2017

ENGLISH FOR SPECIAL

PURPOSES 2
INFORMATICS MANAGEMENT
 Preface

In this English for Special Purposes book, you will learn information technology concepts used in
everyday life situations. The book will help you to understand technology-related vocabulary and
also help you increase your ability in listening comprehension and writing skills. Each unit is divided
into lessons, an IT lesson, and a Language lesson. The language lessons are designed to support your
IT learning. The language lessons focus on vocabulary development and specific grammar and
functions to help you work or study in the IT field.

ii
 Table of Contents

Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... i

Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... iii

Unit 1 Jobs in IT ....................................................................................................................................... 1

Job Description ........................................................................................................................... 1

Curriculum Vitae ........................................................................................................................ 3

A short personal statement ....................................................................................................... 4

Assignment ................................................................................................................................. 4

Unit 2 IT Workplace Rules ....................................................................................................................... 5

Workplace rules ......................................................................................................................... 5

A list of rules for a computer room ............................................................................................ 6

The list of rules for using for a company computer ................................................................... 6

Safety in the workplace .............................................................................................................. 7

10 Workplace rules for Every Employee ..................................................................................... 7

Assignment ................................................................................................................................. 7

Unit 3 IT Systems..................................................................................................................................... 8

Uses for information technology .............................................................................................. 8

Specifications for a computer .................................................................................................... 9

Internal components (I), peripheral (P) and storage ............................................................... 12

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 12

Unit 4 Computer Systems ..................................................................................................................... 13

List of computer hardware....................................................................................................... 13

Comparatives adjectives .......................................................................................................... 14

Product Descriptions ................................................................................................................ 14

A computer and work station configuration ............................................................................ 15

The multimedia equipment ..................................................................................................... 16

Unit 5 Websites ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Different types of website........................................................................................................ 17

The purpose of websites .......................................................................................................... 17

iii
 Website development .............................................................................................................. 19

Unit 6 Mobility ...................................................................................................................................... 22

Mobile devices ......................................................................................................................... 22

Communication Technology .................................................................................................... 24

Zero and first conditionals ....................................................................................................... 25

Mobile device features and functions ..................................................................................... 25

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 25

Unit 7 Databases ................................................................................................................................... 26

Database products ................................................................................................................... 26

Data Storage ............................................................................................................................. 28

Type of data ............................................................................................................................. 28

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 29

Unit 8 Networks .................................................................................................................................... 30

Types of networks .................................................................................................................... 30

Network solution...................................................................................................................... 31

Network’s Range and Speed .................................................................................................... 33

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 33

Unit 9 E-commerce ............................................................................................................................... 34

Online products and services ................................................................................................... 34

Talking about quantity ............................................................................................................. 34

The types of business ............................................................................................................... 34

The advantages and disadvantages of shopping online .......................................................... 35

The steps in buying products online ........................................................................................ 35

Useful phrases for presentations ............................................................................................. 37

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 37

Unit 10 Choice ....................................................................................................................................... 39

Talking about money................................................................................................................ 39

CAD (Computer Aided Design) ................................................................................................. 40

Comparatives and superlatives ................................................................................................ 42

Product Comparison ................................................................................................................ 42

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 42
iv
Unit 11 IT Support ................................................................................................................................. 43

A list of computer hardware problems .................................................................................... 43

Present Perfect......................................................................................................................... 44

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 46

Unit 12 Administration.......................................................................................................................... 47

Spreadsheets and Formulae .................................................................................................... 47

Past Simple ............................................................................................................................... 48

System Administrator .............................................................................................................. 48

While, before, after .................................................................................................................. 49

Peripheral devices .................................................................................................................... 50

Assignment ............................................................................................................................... 51

v
 Unit 1 Jobs in IT
Job Description

Speaking
Work in groups of three . Choose one job description each. Make notes about the job. Then describe
the job to others in your group using only your notes.
Your notes should cover :
1 the job title and some of the areas covered
2 what you think are the most important requirements
3 The location of the work
4 Good and bad points about the job
Example :

Listening (Track 1)
Listen to six people introducing themselves. What jobs do they do? Complete the sentences. Then
compare answers with your friend.
Database administrator helpdesk supervisor project manager
Sotware developer support technician system analyst

1
 1 Maria is a ………………. 2 Ahmed is a ……………… 3 Freddy is a ……………..

4 Hana is a ………………. 5 Tim is a ……………… 3 Sophie is a ……………..

Reading
Read this team introduction. Complete the descriptions 1-4 with the IT jobs in the box

Database analyst IT support officer network administrator

network architect

1 Sylvia is a …………………….
2 Isabelle is a …………………..
3 Andrew is an …………………
4 Mark and Latika are …………

2
Curriculum Vitae
Writing
1 Study the CV. It is based on the European Curriculum Vitae format.

2 Write your own CV. You can invent work experience for this task.
Vocabulary
Read the memo and find words that match these definitions, then compare answers with your
friend.
1 person in charge of IT …………………

3
 2 keeping something safe …………………….
3 information such as numbers and details about people …………….
4 a secret word that you type into a computer before you can use it …………..
5 a group of connected computers ……………………..
6 having only letters and numbers ……………………
7 letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc …………………..
8 people you work with ………………………..

A short personal statement

Assignment
When applying for a job, people often prepare a short personal statement to summarize their
best qualities. Which of these expressions describe you? Check the meaning of any unfamiliar
terms in a dictionary.
Creative dependable energetic experienced
hard-working a good team player Iike a challenge motivated
skilled well-organized
Prepare a short personal statement about yourself. Be positive, but don't exaggerate your
qualities too much.
Example :
I'm a skilled programmer who likes a challenge. I'm a dependable, energetÍc worker who is happy to
work independently or as part of a team.

4
 Unit 2 IT Workplace Rules

Workplace rules
Speaking
Work in groups of three.

1 Look at these signs. What are the rules?

2 Write workplace rules for some of these activities. Then compare answers with another pair of
group. What reasons can you think of for each rule?
- installing new software
- connecting personal devices to company computers
- playing computer games
- using social networking sites such as Instagram
- using mobile phones
- switching off your computer at night
- downloading files
- streaming music or video
3 Do you have any of the rules in your college? Do you think they are good rules or bad rules? Why?
Listening (Track 2)
1 Listen to two people talking about workplace rules and complete this table. Then compare answers
with your friend.
Lateefa Ivan
Ask a technician to install software - ______________________________________
- ______________________________________ - ______________________________________
- ______________________________________

2 How does Lateefa feel about the rules in her workplace?

How can you tell? do you think she likes her manager?
Why/Why not?
5
A list of rules for a computer room
Writing
Imagine you are a computer room technician in a college. Write a list of rules for the wall of your
computer room.

