诸如website, online, download, file, access这样的词汇你熟悉吗?假若它们出现在听力材料中你能听懂吗?如果不熟悉,你就 out 了!下面这段文字摘自2010年湖北高考英语听力考试的最后一段材料,其中就出现了不少像上面提到的计算机词汇:
Hello, my name is John Williams. I am an English teacher, and I have started a website to help you improve English listening and speaking skills as quickly as possible. My online English lessons take just 5-10 minutes each day to complete. And there are no advertisements to take your attention away. You can also download the sound files to your computer and access them and take your lessons again any time. I’ve designed the online English course to be a very easy, cheap and quick way to improve your English speaking, listening and conversation skills, and also to improve your listening scores in English exams.
Every day, you’ll learn some new English vocabulary, idioms and phrasal verbs. And you will feel more confident in working and making friends in English. You also learn correct English pronunciation.
I always make sure my online English lessons are short, interesting and easy to remember. My idea of learning English is that it is best for you to learn a little each day and remember it clearly. This idea doesn’t mean a new method, but instead, it is a concept I hope you can accept. Whether you are taking other English classes or not, and no matter what method you use, it can help you to achieve your English-learning goals.(www.yygrammar.com)
其中的一道听力测试题是这样的(答案是A):
How can a learner take the lessons when he is not online?
A. By using the downloaded sound files.
B. By making conversations with others.
C. By reviewing words, phrases and idioms.
除了听力外,其他的题型,如单项填空、完形填空、阅读理解、书面表达等,更是经常涉及计算机方面的词汇,这其中有些词汇是属于计算机专用词汇(如modem, reboot等),而有些词汇则是普通词汇引申出了专用于计算机的新词义(如click, save等),但遗憾的是,这些词汇我们在一般的中学英语词典中很难查到,有些词汇就是在《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第四版也查不到,因为这些词汇太“新”了,有好多词典都还来不及收录,但它们却已经出现在我们的高考试题中了。为帮助同学们搞好这类词汇的复习,我们特查阅了最新出版的《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第六版和《朗文当代高级英语词典》第四版,对涉及计算机的一些常用词汇进行了一次全面的整理和归纳,希望对大家的学习有所帮助。
1. access
access 本是名词,意思是“接近”“进入”“通道”等。如:
The village is easy (difficult) of access. 到那个村子的路很容易(很难)走。
Only high officials had access to the president. 只有高级官员才可以接近总统。
The only access to their house is along that narrow road. 只有沿着那条狭窄的路走才能到达他们的房子。
但现在access也可用作动词,表示“存取(计算机文件)”。如:
The files were accessed every day to keep them up to date. 文件每日存取,使之不断更新。
2. button
button 本指衣服的“钮扣”,或是门铃或电器开关的“按钮”,在计算机语言中指“按键”。如:
Click on the left mouse button. 单击鼠标左键。
Choose “printer” from the menu and click with the right mouse button. 从菜单上选取“打印机”,然后点击鼠标右键。
3. click
(1) 用作动词,本指“(使)发出咔嗒声”,在计算机语言中指“点击”(可用作及物或不及物动词)。如:
Click here to connect to the Internet. 点击此处可以连接上互联网。
Click “save” and close the document. 点击“保存”,然后关闭文件。
Choose the image you want by clicking twice. 双击选中你想要的图像。
Click on this link to visit our online bookstore. 点击这个链接可访问我们的在线书店。
(2) 用作名词,本指“咔嗒声”,在计算机语言中指“点击”,通常为可数名词,且一般用单数形式。如:
The point-and-click interface made life easier for users. 这种点击界面使用户的生活更加轻松。
Your photos can be viewed with the click of a mouse. 点一下鼠标就可以查看你的照片。
4. computer
computer 的意思是“电脑”“计算机”,为可数名词。如:
The information is stored on (the) computer. 资料存在电脑上。
Something has gone wrong with the computer. 这台电脑出毛病了。
My computer can’t read this disk. 这张盘我的计算机读不出来。
Connect up the printer to your computer. 将打印机与你的计算机连接起来。
She uses a portable computer when she travels. 她外出时用一部手提电脑。
有时直接用于名词前作定语。如:
The kids all love playing computer games. 孩子们都喜欢玩电脑游戏。
She’s been given leave of absence to attend a computer course. 她被准假去参加电脑课程的培训。
5. cursor 光标
cursor 的意思是“光标”。如:
Insert the cursor at the beginning of the line. 在行首插入光标。
The arrow that appears on the screen is called a cursor. 屏幕上出现的箭头叫光标。
Use the cursor to highlight the name of the document you want to print. 使用光标来加亮你想打印的文件。
Position the cursor before the letter you want to delete. 把光标放在你想删除的信件前。
6. cybercafe
cybercafe是个新词,它的本义是“网络咖啡屋”,也就是现在我们说的“网吧”,也有人称之为“网咖”。如:
Sometimes we drink coffee at a cybercafe and wade through some websites. 有时我们坐在网吧里,边喝咖啡边浏览几个网站。
Many towns and cities have cybercafes where you can surf the Internet. 许多城镇都有网吧,在那儿人们可以在网上冲浪。
7. data
data 的意思是“数据”“信息”“资料”等,可指计算机方面的数据或资料,也可指其他方面的数据或资料。如:
Have you inputted the new data yet? 你把新数据输进电脑了没有?
