I open the ppt file but I can't see the picture. Didn't it come with the download?

The background picture is stored on the slide master. To see the background picture and begin placing your text, select the text that says "Click to add first slide". Alternatively you can go to the toolbar and select the icon to add new slide or go to the Menu > Insert > New Slide.

I get two different backgrounds when I select a Title Slide and a Text and Clip Art Slide, why is that?

For each mP ppt file there are two types of slide masters that have been created. One is a Title Master and the other is a Slide Master.

I have made slides in several of the ppt files but when I try to import them into a single file it only brings the text across. How do I get the background image across as well?

The background images are stored on the slide master and inserted using the Slide Background Format. To be able to insert the background image behind your text you will need to extract it from the original ppt file.

First, open the original ppt file, with no slides added.

Second, add ONE TITLE SLIDE and ONE BLANK SLIDE to the ppt file. You should see two background images.

Third: SAVE AS, give it a name and select JPEG as the FORMAT in which you wish to save the slides. This will produce two jpeg images of the background images. You can now insert them behind your text.