Language
Read the memo on page 4 again and underline the words used to express rules.
We use must, mustn’t and have to to show Password must be long at least eight characters
strong obligation and to express rules. long.
We can also use should, shouldn’t, can’t and I can’t even have a drink at my desk.
need to to talk about rules.
We also use imperatives to gives rules. Use Keep your password secret.
them carefully because they can sound Don’t share your password with other people
impolite.

The list of rules for using for a company computer

Reading
Read the list of rules for using a company computer. Which ones do you follow? Why?

Vocabulary
Match the verb 1 – 5 with the noun a-e
1 swith/turn off a) software
2 eat b) software
3 connect c) peripheral
4 load d) food
6
 5 run e) the computer

Safety in the workplace

Speaking
Based on the information in the pictures and your notes, present your report about safety in the
workplace after the inspections.

10 Workplace rules for Every Employee

Assignment
Write 10 Workplace rules for Every Employee to create a workplace safety environment based on
shared responsibility.

7
 Unit 3 IT Systems

Uses for information technology

Reading
1 Look at the pictures. What uses for information technology can you think of in these places or
situations?

2 Match the examples of computer use in column A with the areas of application in column B. More
than one answer is sometimes possible.
A B
1 using barcodes to identify items and prices a hospital
2 calculating the exact distance to a target b airport
3 producing scale models of new designs c supermarket
4 identifying an employee by his or her voice d design
5 checking credit cards used for payments e security
6 issuing seat numbers f library
8
 7 analysing blood tests g military
8 storing employee records h oil refinery
9 keeping a record of all borrowings i the home
10 calculating the stress on a component
11 controlling the temperature of a washing machine
12 monitoring the safety of each stage in the process
13 warning when aircraft are too close
14 monitoring the life signs of a patient
15 comparing fingerprints
16 co-ordinating Ínformation from all parts of a war-zone
3 Now Iist the uses for computers in an area of technology you are familiar with.

A problem with a delivery of new computers

Listening (Track 3)
Listen to an IT Manager and assistant talking about a problem with a delivery of new computers.
Correct this delivery slip to show what was ordered.

Specifications for a computer

Speaking
1 Work in pairs. Write some specifications for a computer. Then ask and answer questions about
your friend’s computer. Think about these things:
1 processor speed
2 memory
3 hard drive size
4 screen resolution
Example :
A: How fast is the processor?
9
 B: It’s 2,84 megahertz
2 Work in pairs. Suggest specifications for computer for these people. Then compare your anwers
with another pair.
1 computers for administration staff
2 a computer for a designer
3 a server for a small business
4 a computer for a sales person
Example :
I don’t think the admin staff need a fast processor. They only need it for word processing and
email. What about a two-gigahertz processor?

Vocabulary
1 Match these words to A-L in the screenshot below:
1 scroll bar __________
2 menu _____________
3 “minimize” button __
4 “maximize” button __

5 title bar ___________

6 icon ______________
7 folder _____________
8 filename ___________
9 left-hand pane ______
10 tab _______________
11 check box __________
12 radio button ________

10
2 Work in pairs. Match actions 1-7 to their result a-g
1 Double click on the title bar a) to open a new menu
2 Click on a menu b) and the window fills the screen
3 Right-click on an icon c) if you want to move the windows
4 Slide the scrollbar down d) to hide the window
5 Click the “minimize” button e) to scroll the window down
6 Drag the title bar f) to open it
7 Select the icon g) and its background changes colour
Language
Large and small numbers
For decimal values, we say ‘point’ for the It’s 0.54 milimetres long (“nought point five
decimal point and pronounce the next numbers four” or “point five four”; NOT “nought point
individually. fifty-four”)
To express large and small numbers, we often A 3.6-kilobyte file
use prefixes. For example, kilo- means “1.000”.

11
Match the prefixes in the box to these numbers
dual- giga- kilo- mega- micro- mili- nano- quad- tera-
1 1,000,000,000,000 ____________________________
2 1,000,000,000 _______________________________
3 1,000,000 __________________________________
4 1,000 _____________________________________
5 0,000 000 000 1 ______________________________
6 0,000 000 1 _________________________________
7 4 __________________________________________
8 2 __________________________________________

Internal components (I), peripheral (P) and storage

Assignment
Are these items internal components (I), peripheral (P), or storage? For some items, there may be
more than possible answer.
1 external drive_____________ 7 mouse _________________
2 hard disk drive____________ 8 memory ________________
3 headphones______________ 9 monitor_________________
4 optical drive______________ 10 power supply unit_________
5 keyboard________________ 11 printer__________________
6 solid state drive 12 screen__________________

12
 Unit 4 Computer Systems

A list of computer hardware

Speaking
Work in small groups. Make a list of all the computer hardware you use in your work or study.

Vocabulary
Label the diagram with the correct items 1-11.
1 monitor
2 case
3 motherboard
4 CPU(Central Processing Unit or Processor )
5 main memory (RAM )
6 expansion cards (video, graphic )
7 power supply unit
8 optical disk drive
9 hard disk drive
10 keyboard
11 mouse

13
Comparatives adjectives
Language
We use comparatives adjectives to compare two people or things.
For short adjectives big bigger The new monitor was
add –er (than) bigger than the old
monitor.
Fast Faster Your processor is
faster than mine.
Easy Easier It's easier to use than
the other one.
For long adjectives we Difficult More/less difficult This version is more
use more/less (than) difficult to use than the
old version.
Expensive More/less expensive His computer is less
expensive than hers
Reliable More/less reliable I think you should buy
that CPU. It is more
reliable than the one
you have.
Some comparatives Bad Worse That screen resolution
are irregular is much worse than
before!
Good better I really like this mouse.
It's so much better
than the old one

Product Descriptions
Reading
Read these product descriptions and make 5 sentences using comparatives .
Example: The Corsair is longer than the Imation but slimmer.

