Introduction （导读）

Microsoft Windows is a desktop operating system which was developed by Microsoft Corporation in 1985.At first it was only a Microsoft-DOS simulation environment.Microsoft constantly update and upgrade the following systems of the version,and slowly,windows becomes every family's favorite operating system.

MicrosoftWindows是微软公司研发的一套桌面操作系统，问世于1985年。它起初仅仅是Microsoft-DOS模拟环境。微软公司不断地更新升级此版本的后续系统才使它慢慢地成为家家户户最喜爱的操作系统。

Text （文本）

Introduction to Windows

Microsoft Windows is a software system that works hand in hand with MSDOS to create what is commonly called a graphical operating environment,or Graphical User Interface(GUI).Working with your computer in this environment offers many advantages over working with“normal”MSDOS.Here are some of those advantages:

Windows replaces the DOS command line,so that you no longer have to deal with difficult-to remember DOS commands.Instead of typing at the DOS A or C prompt to start programs,for example,you can start them by selecting easily recognizable graphic symbols, called icons.And instead of having to look up command syntax in a DOS manual when you want to copy files or check the amount of free space on a disk,you can perform these functions with Windows drop down of menus and dialog boxes.These menus and dialog boxes free you from concerning about command syntax.

Windows lets you run more than one program each time and move easily and quickly between programs.You don't have to quit your word processor,for example,when you want to consult your calendar.

Windows provides a standard mechanism for copying or moving information from one program to another.This mechanism,called the Clipboard,means that information created in one context is instantly reusable in another:you don't need to reenter information or work with clumsy data-transfer utilities.

Windows also includes a facility called Dynamic Data Exchange(DDE)that allows certain program to exchange information automatically.Programs that support DDE can be“ hot linked”together so that changes within one are instantly reflected in an other.

Windows makes more efficient use of all your computer's memory than standard MSDOS does.All programs written for version 3 （ or later)of Windows can take advantage of memory beyond 640KB,without requiring special hardware or“driver”files.

Windows encourages consistency among applications,making it easier for you to use a variety of complementary programs in your work.Applications written specifically for the Windows environment have a great deal in common,because they all use standard Windows drop-down menu and dialog box formats.Thus, when you learn to use one Windows program,you're well on your way toward knowing how to use a Windows program.

In short,Windows is a system that makes your computer easier to use,allows you to be more productive and gets the maximum value from your hardware and software investment.

Key words and expressions （重点词汇）

graphical [ˈgræfɪkl] adj .绘成图画似的；绘画的；图形化

interface [ˈɪntəfeɪs] n .；<计>接口；交界面

icon [ˈaɪkɒn] n .图标；图示；图像；偶像

function [ˈfʌŋkʃn] n .功能；作用；应变量；函数；职务；重大聚会；功能；函数；职能；作用

Menu [ˈmenjuː] n .菜单；菜肴；选单；菜单键

syntax [ˈsɪntæks] n .语法；句法；有秩序的排列

mechanism [ˈmekənɪzəm] n .机制；机构；机理；机械装置

Dynamic [daɪˈnæmɪk] adj .动态的；动力的；动力学的；充满活力的；精力充沛的；不断变化的；充满变数的

version [ˈvəːʃn] n .版本；译文；译本；说法；倒转术

consistency [kənˈsɪstənsi] n .一致性；稠度；一贯性；连贯性

Expanded vocabulary（扩展词汇）

operate [ˈɒpəreɪt] vt .操作；控制；使运行

simulation [ˌsɪmjuˈleɪʃn] n .模仿；模拟

environment [ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt] n .环境；外界

favorite [ˈfeɪvərɪt] adj .喜爱的；宠爱的；中意的

advantage [ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ] n .优势；优点；好处；有利条件

recognize [ˈrekəgnaɪz] vt .认出；识别；承认

dialog [ˈdaɪəlɒg] n .对话框；对白；对话；会话

command [kəˈmɑːnd] n .命令；指挥

calendar [ˈkælɪndə(r) ] n .日历；历法；日程表

Oral practice （口语练习）

1.Notebooks are expected to run better on Windows 7 than Vista,which required more powerful hardware than notebooks offered.

2.Different operating systems address these issues in different manners,however most operating systems contain components which have similar functionalities.

3.The techniques used to implement these functions may vary from one OS to another,but the fundamental concepts are the same.

Exercises （练习题）

Ⅰ. Choices.

1.___is not an OS.

A.Windows 7

B.Word

C.Linux

D.Unix

2.Windows replaces the___command line.

A.DOS

B.Windows 7

C.Vista

D.Windows 2000

3.Windows is a___that makes your computer easier to use.

A.hardware

B.software

C.system

D.program

4.What does Windows include?

A.DDE

B.DDR.

C.ROM

D.RAM

5.___is a desktop operating system which was developed by Microsoft Corporation in 1985.

A.DOS

B.Unix

C.Vista

D.Microsoft Windows

Ⅱ. Translate the following sentences into Chinese.

Operating system(OS)functions have evolved in response to the following considerations and issues:

1.Efficient utilization of computing resources.

2.New features in computer architecture.

3.New user requirements.

Ⅲ. Translate the following paragraph into English.

操作系统的基本功能是在计算机系统中组织用户计算的执行，因此它在设计中要求对用户计算有恰当的特征描述，通常在用户计算中使用以下三种特征记述——作业、程序和进程。

译文

Windows简介

Microsoft Windows是一个软件系统，它与MSDOS联合创立了一个我们平常所说的图形操作环境或者是图形用户接口(GUI)。在这种环境下工作的计算机具有了比“普通”工作在MSDOS下的计算机更突出的优点。现列举其中：

Windows取代了DOS命令行，因此你不必再记忆那些难以记忆的DOS命令。举个例子，你能够通过选择容易识别的图形（称为图标）来启动程序，淘汰了原来在DOS下的A或者C提示符下的启动。你也不必为了复制文件或检查磁盘空间而去查看DOS手册中的命令语法。在Windows中这些功能的执行是通过下拉菜单和对话框来实现。这些菜单和对话框使你从命令语法中解放出来。

Windows可以同时运行多个程序，并且可简单、迅速地在程序间切换。例如，当你想查看日程时，你不必退出在运行的字处理程序再去操作。

Windows提供了一套标准的机制，使人们能够在程序之间复制或移动信息。这种机制称为剪贴板。其意思是说，在一个环境中创建的信息可以立即在另一个环境中使用，你不必重新输入信息或使用笨拙的数据传送功能。

Windows还包含了一个称作动态数据交换(DDE)的工具，它允许某些程序自动进行信息交换。支持动态数据交换(DDE)的程序能被紧密地链接在一起，从而在一个程序中所做的变更会立即“映射”到其他程序。

Windows使用计算机内存的效率比标准的MSDOS要高。所有Windows3(或更高）的程序能够使用超过640KB的内存，而不需要特殊的硬件或“驱动”文件。

Windows一贯支持众多应用程序的一致性，使在工作中能够很容易地使用各种不同的功能互补的程序。专为在Windows环境下运行而写的应用程序之所以有不少操作是共同的，是因为使用了标准的Windows的下拉菜单和对话框格式。这样，当学会使用一个Windows程序时，你就已经完全学会了如何使用其他任何一个Windows程序了。

总之， Windows是一个使计算机更容易使用的系统，它能使你的效率更高，并且从软硬件的投资上得到更多的收益。 UNTfEsOEm5BQw6HwVPprlzOcrfMNJVOdN+qP2LtVMk4JkuWal5taSidrhWwI5fu/