Using English at Work：32 Having Computer Problems(4)

A "keyboard" is a rectangular¹ piece of equipment² that works³ with a computer, it has all of the letters or symbols for whatever language that we are using, so we can put information into the computer by typing.

In the story, my mouse and keyboard go haywire.

The phrase⁴ "to go haywire" (haywire) means⁵ to become uncontrollable - to stop working properly⁶.

If you are a parent with small children, you might feel like things are going haywire when both of your children are sick, you have to work late at your job, you're going to school at night, and your car isn't working all at the same time.

Things are going haywire - things are going wrong; there are many things that are going wrong.

Usually you feel like things have gone haywire when you don't have a lot of control over them.

Finally, I give up on my mouse and my keyboard.

"To give up" means to stop trying to do something because it is so difficult or because it is taking a very long time.

I, for example, might want to become a professional⁷ singer, but if everyone tells me that I'm a terrible singer - I'm a bad singer - I will probably give up after trying for a few years.

In this story, I tried to fix my computer problems on my own, but it was just too difficult, so I gave up and called the computer tech.

A "computer tech" is a "computer technician," who is a person that knows about computers - knows how to fix computers.

Many businesses have computer techs, who can come to help other employees⁸ when they're having computer problems.

If your office doesn't have a computer tech, you'll probably need to talk to a computer tech over the phone to fix your computer problems - or just buy a new computer!

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

She's nice enough, meaning she is not mean or unkind⁹, but she always makes me feel like I did something bad to my computer, meaning I shouldn't have done something, even though I didn't do anything.

1 rectangular   

adj.矩形的，成直角的

参考例句：

• He put a rectangular box on the table.他把一个长方形的箱子放在桌子上。
• The equations are written in rectangular coordinates.这些方程是在直角座标系中写出的。

2 equipment   

n.装备，设备

参考例句：

• In the new factory all the equipment was up to date.这个新工厂里的所有设备都是现代化的。
• The oil company will ship out the heavy equipment.石油公司将用船运送重型设备。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 phrase   

n.短语，词组；成语，习语

参考例句：

• The phrase was caught on and immediately became popular.这个短语被采用后很快就流行了。
• That's exactly the phrase I was looking for.这就是我一直找的那个短语。

5 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

6 properly   

adv.适当地；正当地；严格地

参考例句：

• He has disposed of the rubbish properly.他已经适当地处理了垃圾。
• Do your shoes fit properly?你的鞋适合吗？

7 professional   

adj.专业的；职业的；n.专业人员；职业运动员

参考例句：

• He is a professional tennis player.他是一名职业网球运动员。
• I need a professional to sort out my finances.我需要专业人士为我管理财务。

8 employees   

n.雇工，雇员( employee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She is always polite and considerate towards her employees. 她对待雇员总是客客气气，关心体谅。
• The company has a strict dress code—all male employees are expected to wear suits. 公司有严格的着装规定—所有男职员都要穿西服。

9 unkind   

adj.不仁慈的，不和善的

参考例句：

• He was never unkind to her.他从未亏待过她。
• Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person.恶人有恶报。