Listening (Track 4)
Listen and complete this dialogue .
Paul: Hi, Brinitha .

14
Brinitha : Hi ,Paul.
Paul: How's it (1 )____________________?
Brinitha : Fine, fine .
Paul : What (2 ) ____________-you (3 )___________ .at the moment?
Brinitha : Oh ,I (4 )______________ Nero.
Paul: How are you getting on?
Brinitha : Well, I (5 )_______________a network . I (6 )__________MicrosoftServer.
Paul : Right. Where is Jackie today? Do you know ?
Brinitha : Yes. She is on a training course today. She (7 )_________about the new database
system .
Paul : What about Mary and Imran? Where are they ?
Brinitha : They (8) _____________in today. They have a day off.

Vocabulary
Match the sentence halves 1-8 to a-h
1 Hanka is creating a) the software
2 Phillip is inserting an b) a check-up
3 Rob is troubleshooting c) a file
4 We are running d) a device
5 Betty is connecting e) CD’s
6 They are burning f) image

A computer and work station configuration

Speaking
1 A company asks you to recommend a computer and work station configuration for their sales
team. In small groups, decide what to recommend. Use the office floor plan below to prepare the
computer and work station configuration. Think about these things :
1 There are six people in the sales team.
2 Five people are out of the office four days of the week.
3 One person is in the office all the time-the team admin assistant .
4 Employees need a network connection (wired and wireless).
5 Employees print, scan and copy .
6 Company and client data must be stored on a separate device and backed up regularly.
2 Make your recommendations to another group. Choose the best computer configuration.

15
 Example : We recommend this configuration. You have..../It has....

Speaking
Work in pairs or small groups. Answer these questions.
1 What do you use computers for? List as many uses as you can.
2 Which items on your list from question 1 use the items in the box?
3 Which other computer tasks use the items in the box?

audio graphic images video

The multimedia equipment

Vocabulary
Label the photos with the multimedia equipment in the box
headphones microphone projector speakers video camera

virtual reality goggles webcam

Assignment
Write a short email to the IT manager with your recommendations

16
 Unit 5 Websites

Speaking
Which websites do you use in your work and study? Make a list and share it with a friend.
Do you use the same sites?

Different types of website

Reading
Read this text about different types of website. Answer these questions .
TYPES OF WEBSITE – A GUIDE FOR WEBSITE DESIGNERS
The purpose of an organizational website is to inform about an idea or event. Companies develop
commercial websites to sell products or services. Entertainment websites are designed to entertain or
provide fun activities. People visit news websites to obtain information. The purpose of a personal
website is to provide information about an individual. Social networking websites help people to
exchange personal information. Educational websites aim to share knowledge and enable online
learning
1 Why do people visit organizational websites?
2 Why do people visit company websites?
3 Why do people visit entertainment websites?
4 Why do people visit news websites?

The purpose of websites

Vocabulary
Complete these sentences about the purpose of websites with the words in the box.
offer practice present promote read sell share
Example : The purpose of Nationalgeographic.com is to present information on topics.
17
1 People visit CNN.com to ____________________international news .
2 Some websites want to ________________a service .
3 Companies use Amazon.com to ______________their products .
4 Thegreenshoppingguide.co.uk wants to_____________ environmentally friendly shopping .
5 Students visit Math.com to____________________ their maths.
6 English teachers join eltforum.com to __________________teaching resources .

Speaking
1 Go around the class and ask five students to name the websites they visit and use at home. Write
down a website for each of the four headings 1-4 in the table.

2 Present the information you collected to the group. Which are the most popular websites for each
heading?

Listening (Track 5)
Listen to Sarah and George. Complete this dialogue .
Sarah: George, I (1) ___________some information about our website.
George: OK, what do you need to (2 )_____________?
Sarah: Well, I need some information about website (3)_________, you know, external visits t o
our website .
George: OK.
Sarah: (4)____________you do a report for me?
George: Sure. (5)____________do you need it by?
Sarah: Er, tomorrow morning, I' m (6)__________It' s for the finance director.
George: OK, what do you need to know (7)________________?
Sarah: Well, the (8) ___________of visitors to our website last month, their movements an d
actions on the website, and where they're from.
George: OK, I (9)________________do that .
Sarah: Thanks very (10)_____________________indeed .

18
Vocabulary
Match the website analysis tools 1-5 to the descriptions a-e
1 traffic
2 meta tag
3 visitor map
4 user profile
5 page optimisation
a) information about where the visitors to your site are from
b) invisible information (e.g. a hidden keyword) on a website
c) information about a user and the sites they browse
d) increasing the number of visitors to your site
e) the movement and actions of visitors to your site

Language
Describing steps in a process
We use first, next, then, after First, do….. To Start, do….
that (etc.) to describe the After that… Next, ……
order of the actions Then….
Secondly…. Thirdly, ……..
Finally…. To finish…….

Website development
Reading
1 Complete this text with the words in the box

After that Finally First Next Secondly Then Thirdly

The steps in website development

(1)_____________ , discuss with the customer their requirements and the target audience. Find
out what features and number of pages they want on their site. (2)___________, analyse the
information from the customer. (3)_____________, create a website specification.
(4)_________design and develop the website. (5)_____________, assign a specialist to write the
website content. (6)___________give the project to programmers for HTML coding. (7), test the
website. After you publish the website, update and maintain it on an ongoing basis. Monitor
customer use.
2 Work in pairs. Complete the flowchart to show the website development process.

19
3 Find two different kind of websites and answer these questions .
1 What are the websites?
2 Do you use these websites? Why/Whynot ?
3 What is the purpose of each website : sell, inform, share, educate ?
4 What are the main features of each website?
5 Think of two more websites that have the same purpose.

3 You are a website designer. Read the information about Learning Now Ltd. Answer these
questions.
1 What is the business type ?
2 What is the purpose of the website : sell, inform, share, educate ?
3 Who are the website users? Where are the website users?
4 What are the features of the website?

20
Working In pairs, write a proposal for Learning Now Ltd's website. Use your from 1 and the template
below to help you.

21
 Unit 6 Mobility

Mobile devices
Speaking
1 Work with a friend. Make a list of all the things some of the latest mobile devices can replace. Look
at the screen of the device below.