Early computers processed data very slowly. 早期的计算机对数据处理得十分缓慢。
Important data is stored on the central file server. 重要数据存储在中央文件服务器。
非常有趣的是,该词既可用作不可数名词,也可视为复数
Very little data is available. 现有的资料十分不足。
Thank you for offering us so many data. 谢谢你为我们提供了这么多资料。
用作主语时谓语用单数或复数均可以。如:
The data are [is] all ready for examination. 资料已完全准备好供查考。
8. download
(1) 用作动词,意为“下载”,可及物或不及物。如:
Wait until it’s finished downloading. 等它下载完毕。
Do you want to download all these files? 你想下载所有这些文件吗?
Everything we download from the Internet is automatically filtered through our virus software. 我们从因特网上下载的所有东西杀毒软件都会自动进行过滤。
(2) 用作名词,意为“下载”“下载的东西”,可用作可数或不可数名词。如:
The download failed. 下载失败。
If you are prompted to download language support components, click Download. 如果系统提示您下载语言支持组件,请单击“下载”。(第一个download是动词,第二个download是名词)
9. email
(1) 用作名词,意为“电子邮件”,可用作可数或不可数名词。如:
I sent her an email yesterday. 我昨天给她发了电子邮件。
Email is great for keeping in touch. 电子邮件对于保持联系十分有用。
Send an email to the above address to report a broken link 如果链接不正常,请给上面的地址发邮件报告情况。
注意以下有用搭配:
① email address 邮箱地址
My email address is on my business card. 我的名片上有我的email地址。
Let me take your email address. 让我来记下你的邮箱地址。
② by [via] email 通过电子邮件
We stay in contact by email. 我们用电子邮件保持联系。
Are you contactable by [via] e-mail? 可以通过电子邮件与你联系吗?
(2) 用作动词,为及物动词,通常用于email sb, email sb sth, email sb about sth等句式。如:
You can e-mail me the list. 你可以把名单用邮件发给我。
I’ll email her about it, and copy you in. 我会给她发电子邮件,并抄送给你一份。
She emailed her husband that she had passed the entry examination. 她发电子邮件告知其丈夫,她通过了入学考试。(H6)
10. hack
hack 的本意指“劈”“砍”等。如:
He was hacking at a tree. 他正在砍树。
在计算机语言中指“非法侵入他人计算机系统”,通常译为“侵入”“非法浸入”“窃取”等。如:
He hacked into the bank’s computer. 他侵入了这家银行的计算机。
They had hacked secret data. 他们窃取保密资料。
Two British youths were caught hacking into government computers. 两名英国青年被发现非法侵入政府计算机系统。
短语hack into 意思是“私自存取或篡改(他人电脑资料)”。如:
They hack into banks and transfer huge amounts of cash. 他们侵入银行的电脑系统并转走了大量的现金。
由hack派生来的名词hacker意为“黑客”。如:
A hacker had managed to get into the system. 有个黑客设法进入了系统。
11. hardware
hardware 本指“五金器具”,在计算机语言中指“硬件”,与“软件”相对。如:
Our local hardware shop has shut down. 我们当地经营硬件的商店关闭了。
Software packages may need complete rewrites to match new hardware. 软件包可能需要彻底改写以适应新的硬件。
We’ve been having some technical problems with the new hardware. 我们的新硬件一直存在技术方面的问题。
12. icon
icon本指“偶像”“肖像”“图符”“象征”等,在计算机语言中指“图标”。如:
Click on the icon to open the file. 点击该图标打开文件。
Use the mouse to drag the icon to a new position. 用鼠标拖动图标至新位置。
Clicking on the icon will take you back to the previous web page. 点击该图标可以返回到上一网页。
13. Internet
为计算机专有语,意为“互联网”“因特网”,总是大写第一个字母,且习惯上要与定冠词连用。如:
He is browsing the Internet. 他在上网浏览信息。
Do you have access to the Internet? 你能上因特网吗?
