one the confidence to follow whatever he/she trusts in.

B. Basic writing techniques: the three major structural parts of a paragraph. (1) A paragraph has three major structural parts: the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and the concluding sentence. The following paragraph, short as it is (containing 121 words), has all the three elements of a good paragraph.

Gold

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts' suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside the spaceship. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

The first sentence of this paragraph is the topic sentence, which states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but also limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed completely in the space of a single paragraph. The specific area is called the controlling idea. Notice how the topic sentence of the model states both the topic and the controlling idea:

Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. That is, they explain the topic sentence by giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and quotations. Some of the supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence about gold are:

First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.

For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago.

Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts' suits.

The concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and leaves the reader with important points to remember:

In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

(2) Exercise: Read the following paragraph and identify the three structural parts.

Technology has a positive effect on the internal operations of organizations, but it has also

- 13 -

changed a manager's job. Organizations today have become integrative communication centers. By linking computers, telephones, fax machines, copiers, printers, and the like, managers can get complete information quickly. With that information, managers can better formulate plans, make faster decisions, more clearly define the jobs that workers need to perform, and monitor work activities. In essence, information technology today has enhanced a manager's ability to more effectively and efficiently perform the four primary activities associated with a manager's job. Reference answer： The topic sentence: Technology has changed a manager's job. Supporting sentences:

1. Organizations today have become integrative communication centers.

2. By linking computers, telephones, fax machines, copiers, printers and the like, managers can get complete information quickly.

3. Managers can better formulate plans, make faster decisions, more clearly define the jobs that workers need to perform, and monitor work activities. The concluding sentence:

In essence, information technology today has enhanced a manager's ability to more effectively and efficiently perform the four primary activities associated with a manager's job.

9. Surfing the Internet

Go to http://www.yyxenglish.com ,

http://computershopper.com/best-prices/product/33554944/laptops or

http://www.shopping.hp.com to find out what you look for in a new laptop or desktop computer. Using your criteria, search website advertisements for a computer vendor that sells the product you want. Be prepared to explain your reasons, including price, quality, and service, for selecting the computer and vendor you settle on.

Reference answer： I decide on the HP HDX 16t Premium series. First of all, a PC of this series is not very expensive, with prices starting from $909.99. Besides, I can get free 4GB of memory upgraded from 3GB ($50 value), free hard drive upgrade to 320GB 7200rpm from 250GB 7200rpm ($50 value), free Blu-ray drive ($150 value), and free shipping ($29 value). As for the quality, HP HDX 16t Premium is the type I like best. The product is installed with genuine Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. It has a high definition (HD) display (1366 x 768) so I can watch HD movies and play games for intense realism. What impresses me most are the high definition with home-theater audio/video, TV reception, and cool entertainment features with the MediaSmart software. Equally important are its networking features including the built-in Wi-Fi, a low-light webcam and digital microphones.

The trouble-free after-sale service pushes me to choose this type of computer. It can give me peace of mind with the one-year limited hardware and software warranty and I can get help 24 x 7 toll free or online: their call center provides one year of HP Priority Service and Support for HDX customers.

These are the reasons why I choose to buy the HP HDX 16t Premium laptop at the Home & Home Office website.

Part 2 Language in Use

- 14 -

1. Dialogue computer repairs

A customer has bought a new computer, but she is having a lot of trouble with it. She is now calling Computer Technical Support for help.

Clerk: Hello and thank you for calling Computer 职员：您好，欢迎致电电脑技术支持部。Technical Support. How can I help you?

请问有什么需要帮忙？

Customer: Yeah, I bought one of your laptop 顾客：是的，大约三个星期前我买了一台

但是它运行总是不正常。 computers about three weeks ago, but it just isn't 你们的手提电脑，

working properly.

职员：啊，很抱歉，但您的电脑已不在保

Clerk: Well, sorry to say, but your computer is no 修期内。它昨天已经过期了。

longer under warranty. It ran out yesterday. Customer: What? A three-week warranty? Clerk: Yes, I'm afraid so. What's the problem?

顾客：什么？三周的保修期？

职员：是的，就是这样。到底是什么问题呢？

顾客：首先，它总是死机，而且瘫痪了无

Customer: Well, first of all, the machine always 数次。 freezes and has crashed at least a zillion times. 职员：呃，女士…… Clerk: Uh, madam... 顾客：而且我认为这台电脑感染了间谍软Customer: And I think the computer's infected with 件和大香蕉木马病毒，这是我最担心的。

spyware and the Big Banana Trojan virus. That's my biggest concern. Clerk: Oh, uh, madam...

职员：哦，呃，女士……

顾客：再加上这里面有太多预装的第三方

Customer: And plus there are a ton of pre-installed 应用软件，它们把电脑弄得很混乱。我现third-party applications that just clutter the 在没有办法让电脑工作。 computer. I'm at my wits' end trying to get this thing working.

职员：女士，我得请您稍等一下。

Clerk: Madam. I have to put you on hold. 顾客：什么？ Customer: What? 职员：我们需要一些时间来判断这些问题。Clerk: It's going to take us a minute or so to 我将把电话转给我们的技术人员。

diagnose the problems. I'm going to transfer you to our technician.

电话录音：感谢您的等待。您的来电对我

您的等候号码是84号。您的Phone Recording: Thank you for waiting. Your call 们非常重要。

is important to us. You are number 84 in the queue. 等待时间大约是2小时17分，或者我们Your approximate waiting time is 2 hours 17 一有机会便会回复您的来电。 minutes, or whenever we get around to answering your call.

New Words

Warranty

n. [U, C] a written agreement in which a company selling sth. promises to repair or replace it if there is a problem within a particular period of time 保修单 zillion

n. [U, C] an extremely large number 极大的数目

I've told you a zillion times what the problem is. Don't you understand it now? 关于问题的症结，我已经跟你讲了无数遍了。你现在还不明白吗？

- 15 -

clutter

vt. to fill an area with too many things and make it messy 凌乱地塞满，乱堆放

I hate some computer companies because they tend to clutter their machines with junk software most people don't use.

我讨厌某些电脑公司，因为他们老是在电脑上乱装些大多数人根本用不上的垃圾软件。 queue

n. [C] a line of people, cars, etc. waiting for sth. or to do sth. 队，行列

Phrases and Expressions

be under warranty

to be bound by a written promise by a company to fix or replace one of its products 在保修期内

The camera is still under warranty. 这个相机仍在保修期内。 run out

1) (of an agreement or a document) to become no longer valid 过期，失效

Sometimes, a product you buy will function perfectly long after the warranty runs out. 有时候买来的产品在保修期过了很久之后，仍然很好用。

2) (of a supply of sth.) to be used up or finished 用完，耗尽 Time is running out for the trapped miners. 被困矿工的时间正在一点点流失。 be at one's wits' end

to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it 智穷计尽；全然不知所措

To tell the truth, I'm at my wits' end trying to figure out the problem with my computer. 我想找出电脑里存在的问题，但说实话，我已经一筹莫展了。 get around/round to doing sth. 抽出时间来做某事

Read and listen to the dialogue. Choose the best answer to each question according to the dialogue.

1. Which of the following is NOT the woman's computer's problem? A A. It's cold.

B. It has a lot of junk software. C. It has a virus. D. It crashes a lot.

2. What is the matter with the computer warranty? D A. The warranty doesn't cover software issues and problems. B. The warranty was issued only yesterday.

C. The warranty isn't valid because the computer is not registered. D. The warranty has expired.

3. What can we infer from the company's response to the caller? A A. They are understaffed to handle customers' complaints.

- 16 -