Basic English for Computing.
Unit 4. Keyboard and mouse

TUNING-IN

Task 1. Complete the task. Match the key abbreviations with the full names. Type the letter of the full name that corresponds to the appropriate abbreviation. Ckick on the "?" button to check your anser.
Key abbreviations
1. Esc a Alternate
2. Alt b Page Up
3. Ctrl c Delete
4. Pgdn d Insert
5. Pgup e Escape
6. Ins f Page Down
7. Del g Control

LISTENING: THE KEYBOARD

Task 2. Study the keyboard in Task 2 and below. Memorize the names of the sections of the kyboard.


Task 3. Locate these keys on the keyboard of your computer. Can you explain the function of each key?



Task 4. Listen to the description of the keyboard in Task 2. Label each section of the diagram.



A. Listen to the recording again and answer each question with a complete sentence.
  1. What are the four sections of a keyboard?
  2. In which part of the keyboard are located the keys for the digits 0-9?
  3. In which part of the keyboard are located the punctuation marks?
  4. What is the function of the function keys?
  5. Which keys are included in the editing keys?
  6. What is the function of the cursor keys?
  7. Which keys are included in the numeric keypad?
  8. What is the function of the keys in the numeric keypad?
B. Record your answers and send the recording to the instructor.

READING: THE COMPUTER MOUSE

Task 5. The computer mouse described in Task 5 is an example of one of the earliest types of a mechanical mouse. The mousepad is used commonly in with mechanical mice, because in order to roll smoothly, the ball requires more friction than common desk surfaces usually provide. Below is another image of a mechanical mouse with the top cover removed.


Most mice on the market today use a USB connector to attach to your computer.



Some older mice, many of which are still in use today, have a PS/2 type connector.



This is a wireless mouse made for notebook computers. Wireless mice do not require the use of a mousepad, unless the desk has transparent or reflective surface, which creates problems for the optical or laser tracking. Most wireless mice use radio frequency (RF) technology to communicate information to your computer.


The optical mouse uses a tiny camera to take thousands of pictures every second. Most optical mice use a small, red light-emitting diode (LED) that bounces light off that surface onto a sensor. A recent innovation are laser-based optical mice that detect more surface details compared to LED technology. This results in the ability to use a laser-based optical mouse on even more surfaces than an LED mouse.

Task 6. Read the text to check your answers in the exercises in Task 5. Read and record the text in Task 6 and send the recording to the instructor.


Describe in detail the type of mouse that you use and how it connects to your computer.

LANGUAGE WORK: PRESENT SIMPLE

Review the formation of the present simple tense and complete these online exercises.
Present simple: positive sentences
Present simple: negative sentences
Present simple: questions
Present simple: sentence mix

Task 7

Complete the task. Look at the statements and correct the ones which are wrong

PROBLEM-SOLVING

Task 8. Complete the task. You should also be able to describe what all keys on a typical extended keyboard do.

SPEAKING

Task 9. Complete the task. Practice pronouncing the names of the symbols.
Task 10. Read and record the names of the web addresses on page 118 and 119 (Unit 4, Task 10) of the Textbook.

WRITING

Task 11. Complete the task. Write a complete description of a computer keyboard.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

  1. The full names of keyboard key abbreviations.
  2. Know the names of the symbols located above the digits on a keyboard.
  3. Describe the organization of a typical extended keyboard.
  4. Describe the different type of mice.
  5. Describe how mice connect and communicate with the computer.
  6. Describe houw a mechanical mouse works.
  7. Describe how an optical mouse works.
  8. Use the present simple tense in English correctly.