1) The help files (F1 on your keyboard) will help you learn the language and terminology.

2) Yes, you can change the render quality of the scene. You can set different render settings in Render Globals. Look in the help files for more information on how to use it.

3) Again, look in the help files. They will explain what all the buttons do.

4) I live in Seattle, so I'm a bit too far away.