CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR IELTS - Emigra a

topic-specific vocabulary
Science & technology
B. Read this description of a computer. Unfortunately, the person who is describing it is not
very familiar with computer terminology and cannot remember all the words. Help them by
using the appropriate word or expression in the box to give a more scientific definition of
their words in bold.
log on • keyboard • load / install • virus • e-mail • download
hardware • crashed • software • Internet • scanner • mouse
base unit / disk drive • website • printer • monitor
OK, here's my new computer. As you can see, there are five main parts. Now, the large box with the
slots and sliding disk carrier (1) ________________ is the most important part. It carries all the stuff
that makes the computer work (2)_______________. You can also put in (3)_______________ your own
games and other things (4)_______________. Next to it there is the thing that looks like a small
television (5)_______________ so that you can see what the computer is doing. To the right of that,
there is the machine that lets you make black and white or colour copies of the documents that you
create on the computer (6)_______________. You can control the computer by using the rectangular
flat thing with all the letters and numbers on (7)_______________ or the funny little object with the
long lead which you can move across your desk (8)_______________. The large flat thing to the left
of the computer is the machine you can use to make copies of your photographs onto the
computer, a bit like a photocopier (9)_______________.
It's a very useful machine, of course. Once you get it up and running (10)__________ you can do lots
of things on it. You can create documents, play games or get information from the fantastic thing
that links computers from around the world (11)_______________. A lot of companies and
organizations have their own special computer page (12)_______________ which you can look at,
and you can transfer (13)_______________ the information to your own computer files. Or, if you
like, you can send messages to other people by using a special electronic letter-sending facility
(14)_______________.
Unfortunately, I can't let you use it as it stopped working (15)_______________ last night. It's
probably got a technical fault, usually created on purpose, that affects computer files and folders
(16)_______________.
Don’t forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.
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For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)