2 How mobile are you? Complete the questionnaire and then compare with a friend
When you are on the move, how often do you :
Never Sometimes Often
Speak to family?
Speak to work colleagues?
Speak to costumers?
Buy something?
Check your bank account?
Listen to music?
Send emails?
Write presentations?
Build spreadsheets?
Access an information database?
Download and use a new application?
Use Location-Based Services

Discuss what device you use for these activities.

22
3 Complete the flowchart with steps a-f in the correct order
a admin staff print out work instructions
b admin staff send invoice asking for payment
c clients signs paperwork
d technicians finds clients and installs system
e technicians picks up intructions
f technicians takes paperwork back to office

Entertainment systems installation workflow

4 Work in pairs. How do you think the workflow in 3 will change if the tecnician has a mobile device?
Draw a new flowchart and complete the stages

Reading
Complete the sentences with word pairs from the box

broadband pipe data centre digital camera voice calls

disruptive technology internet access search engine service provider

1 A _______________________is an organization that gives its costumers facilities such as

internet access or mobile telephone.
2 Traditionally, telecoms companies made most of their profits from _______________, but
they have had to diversify to other areas.
3 A ___________________ is a high speed communications channel using a wire or optical
cable.
4 A ___________________ is a facility where a company’s data and applications can be stored
securely.
5 A __________________ is a new invention or process that provides a new product or service
in an unexpected way.
6 With a 4G-enabled phone, you can have high speed _________________24/7 wherever you
go.

23
 7 Google rapidly became the most widely used ________________in the 1990s.
8 The quality of a ________________depends on the number of pixels and the lens.

Communication Technology
Listening (Track 6)
Listen to the conversation between Antonia Gomez, who runs a small food export company, and
Kate, a sales assistant in a branch of TopTech, a chain of technology shop. She is explaining what
communications technology she needs and Kate is giving her advice.
Match the sentence halves to complete what Antonia says she needs to do.
1 it’s not very convenient a charging my phone in a customer’s office
2 it’s a bit embarrassing b be able to do all these things on the move
3 I want c emails all the time
4 I send and receive d be able to read the attachments
5 I need to e the basic functionality of my current phone
6 I’d like to f only being able to access all my information when
I’m in the office
Vocabulary
Read the advertisement and find words in the text that match these definitions.

1 change something to make suit a special purpose _____________

2 add electronic information to something e.g. a photo _____________
3 the position of something ________________
4 changing written or printed words to data that a computer can understand _________

24
 5 give information ______________
6 a word used to show that something is completely correct and true _____________
7 stored information, e.g. on a computer ________________
8 a small part inside smartphones and other devices that measures change of speed, e.g. if
someone drops it. ________________

Zero and first conditionals

Language
Zero and first conditionals
We use the zero conditional to talk about If you drop a tablet, it breaks
something that usually or always happens as a If you use a tablet, you can send documents
result of an action or situation. easily
We use the first conditional to talk about the If we have a problem, we’ll send a message
result of a future action or situation
We use a comma between the two clauses when If we buy tablets, we’ll save money
the if-clause comes first but not when it comes if we buy tablets we’ll save money
last

The company is now using the tablets. Complete these zero conditional sentences.
1 With the tablets, if the technician ________________ (not know) the way to a job, he or she
__________(use) GPS to find the best way there.
2 If the customer _______________(be) happy with the job, he or she _______________(sign)
using the tablet’s screen
3 If a customer ________________(change) their order, the system ______________(update)
the details on the tablet
4 If a technician ________________(need) to order a new part, he or she ____________(send)
a message electronically

Mobile device features and functions

Assignment
Work in pairs. How are these mobile device features and functions useful?
Calculator calendar camera e-book reader GPS long battery life
Torch USB recharger
Example : If the phone has a GPS, we can use it to find places.
If the battery life is long ……………………………………….

25
 Unit 7 Databases

Database products
Speaking
What database products do you know and use at work and at home?

Listening (Track 7)
Listen to two colleagues at a book company. Chris needs some information from the production
database. Complete this dialogue .
Chris : Tim, (1) ___________.you help me a moment, please?
Tim : Sure. What's the (2)____________?
Chris: I need some (3 ) _______________about a book
budget from the database.
Tim : OK.
Chris: But I don't know how to (4 )____________________it .
Tim : No problem.
Chris : So what do I do first?
Tim : Enter your name and (5)__________ and press enter.
Chris: Erm...?
Tim : You have got a password ?
Chris : Erm, I can' t (6)__________________it .
Tim : Use mine. Type in t evans, that's t-e-v-a-n-s, then
snavet. s-n-a-v-e-t
Chris: OK.
Tim : Now press Enter. Now what is the name of the book?
Chris : BasicFrench.
Tim : OK. Type in that in the title (7) ___________in the first
(8)_________Now press Find. There it is. OK, budget.
Click (9) _________Publishing and scroll down to Plant costs and click on that.
Chris: Good. There's the budget in the second row. Thanks, Tim.
Tim : No problem .

26
Vocabulary

Data coding data collection data entry data sorting

Data tabulation data validation
1 Match the headings in the box to the data processing steps a-f.

2 Put the data processing steps in 1 in to the correct order.

3 Complete these sentences with the words in the box

about at between for from in into of to

Example : This database is used to store our financial information.

1 What's the difference_______________ a database and a spreadsheet?
2 A database is ____________________ storing data.
3 The school has information__________ students.
4 Can people access the system _________________the same time?
5 A database is a collection ________________ records.
6 You retrieve information ________________ the database.
7 You enter the data _____________ the system
9 Which software do you use________________ your work?

27
4 Match the data storage and backup solutions in the box to pictures A-F.
What other solutions are there?
External hard drive hard disk mp3player server the Internet Usb flash drive

Data Storage
Reading
Read this article about data storage. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
Cloud contents emerging encrypt flash loss magnetic
Offsite protect security theft volumes

Online storage is an (1) ______________emerging method of data storage and back-up. A remote
server with a network connection and special software backs up files, folders, or the entire (2)
________of a hard drive. There are many companies that provide a web-based backup. One (3)
__________technology in this area is (4) ____________computing. This allows colleagues in an
organization to share resources, software and information over the Internet. Continuous back up
and storage on a remote hard drive eliminates the risk of data (5) _____________as a result of fire,
flood or (6) ___________Remote data storage and back-up providers (7) ____________the data and
set up password protection to ensure maximum (8) _____________.
Small businesses and individuals choose to save data in a more traditional way. External drives, disks
and (9) ____________ tapes are very popular data storage solutions. USB or (10) ___________
memories, DVDs and hard disks are cheap and widely accessible solutions. These methods are very
practical with small (11) ________________of data storage and backup. However, they are not very
reliable and do not (12) _________the user in case of a disaster.

