The desktop

10. Read the text quickly and match the headings (a-d) with the paragraph (1-4)

a. The control panel c. The desktop

b. The drives d. Using icons

1. The desktop is the screen that appears after you boot up, or turn on, your computer. It shows a number of icons on a background picture or colour. When you buy a new computer and boot up for the first time, the desktop will only show a small number of icons. In the Windows operating system, these usually include My Computer and the Recycle Bin.

2. Double-clicking on an icon with the mouse opens a computer program, a folder or a file. Folders usually contain other files. You can move icons around the desktop, add new ones or remove them by deleting them. Deleted files go to the Recycle Bin. People usually put the programs they use most often on the desktop to find them quickly.

3. When you double-click on My Computer, another screen appears. This screen shows the A: drive icon, for floppy disk; the C: drive icon, which usually contains all of the main programs and folders on your computer; the D: drive icon, which is usually the SD-ROM drive, and the Control Panel folder.

4. When you double-click on Control Panel, another screen appears that shows many other icons, such as the Display icon and the Data/Time icon. Double-clicking on Display opens a box that lets you personalize your desktop by changing the screen saver (the moving image that appears when no one is using the computer) or the background picture.

11.Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F)

1. The desktop appears before you boot up. T/F

2. Files are usually inside folders. T/F

3. People usually put their favourite programs on the desktop. T/F

4. Use the C: drive to open floppy disks. T/F

5. You cannot change the background picture of the desktop. T/F

6. The Control Panel folder contains the Date/Time icon. T/F

 

12. Complete the sentences (1-7) with the words in the box.

Display, screen, saver, folders, Recycle Bin, files, deleted, desktop

1. The ______ icon lets you change the way your desktop looks.

2. If you remove a file by mistake, you can find it in the ______.

3. The ______ appears when you don’t use the mouse or the keyboard.

4. I didn’t use that program very much so I ______it from my desktop.

5. I have a great program on my _____ that I use for playing music.

6. Windows Explorer lets you move _____from one folder to another.

7. _____contain documents or files.