B. In pairs, choose one of these input devices and describe its functions and features. Try to guess which device your partner is describing.
B. Listen again and complete these extracts.
Describing input devices
Read the description of input devices and then label the pictures (1-8) with words from the text.
Interacting with your computer
Recommending a computer
A. Listen to four people talking about their computer needs and take notes. In pairs, read the descriptions from the computer shop website and choose the most suitable computer for each person. Give reason for your choices.
Choosing the right computer
Work in pairs. One of you wants to buy a computer, the other is the shop assistant. Use the prompts and product descriptions below to role play the conversation.
| Shop assistant | Customer |
| Greet the customer and offer help. | |
| Explain what you are looking for. | |
| Show the customer two possible models. | |
| Ask for some technical specs. | |
| Give technical specs (describe the processor, RAM and storage capacity). Compare the two different models. | |
| Ask about any further technical specs (DVD drive, monitor, communications, etc). | |
| Give the information required. Compare the two models. | |
| Ask the price. | |
| Answer, and mention any final details that might persuade the customer to buy the computer. | |
| Decide which computer to buy or leave the shop. |
Speaker 1 ____ Speaker 3 ____
Speaker 2 ____ Speaker 4 ____
B. Look at the notes you made about your ideal computer system in Unit 3 task 6. What did you want? Look again at the descriptions of the computers above and choose the one that is closest to your ideal. In pairs, discuss your choices.
A friend has asked you to recommend a computer that suits his needs. He needs to be able to access the Internet, play games and work with graphics, music and video files. Write an email describing its technical features and saying why you recommend it.
UNIT 5 TYPE, CLICK AND TALK !
A. Listen to a computer technician describing three devices. Write which devices he’s talking about.
1. ____ 2. ____ 3. ____
1. This device is ____ enter information into the computer.
2. … it may also ____ function keys and editing keys ____ special purposes.
3. This is a device ____ the cursor and selecting items on the screen.
4. It usually ____ two buttons and a wheel.
5. … the user ____ activate icons or select items and text.
6. It ____ detecting light from the computer screen and is used by pointing it directly at the screen display.
7. It ____ the user ____ answer multiple-choice questions and …
3 Describing functions and features
A. Look at the HELP box and then use the notes below to write a description of the Sony PlayStation 3 controller.
| Bar code reader Touchpad on a portable PC Webcam Touch screen |
| 4 The keyboard A. Label the picture of a standard keyboard with the groups of keys (1-5). 1. Cursor control keys include arrow keys that move the insertion point up, down, right and left, and keys such as End, Home, Page Up and Page Down, which are used in word processing to move around a long document. 2. Alphanumeric keys represent letters and numbers, as arranged on a typewriter. 3. Function keys appear at the top of the keyboard and can be programmed to do special tasks. 4. Dedicated keys are used to issue commands or to produce alternative characters, e.g. the Ctrl key or the Alt key. 5. A numeric keypad appears to the right of the main keyboard. The Num Lock key is used to switch from numbers to editing keys. |