Type of data
Vocabulary
Match the company department 1-8 with the type of data it works with a –h
1 Finance a) data about employees, training, recruitment needs
2 Marketing b ) data about product specification, details and design

28
3 Human resources c ) data about profits, tax, loans, shares and cash
4 Customer relations d ) data about volume of products sold
5 Production e) data about customers, satisfaction surveys, promotions
6 Technical support f) data about product advertisements and competitors
7 Sales g) data about quantity of product in storage
8 Stock management h) information about the Help Desk, support calls, manuals, problem
reports
Language
By+ -ing
We can use by + -ing to express how to do We can find the total number of hours by
things querying the database.
By running a report, we can print a list of
customers

Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about how to do these things.
Example :
Enter data in a database (form)
A : How do you enter data in the database?
B : You can do that by opening a form and entering the data into the fields
1 find information in a database (query)
2 add a column of numbers in a spreadsheet (sum/formula/spreadsheet)
3 make sure each record in a database is unique (use/primary key)
4 print information from a database (run/report)
Assignment
Work in small groups. Read this scenario and discuss possible solutions for each problem.

A company has these problems:

 Information on paper takes up too much space in the office
 It is difficult to find information on paper
 Admin staff spend a lot of time entering data. Surely computers can do this?
 They enter the same data into different spreadsheets.
 Copying and pasting data from spreadsheets into word processor documents is very slow
and doesn’t look very good
Possible solutions:
 scanning
 optical character recognition (OCR)
 set up a database
 run reports
29
 Unit 8 Networks

Speaking
Work in pairs. Ask and answer these questions
1 What computing devices do you use in your daily life (e.g. ATMs)?
2 Do you think they are on a network? Is it wired or wireless?
3 Are these devices secure? What security features do they have (e.g. a PIN)?

Types of networks
Reading

What is a network?
A network is a group of linked computers or other devices. There are two kinds of
networks that are in common use. In Local Area Networks (LANs) computers are
close together – perhaps in the same building. They might be connected directly to
each other cable or through a wireless network such as wi-fi. In contrast, wide area
networks (WANs) cover a larger area and usually use telephone lines or a mobile
phone system to connect. A LAN can be a part of a WAN.
There are different types of wired networks. One is a star system. In this, each
computer (or other device) is connected to a central server. Another type is a ring
system. This is a network that has each computer linked to two others. In a bus
system there is a central cable which is called a bus, and each computer is linked to
it. Some large networks use a mesh. In this each computer is linked to several others.
This has one big advantage: if one connection breaks, the data can use other
connections. Therefore, it is difficult to break a mesh network.
Many networks work on a client-server system. In this, servers are special computers
that store data, serve websites and have other similar functions.
Generally, a client program will ask the server for data and the server will then send
the data back to the client. For example, when you type a web address into a
browser, the browser (the client) will ask the server for a web page, which then
sends the web page back.

Read the text in the box again and label these types of network.

30
Network solution
Listening (Track 8)
Agatha is the owner of a small flower shop. Katharina is a network architect. Agatha needs some
advice from Katharina about a network solution for her company. Listen and answer these questions
1 What does Agatha think she should do?
2 What does Katharina recommend?
3 What does Katharina say she will do?
4 When does Agatha want the network to
be ready?

Reading
Read Katharina's email to Agatha. Complete this email with the words in the box.
Equipment Internet LAN recommend remote should VPN WAN

Dear Agatha,
Following our meeting last week, please find my recommendations for your business. I think you (1)
_____________ set up a LAN, or Local Area Network, and a WAN, or Wide Area Network, for your
needs. A (2) ______________ connects devices over a small area, for example your apartment and
the shop. In addition, you should connect office (3) __________________ , such as the printer,
scanner and fax machine, to your LAN because you can then share these devices between users. I'd
recommend that we connect the LAN to a (4) ______________ so you can link to the Internet and
sell your products. In addition, I' d (5) ____________ we set up a Virtual Private Network so that you
have a (6) __________access to your company's LAN, when you travel. (7) ________________ is a
private network that uses a public network, usually the (8) _________________ ,to connect remote
sites or users together. Let's meet on Friday to discuss these recommendations.
Best regards
Katharina
Language
Giving reasons
We use because to say something was the You should connect office equipment to the LAN
reason for an action or situation. (We can start a because you can then share devices between
sentence with because) users
I'd recommend a Dell computer because it is
cheaper.
Why do you use encryption? Because it's safer.

31
Speaking
Look at the three network solutions. What are the differences?
Which network solution would you recommend for a large corporation or organisation, a small
business and a family home? Why?
I'd recommend solution 1 for......................because……………………....

Vocabulary
Match the words 1-8 to the descriptions a-g.
1 a modem a) is an entrance to another network
2 a repeater b) channels incoming data but maintains the
bandwidth speed
3 a bridge c) allows wireless devices to connect to the network
4 a router d) modulates and demodulates the data in to a
digital or an analog signal

32
5 a gateway e) channels incoming data but shares the bandwidth
among the devices present on a network
6 a switch f) sends the digital signal further on in the network
7 a hub g) connects networks and sends packages of data
between them
8 a wireless access point h) connects networks that use the same protocol
Reading
Complete this dialogue with the words in the box.

About change devices necessary problem

speed should user What

Boris : I have a problem with the network download (1)____________ you suggest?
Ahsan : Why don't you (2) _____________the hub?
Boris : I don't think that will work. The hub is fine.
Ahsan : OK. How (3) ___________ adding a repeater then?
Boris : Hmm, I'm not sure it will help. It's not a (4) __________ strength.
Ahsan : OK, then you should check the cables and network (5)____________ to make sure that they
are compatible with your network.
Boris : (6) _______________ about changing the modem?
Ahsan : I don't think it's (7) __________ I think it's a problem with the bridge, switch or the router.
You (8) ___________ look at the specifications
Boris : OK, I will. Thanks for your help.
Ahsan : Why don't you check (9) as well?
Boris : Good idea. I'll do that
Network’s Range and Speed
Assignment
1 How many things does network
range depend on?
2 What can reduce network range ?
3 What can improve network range ?
4 What two things affect speed?

