Using English at Work：29 Having Computer Problems(1)

You're listening to lessen¹ six of ESLPod.com's "Using English at Work."

I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, from the Center for Educational Development.

In the fifth lesson of "Using English at Work," we learned² vocabulary and phrases related³ to taking a break from work and having lunch.

In our sixth lesson, we're going to talk about having computer problems when you're at the office.

Let's begin by listening to the story about these computer problems at a slow speed.

When we return to the office, I know I have to try to make some headway with my report.

Unfortunately, as soon as I sit down in front of my computer, it starts acting⁴ up.

First, my computer screen freezes and I have to boot it up again.

Then, when I try to print a copy of my report, it won't print.

I discover that the problem is that the printer is jammed, so it takes some time to clear it and for it to work again.

Finally, when I think that my computer worries are over, my mouse and keyboard go haywire.

I finally give up and call the computer tech.

I don't usually like calling the computer tech to help me with computer problems.

She's nice enough, but she always makes me feel like I did something bad to my computer - something I shouldn't have done - even when I haven't.

When she arrives, she sits down at my computer and asks me a lot of questions to find out what the problem might be.

I tell her about the problems I had and she asks if I'd had any problems while working on my word processing program.

I say that everything was fine, but I did have some trouble formatting⁵ one of my files and got an error message when working on my spreadsheet program.

She starts doing something to my computer, typing on the keys a mile a minute for a long time.

Finally she says, "Okay, it's fixed⁶. You shouldn't have any more problems now - as long as you don't abuse⁷ your computer."

1 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

2 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 formatting   

n.格式化v.使格式化( format的现在分词 )；规定…的格式（或形状、大小、比例等）；安排…的格局（或规格）；设计…的版面

参考例句：

• Select the block of text and-click and choose Default Formatting. 选择目标文字块，点击鼠标右键，选择默认格式。 来自互联网
• There are emerging conventions about the content and formatting of documentation strings. 这里介绍文档字符串的概念和格式。 来自互联网

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

7 abuse   

vt.滥用；辱骂；诋毁；n.滥用；恶习；弊端

参考例句：

• You can't make personal abuse on her.你不可对她进行人身攻击。
• She screamed abuse at me.她尖声责备我。