We often search the Internet for information. 我们经常上互联网搜索信息。
Teachers are increasingly conscious of the importance of the Internet. 老师们越来越意识到因特网的重要性。
We were able to get the information we needed from the Internet. 我们能够从因特网上获得所需的信息。
注:Internet 有时也可略成 Net。
14. keyboard
keyboard本指钢琴、电子琴之类乐器的按键,在计算机语言中指“键盘”。如:
She ran her fingers along the keyboard. 她的手指在琴键上飞快地移动。
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to use a keyboard at all. 理想的情况是你根本不需要使用键盘。
Most computer users have never received any formal keyboard training. 大多数计算机用户从没有接受过正规的键盘(操作)训练。
15. load
load 本指“装载”“装填”“担负”“给(枪)装子弹”等,在计算机语言中指“装入”。如:
Load the program into the computer. 将程序装入计算机。
A programmer loads software onto a computer. 程序编制员将软件安装到计算机上。
16. log
log 用作动词本指“伐木”“记入(日志)”,但在计算机语言中指“登录”“注册”“进入”,通常用于 log in [on](登录进入计算机系统)和log off [out](退出计算机系统)。如:
Try logging off and logging on again. 试着退出系统然后重新登录。
Log out before switching the computer off. 在关计算机之前要退出系统。
若表示“登录到……”,则用log on to…或log in to…。如:
You need to log on to your home page. 你需要登录到首页。
In order to log in to the system you have to type in a special password. 为了进入该系统,必须打入特殊的通行密码。
17. menu
menu 本指餐馆用于点菜的“菜单”,但在计算机语言中指用于说明计算机功能任务的“菜单”。如:
Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use. 下拉式菜单使该程序很容易使用。
The menu bar with its windows is one of the features of the desktop. 具有菜单栏及窗口是桌面的特色之一。
To create a new document, select New from the File menu. 创建新文档,要选择文件菜单中的新建项。
18. modem
modem 为计算机专用语,意思是“调制解调器”,为计算器系统与其他设备(例如电话线)的联接装置,可使资料高速传至另一计算器。如:
It comes with a 56K modem and a speech recognition system. 另配一个56K的调制解调器和一个语音识别系统。
That store sells computer hardware, such as PCs, printers, and modems. 那家商店出售计算机硬件,如个人计算机、打印机和调制解调器。
I logged on to an information service by using my modem. 我用自己的调制解调器登录进入了一个信息服务系统。
19. mouse
mouse 本指动物“鼠”“老鼠”,在计算机语言中指“鼠标”。如:
Use the mouse to drag the icon to a new position. 用鼠标拖动图标至新位置。
Your photos can be viewed with the click of a mouse. 点一下鼠标就可以查看你的照片。
20. netizen
netizen为计算机网络专用词汇,意为“网民”。如:
Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives. 还有一种可能是,网民通过因特网所了解到的广阔世界使他们对自己的生活不那么满意了。
顺便说一句,与“网民”相似的还有一个名词值得注意,那就是“网友”,在词典上还没有查到标准的表达,现在人们用得比较多的是net friend或cyber-friend。
21. network
network 本指“网点”“网络”“网状系统”“广播公司”等,在计算机语言中指“(计算机)网络”。如:
All these PCs are linked up to the network. 所有这些个人计算机都连上了网络。
It might be prudent to get a virus detector for the network. 给网络配一个病毒检测器算是谨慎的做法。
22. online
(1) 用作形容词,意为“联机的”“在线的”。如:
Online bookstores can undercut retailers by up to 30%. 在线书店有可能抢走30%的零售商。
Not all executives share the view that participation in online discussions is good for business. 并非所有的经理们都认为参加在线讨论对生意有所帮助。
(2) 用作副词,意为“联机”“在线”,主要用于修饰动词,表示方式。如:
You can book seats online. 你可以在线预订座位。
Investors can now trade stocks online. 现在投资者们可以在网上从事股票交易。
23. password