33
 Unit 9 E-commerce

Online products and services

Speaking
What products or services do you usually buy online? What products do you not buy online? Why?

Talking about quantity

Language
We use many and few with countable plural We need a few users to test this.
nouns They don't have many customers.
We use much and a little with uncountable We have a little money for online shopping each
nouns. week.
I don't have much knowledge on that subject
We use a lot of and some with countable and A lot of businesses need E-commerce upgrades.
Uncountable nouns. Some money has been kept aside for this.

Choose the correct words to complete these sentences.

1 A lot of/Much shops have online presence. They sell many/much products online.
2 Some/A little companies offer customer service and advice on their E-commerce websites.
3 I don't have much/many knowledge of computers, but I can still shop online.
4 Companies spend a lot of/many money on E-commerce security.
5 Even when companies only have a little/a few money for online marketing, they should spend it.
The types of business
Vocabulary
Match the types of business in the box to the correct column 1-4.

B2C business-to-consumer B2B business-to-business C2Cconsumer-to-consumer

M-commerce

Types of 1 _____________ 2 _____________ 3 _____________ 4 _____________

Business
Explanation Companies Companies sell People sell or Customers
exchange Products or services exchange second- purchase products
Information and to Customers over hand, used items and services via
make wholesale The Internet and collectibles. mobile devices.

34
 transactions.
Examples coffee supplier Amazon eBay news, sport results
to Nestle

The advantages and disadvantages of shopping online

Writing
What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online? Use this table to make notes and
then make sentences.
Example : There's more choice online but you can see things better in a shop.
advantages disadvantages
security
speed
choice
convenience
price

The steps in buying products online

What are the steps in buying products online? Number these sentences in correct order.
a) The customer opens an account.
b) The customer goes to the check-out.
c) The customer puts the item(s) in a basket or shopping cart.
d) The customer pays for the product(s) with a credit or debit card.
e) The customer goes to the website.
f) The customer searches and/or browses the website.
g) The customer chooses the item(s) to buy.
h) The customers checks the order.

Speaking
Work in pairs. Use firstly, secondly, then, after that, finally to describe the steps in buying a product
or service. Talk about something you have bought, like a DVD or an airline ticket.

Reading
Complete this text with the words in the box

and but or so

35
 Companies want to reach more customers, (1) _____________ they go online. It is easy to set up
an online business (2) _________ it is difficult to design and develop a website that attracts a lot
of customers. Hardware (3) ___________ software provide basic infrastructure for E-commerce.
Networking, customer interface and payment solutions are very important parts of a company's
E-commerce solution. Customers expect a fast and reliable service (4) _____________ they will go
somewhere else to buy things.

Vocabulary
Label the network diagram with the correct item 1-8.
1 the Internet
2 the local are a network
3 the hardware firewall (with a router)
4 computers with firewall software
5 outbound traffic
6 inbound traffic
7 restricted traffic
8 allowed traffic

Reading
Shayan is telling Monika how customers will pay for something online on a new website. Complete
this dialogue with the words in the box.
36
accounts gateway bank payment completes
rejection confirmation web

Monika: Shayan, can you explain how a customer (1) ___________ an online transaction?
Shayan: OK, it's very easy. (2) _______________the customer will place an order. The seller's (3)
________________ server will confirm availability of the product and send a response.
After that, the customer checks out and completes the (4) ________________ instructions.
Then the server will send a payment request to a payment (5) ________________The
payment gateway will check the buyer's ability to pay with the (6) _________________ OK?
Monika: Fine. Go on.
Shayan: The bank will respond and send payment acceptance or (7) _________________ to the
seller's webserver through the payment gateway. Finally, the customer will receive the
server response with the order (8) ________________ or rejection.
Monika: Will the (9) _______________ have to register?
Shayan: Yes, all buyers must have their (10) ______________ before they complete the transaction
Monika: Thank you. Now I understand.

Listening (Track 9)
Listen and check your answers.

Useful phrases for presentations

Language
Good morning / afternoon everybody. Thank you for coming
Today we are going to present ………………….
Introduction First, I am going to talk about………………...
Then, we will show you ……………….
Finally, we will answer your questions …………………….
Now, I'll hand over to my colleague.
Speakers
Let me start with …………..
To finish …………………
Closing
Thank you very much for listening. Are there any questions?

Assignment
You work for SellOnline.com. The company develops E-commerce solutions for small businesses.
Your client, Document Ltd, sells stationery. They sell lots of different types of product. Document Ltd
wants to develop its online presence to reach customers more effectively. Complete the proposal
template. Use these questions to help you.

37
1 What type of E-commerce will Document Ltd offer?

2 What E-commerce technologies will Document Ltd use to attract customers?

3 What security solutions will the company set up in order to protect both the customer and the
company ?

4 What tools and features will the company website have?

5 How will the customer complete transactions?

Prepare and deliver a presentation for the marketing director of Document Ltd. Use the proposal to
help you.

38
 Unit 10 Choice

Speaking
Work in small group. Discuss these questions
1 What electronic devices do you own? What electronic devices would you like to have?
2 Are they cheap or expensive?
3 What accessories and services can you buy for them?
Vocabulary
Complete these collocations relating to IT hardware and services with the words in the box

battery card extended internet memory purchase

software spare technical training USB

1 __________ service 5 __________ battery 9 ___________ card

2 __________ reader 6 __________ charger 10 ___________ licence
3 __________ cables 7 __________ cost 11 ___________ warranty
4 __________ course 8 __________ support

Talking about money

Language
When we talk about money, we use cost, come How much did it come to/cost in total?
to and be when the subject of the verb is an How much was it in total?
item. We use spend and pay when the subject is How much did you spend/pay?
a person, a company, etc.
We can also use cost as a noun What is the total cost?
Informally, we often say numbers from 1,000 to 1,250: twelve hundred and fifty/one thousand
1,999 using hundreds, not thousand two hundred and fifty
Decimal prices are expressed differently from 1.50$: one dollar fifty/one fifty
other decimal numbers

Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions using these promts.

