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Lesson 1:   Basic computer software - part 1   |   part 2  |   part 3

 

What are they called? Look at these descriptions of computer software. When you have decided which type of software is being described, click first on the description and then on the type of software (listed on the right). Keep going until you have matched them all.
1. This software sits between your programs and your hardware and makes your computer work. This is the one bit of software that every computer must have.
.... Word processor
.... Graphics program
.... Database
.... Operating system
.... Log files
.... Web browser
.... Desktop publisher
.... Email client

2. You use this to write letters, essays, or even books. This program is used more than any other program on most computers, and almost every computer has this program. It might be small and simple, or big and complicated, but the program does the same job.
3. You use this when you want to send a message to someone over the internet. You have to be careful who you give your address to, or this poor program might have to deal with hundreds and hundreds of messages you don't want!
4. You are using this to look at the English for Everybody website right now. It is used for surfing web and seeing pictures, text and video on the internet.
5. You use when you want to make your own pictures, or make changes to your digital photographs. It's hard to learn how to use this kind of program, but they are very useful.
6. Do you do a magazine for your club or your college? Then you need this program. Even if you don't use it a lot, it is very useful for making birthday cards, or announcements about parties and other events.
7. You can use this to organize your music collection, or your library. These programs are very important to business, and you can be certain your name is on this sort of program on many government and business computers right now!
8. These files tell you what is happening on a computer or a website. If your computer is not working properly, these are the files that the repairman will want to see.