password 的意思是“口令”“密码”。如:
The password may be up to 12 characters long. 密码可以长至12个字符。
PC users should log on to the network by entering their user name and password. 个人计算机用户应输入用户名和密码进入计算机网络。
24. printer
printer 的意思是“打印机”。如:
You’ve connected the printer cake wrongly. 你把打印机的电缆接错了。
He prints a letter on his computer’s printer. 他在电脑的打印机上打印了一封信。
注意printer与typewriter不同,后者的意思是“打字机”。
25. program
program 本指“节目”“计划”“节目单”等,在计算机语言中指“程序”。如:
She showed them her new computer programs. 她向他们展示了自己的新电脑程序。
Close down all programs that are running before you install the software. 安装这个软件之前,先关闭所有运行中的程序。
We designed a pilot program to see if the new computer system would work. 我们设计了一个测试性的程序来看看新的计算机系统是否运行。
另外,这个词还可用作动词,表示“编程”“为……编制程序”。如:
She programmed the computer to answer the phone. 她给计算机编好程序,使之能接电话。
She knows how to program in several computer languages. 她会用好几种计算机语言编程。
26. reboot
reboot 为计算机专用语,意思是“重新启动”“再引导”。如:
You’ll have to switch off and reboot. 必须关机,重新启动。
Please reboot and run setup again. 请重新启动并重新安装。
You must reboot your computer in order for the installer to continue this installation. 需重新启动计算机以便安装程序继续本次安装。
27. save
save 本指“挽救”“节省”等,在计算机语言中指“保存”。如:
Click “save” and close the document. 点击“保存”,然后关闭文件。
Save you files onto your hard disk and back them up onto floppies. 将文件存入了硬盘,然后备份到软盘。
You are already attempting to save this item. If you attempt to save this item again, you may create duplicate information. Would you like to save this item again? 您已尝试过保存此项。如果尝试再次保存此项,则可能会产生重复信息。是否再次保存此项?
28. software
software 的意思是“软件”,与“硬件”相对。如:
You might want to install anti-virus software. 你也许需要安装一个防病毒软件。
The computer comes complete with software and games. 买这种电脑送完整的软件和游戏。
29. system 系统
system 本指一般意义的“系统”“体系”“制度”等,在计算机语言中指“计算机系统”。如:
The big advantage of this system is that it is fast. 该系统的最大优势就是速度快。
The system keeps crashing―I’ve lost all my files. 系统不断出故障,我所有的文件都丢失了。
I’d like see the new computer system in action. 我想看看这个新的计算机系统的运行情况。
30. virus
virus 本指导致人或动物等生病的“病毒”,在计算机语言中指影响计算机正常工作甚至导致计算机瘫痪的“病毒”。如:
The virus will disable your computer. 该病毒会使计算机瘫痪。
They’ve developed a new method of testing for the virus. 他们研究出一种测定这种病毒的新方法。
A virus checker is available as an optional extra for your computer. 可为计算机选择安装额外的查毒软件。
Companies are increasingly worried by the threat of hacking and computer viruses. 各公司越来越担心黑客和计算机病毒的威胁。
31. website
website 为计算机专用语,意思是“网站”“网址”。如:
A search found 46 websites. 上网一查就找到了46个网址。
To find out more, visit our website. 若需了解更多情况,请访问我们的网站。
The hotel didn’t match up to the description on the website. 这家旅馆远不像网上描述的那么好。
32. window
window本指房屋等的“窗户”,在计算机语言中指“窗口”。如:
Click on the window to make it active. 单击窗口将其激活。
The menu bar with its windows is one of the features of the desktop. 具有菜单栏及窗口是桌面的特色之一。
(原载《第二课堂》2011年第7期,原题《计算机相关词汇大派送》)