1 how much/you/spend/internet connection?
2 what/be/your total spending/software/last year?
3 how much/you/pay/mobile phone service?
4 what/be/the purchase cost of your computer/in total?

Reading
Read the web page and match the pricing models to these features.

39
Which pricing model(s) :
1 may have advertising inside the program? ____________________
2 includes a regular fee, e.g. monthly? ______________
3 has large updates that have a price and small updates that are free? __________
4 has several different prices for the vendor to introduce upgrades often? _________
5 makes it easier for the vendor to introduce upgrades often? _____________
6 sometimes costs nothing? ________________

CAD (Computer Aided Design)

Speaking
Work in groups. Read this glossary entry for CAD. Discuss which of the features in the box might be
useful for CAD software.

CAD (Computer Aided Design) : using computers to produce drawings and technical specifications
during the design process, for engineers, architects and similar. It may also be used for movies.

2-D drawing tools 3-D drawing tools audio recording browser capability
good compatibility with file formats from other software instant chat function
network capabilities OCR

Reading
Double Jam is a company that needs advice about a new website. Read their company profile and
the web pages below. Which options do you think are best for the company?

40
Listening (Track 10)
Listen to an IT consultant giving a presentation to Double Jam and check your previous answers.
Vocabulary
Read this web page and find words that match these definitions.
1 a system in which each server has only one client’s websites on it ________________
2 promise to fix any problems _________________
3 the time when the service is working _________________
4 the smallest amount or number possible or necessary _____________
5 the largest amount of data that can be moved _______________
6 a unique number to identify a computer on the internet ___________________

41
Comparatives and superlatives
Language
We use comparatives to compare two things. Servers are more expensive than tablets
We use –er than, … than or less ….than with Laptops are less expensive than servers
adjectives. We use more, less or fewer with We have fewer servers than desktops
nouns.
We use the same (as) or as + adjective + as to The set-up fee is the same for both plans
show that two things are the same. It’s as fast as the other server
We use superlatives to compare more than two This server is the fastest of the thee but the
things. We use the …. –est, the most … or the least reliable
least …. with adjectives. We use the most or the Which server has the most memory?
least with nouns.

Product Comparison
Assignment
Look at the table and complete this product comparison about HostElite’s services with the correct
form of the words in brackets.
The Premier servers’s processor is (1) ____________ (powerful) of the three. This server has (2)
______________ (drives) the Standard server (four instead of two). All have (3) _____________
(uptime) guaranteed and they are equally secure. The Basic plan provides (4) ______________
(bandwidth) the other two plans, with the Premier plan offering (5) ________________ (bandwidth).
All three plans have (6) _______________ (set-up fees) but the monthly fee for the Standard plan is
(7) ___________ (high) the fee for the Basic plan. Overall, the Premier plan has (8) __________
(high) specifications but is (9) _______________ (expensive).

42
 Unit 11 IT Support

A list of computer hardware problems

Speaking
Work in pairs. Make a list of computer hardware problems. Compare your list with another pair.

Reading
Read this dialogue and complete it with the words in the box.

checked disconnected found go switched type tight

unplugged worked working

Haider: Hello, IT HelpDesk.

Maryam : Hi, this is Maryam from Human Resources.
Haider: Hi, this is Haider. How can I help you, Maryam?
Maryam : I (1) ____________ my computer off yesterday and today I can' t turn it on.
Haider: What (2) _________ of computer do you have?
Maryam : I'm not sure. It's a desktop computer. It (3) ___________ fine yesterday.
Haider: Don't worry. Have you (4) ______________ the cable connections?
Maryam : No, I haven't. I can see some cables but I don't know which cable goes where.
Haider: Make sure all cables are (5) ________ and fully plugged in.
Maryam: Ok, give me a sec. Oh, I think I've (6) ________ the problem. I have one cable that is (7)
_________ It's the power cable. Where does it go?
Haider: The power cables should (8) _________ in the three-pronged port on the computer.
Maryam : OK, done. Let me try now. It's (9) ___________ fine. Sorry about that. Stupid of me.
Haider: Maybe the cleaners (10) ______________ your PC by mistake last night.
Maryam : Maybe. Good, we've solved the problem. Thank you, Haider.
Haider: You're welcome. Have a good day.

43
Maryam : You too.
Listening (Track 11)
Listen and check your answers.
Present Perfect
Language
I've unplugged the computer.
She hasn't finished the report.
We use the present perfect tense to talk about recent actions Has she switched off the computer?
(an action that has happened in the past and has a result in Yes, she has/No, she hasn't.
the present). Have you checked the cable
connections?
Yes, I have./No, I haven't
We use have/has + the past participle of the verb. (To form clean cleaned
the past participle of regular verbs, we add-ed.) work worked
do done
be been
run run
Irregular past participles
see seen
have had
make made

Complete these questions with have or has and the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1 ___________ you ___________ (run) the computer in the battery mode?
2 How long ____________ you ___________ (have) the iPad?
3 ______________ you____________ (charge) the battery?
4 _________ he ________(open) the file?
5 __________ she ____________ (enter) her username and password?
6 ___________ they __________ (change) the Internet Service Provider?
7 ____________you ___________ (check) the remaining disk space?
8 ____________you ___________ (install) or (uninstall) software recently?
9 ____________ Dillip __________ (update) the drivers recently?

Use the present perfect to make positive or negative sentences.

Example : thescreen/go/blank
The screen's gone blank.
1 the charger/stop/working
2 I/not/upgrade/the operating system
3 She/not/install/the updates
4 They/reinstall/the application
44
5 She/not/be able to fix theproblem
6 I/defragment/your drive
Reading
Label the diagram with these tools (in bold) from the advertisement.

Vocabulary
Match the tool 1-8 to its use a-h.

