Using English at Work：34 Having Computer Problems(6)

Spreadsheet programs often are used to calculate, or figure, out how much a company is making, for example.

The most popular program currently in the U.S. is Microsoft Excel; that's the most popular spreadsheet program.

The computer tech starts doing something to my computer, typing on the keys -the buttons on the keyboard that you push - a mile a minute for a long time.

The phrase "a mile a minute" means very quickly.

To say that the computer tech was typing a mile a minute means she was typing very quickly.

You could also have someone who speaks a mile a minute - when they speak very quickly.

After she types quickly for a long time, she says, "Okay, it's fixed¹," meaning she has taken something that was broken and made it so that it works again.

You can fix a radio, you could fix a broken car, you can fix any sort of machine; you can also fix a situation or a problem that you're having, for example, with a relationship.

The best way to fix a relationship with another person is to find a new person - that's the easiest!

The computer technician is fixing my computer, and when she's done she says, "it's fixed."

Then she says to me, "You shouldn't have any more problems now -as long as you don't abuse your computer."

"To abuse" (abuse) something or someone means to hurt something or someone by treating it very badly.

If I were angry, I might abuse my computer by taking my hand, making a fist - putting my fingers together - and punching the computer screen.

That would hurt my hand, but I would also feel better even though I was abusing or hurting my computer. I do this a lot!

Of course I never actually abuse my computer, at least not in the story, but it's no good talking to her, because she wouldn't believe me.

Now that my computer is fixed, at least I can begin working again.

I'm sure you can understand how frustrating² all these computer problems can be.

Now that we've talked a little bit about the vocabulary you may need to talk about your computer problems,

let's listen to the description of this part of my day again, this time at a normal rate of speech.

1 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

2 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》