program that stops it from working properly
CD-ROM /siidi:'mm|-ra:m, [n C/U| a small flat circular object on which large amounts of information can be stored to be used by a computer: a new encyclopedia
on CD-ROM
computer gome кэт'р]иэ:г geim/ (n С] a game that
you play on a computer whole afternoon s work.
database /'deitobeis/ [n С) a large amount of information stored in a computer system so that you can find and use it easily: Customers' names and addresses are stored on our database.
e-mail 'i: meil' [n C/U| a system that allows messages to be sent from one computer to another, or a mes sage sent using this system
be on e-mail (-a computer that can send and receive e-mail messages)
send sb an е-mait: "Does G/ennis know about it? 'Yes, I sent her an e-mail."
e-mail /'i: meil/ [v T| to send someone a message by e-maiclass="underline" Will you e-mail me about it?
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COMPUTERS 138
COMPUTERS
О
Children enjoy using computers, and multimedia, interactive software and virtual reality all make learn ng more exciting. Many books are now available on CD-ROM.
AFTER
о Large amounts of information can be stored on computer in a database.
BEFORE
the disadvantages of computers
О Many people do not like using computers, and would prefer to deal with a person instead.
interactive jntorltknv* [adj] interactive programs and activities on a computer are those that you do not just read or look at. but which you can change and communicate with
lose work lu:z wVk/ when the work that you have done on your computer disappears and you cannot get it back
multimedia rnAltimiidio [adj} using a mixture of sound, pictures, film, and writing to give information on computers, a r\ew multimedia dictionary
multimedia \n LJJ More and more schools are using multimedia as a teaching aid.
computer to become obsolete in only a jew years.
police po li:s [и T] to control what people put on the Internet, and make sure that they do not use it to do anything illegal
virtual reality Vxrtju<?l riteliti- [n U] the effect
produced by using computer images to make places or situations seem almost real when they are not
virus /Vairos \n C] a set of instructions secretly put into a computer that destroys the information stored in it, aiKl stops it from working normally
work from home ;>з:гк from haom/ to be employed by a company, but to work in your home and not in the company building
word processor /,w3:rd praosewr; [n C] a program or computer that you use to write letters, reports etc
139
COMPUTERS
COMPUTERS
e Software often h<;s bugs, and sometimes computers crash
О Some children spend too much time playing computer 1 games, which can be very : violent.
0 Anyone can put information or mages on the Internet, so it can easily be used by criminals to communicate with each other, or to send pornography (pictures, film, or writ inq that show sexual acAs). There are no laws to stop this yet. and it is ex:rvmely difficult to | police the Internet.
О Computers quickly become obsolete, so they юоп reed to be replaced.
We bajqnt a new computer system hU
yea but technology advances sofaU this! n Л already old fashioned.
о If a computer ^ not working properly, most people do not know how to fix jt, <*nd
this can be very annoying.
140
CONFIDENT/NOT CONFIDENT
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self-confidence f sdl' bnfjdmsi-kuin-
jn uj a strong belief that you can do things well and that other people will like you. which means you behave confidently in most situations: He's on.'у 19 but ne has plenty of self-confidence.
morale н^'ги.'Цто'ксГ [n U] the amount of confidence, satisfaction, and hope that people feel, especially a group of people who work together
lose confidence л м ^
eelir
low/high morale (=a low/high level of confidence) We've had a lot of problems recently and the morale among the teachers is pretty low. keep up morale (=prevent people losing confidence) They sang songs to keep up their morale until the rescuers arrived.
not confident
shll JaI; !acW someone who is shy feels nervous and embarrassed about talking to people, especially people they do not know: She u;as very shy, and didn 't like using the phone, t Five years ago, I was a shy, clumsy, overweight teenager. too shy to do sth / wanted to ask a question!, but I was too shy to say anything.
lack confidence 'bnt>Uis||-ku:n- to not Te& confident about your own abilities or about the way you look: Francine lacks confidence and needs a lot of encouragement and support.