1 reversible ratchet driver a) used for inserting and removing fibre connectors in tight
spaces
2 screwdriver b) used to prevent electrostatic discharge
3 hex key c) used for tightening and removing screw
4 plier s d) used for easy driving of screws and nut
5 wire cutter/stripper e) used to hold small objects
6 insertion/extraction clipper f) used to hold objects, cut or bend tough materials
7 tweezers g) used to drive bolts and screws into a hexagonal socket
8 anti-static wrist strap h) used for cutting wire or removing the insulation

45
Speaking
Look at the cartoon. How do people react when there is a problem with their computer? Why?

Listening (Track 11)

Listen to a phone call to a company IT help desk. Choose the correct answers a, b or c, to the
questions

1 What is Tuka's problem?

a) can't print out b) has lost files c) is not connected to the network
2 How does Tuka sound?
a) worried b) angry c)tired
3 What is the possible cause of the problem?
a) a hardware upgrade b) a server problem c) a software upgrade
4 What is the help desk technician's first suggestion?
a) go to a folder on the server b) go to a folder on the desktop
c) go to a folder on the C drive
5 What is the help desk technician's second suggestion?
a) He will call back in five minutes b) He will come down to Tuka's office,
c) He will get help from someone else.
Assignment
What other software problems do computer users often have?
Example : Computer users often ....

46
 Unit 12 Administration

Spreadsheets and Formulae

Speaking
Work in small groups. Discuss these questions.
1 What do people use spreadsheets for?
2 Do you use spreadsheets? What for? What do you find easy/difficult about using them?
Vocabulary
Work in pairs. Match sentences 1 – 4 to sums a-d. Then rewrite the sentences using the words in the
brackets.

1 If we divide 8 by 2, we get 4. (divided by) a) 8 + 2 =

2 If we subtract 2 from 8, we get 6. (minus) b) 8 – 2 =

3 If we multiply 8 by 2, we get 16. (times) c) 8 / 2 =

4 The sum of 8 and 2 is 10. (plus) d) 8 x 2 =

Listening (Track 12)

Listen to a trainer explaining a formula in this spreadsheet. Match these words to A- F in the
spreadsheet. What does the formula do?

1 cell ________ 3 formula ________ 5 value ________

2 column _______ 4 row ________ 6 worksheet ______

47
Past Simple
Language
We use the past simple to describe finished Did you check the formulae in the spreadsheet?
actions or events in the past. Yes, I did. I found one mistake. The others were
all fine.
Regular verbs (e.g. check, correct) usually add – I corrected it straight away.
ed. Irregular verbs (e.g., go, get, choose, find)
have their own past simple forms.

We use did/didn’t + bare infinitive in questions

and negative sentences.

Listening (Track 13)

Listen to four employees explaining their problems with spreadsheets. Complete this table.

Action Problem
1 typed in a formula get an error message
2
3
4

Speaking
1 Work in pairs. Match these explanations and solutions to problem 1-4 in the previous Listening.
Then roleplay the situations you heard.

a) saved in another folder by mistake ___________

b) misspelt the function in the formula ___________

c) need to right-click on the cell, select ‘Format cells’, then select ‘Date’ _________

d) chose the wrong fomula __________

System Administrator
2 Work in pairs. Read this definition of what a systems administrator does and write the words in
the box in the correct column in the table.

A systems administrator is responsible for whole computer systems and networks.

deploys new software designs databases looks after network security

sets up user accounts updates software across an organisation
works on a help desk writes software to sell to other companies

48
A systems administration’s task Not a systems administrator’s task

Listening (Track 14)

1 Listen to a systems administrator asking a technician about the status of the company’s computer
systems. Is it a small company? How do you know?

2 Listen again and tick √ the correct column in this table. Were there any big problems?

Worked fine Problem found Not mentioned

1 deploy new software upgrades
2 deploy new software applications
3 backup systems
4 disk drives
5 set permissions
6 check logs
7 reset passwords

Vocabulary
Find words in the table in that match these definitions.
1 change; set again ___________
2 install on many computers at the same time __________
3 settings on a computer, file or folder that say who can use it __________
4 data that a program or computer produces while it runs, to show how well it is working
_________
Complete these collocations and phrasal verbs from the conversation in 3 words in the box. Then
read audio script to check your answer.

crash out out of running again smoothly (x2)

1 run ___________ 4 lock (someone) ___________ (something)

2 disk __________ 5 check (something) ___________
3 be up and ________ 6 go ____________
While, before, after
Language
We can use while, before and after to show the order of While you install the OS, the computer
events will ask you some questions
Before you reinstall the OS, back
everything up

49
If the same person is doing the action in both clauses, we After resetting the password, log in to
can use the –ing form of the verb after these words check that the new one works.

Use these prompts to write sentences with while, before or after

Install the software/do a full backup
Before installing the software, do a full backup
1 install an operating system/the computer may reboot several times
2 deploy major software upgrades/the computer may reboot several times
3 replace the hard drive/everything will go smoothly
4 forget a password/reset it
5 check the logs/finish work for the day
6 check out the database problem/start work tomorrow
7 be in the server room/check the network cables
8 new designer arrives/set permissions on his computer
Peripheral devices
Speaking
Work in pairs. Make a list of as many peripheral devices (e.g. printer, screen) as you can. Then
describe the items on your list to your friend.
It’s for listening to music. You wear it on your head.
Vocabulary
Match photos A-H to definitions 1-8

50
 1 NAS (network attached storage) device : a collection of drives in a single box, accessed
through a network and thus more flexible than a device attached to only one computer
________
2 touchpad : part of a laptop computer used instead of a mouse for moving the cursor
_______
3 stylus : a pen-shaped device sometimes used with some kinds of screens ________
4 graphics tablet and stylus : a flat pressure-sensitive pad and pen-shaped device, often used
with graphic design software _________
5 touch screen: a screen that can detect when and where a finger touches it _______
6 projector : a device that shows a copy of the computer’s screen on a large screen, often used
in presentations __________
7 headset : a device people wear on their heads that includes a microphone as well as
headphones ____________
8 multifunction printer : a printer that also has other functions such as scanning, copying
and/or faxing ____________
Assignment
Read this scenario and choose three of the problems. Write possible solutions to the problems

Complete this log. Use problems from 1 or problems of your own choice
IT Departement: daily log
Time Problem Action taken
1
2
3

51
 Bibliography

David Hill, English for Information Technology 2, Pearson Longman, Graficas Estella, Spain, 2012
Eric H. Glendinning, Oxford English for Careers : Technology 1, Oxford University Press
Maja Olejniczak, English for Information Technology 1, Pearson Longman, Graficas Estella, Spain,
2011
Tom Ricca-McCarthy & Michael Duckworth, Oxford Business English : English for Telecoms and
Information Technology, Oxford University Press

52