Question

Cyberspace,data superhighway,multimedia,for those who have seen the future,and the linking of computers,televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever.Yet for all the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia,little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor.As for all the new high technology,the West concerns itself with the “how”,while the question of “for whom” is put aside once again.

Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communication revolution has affected the world economy.Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries,and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade and exchange, interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods.The electronic economy made by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets — with a destructive impact on the have-nots.

For them the result is unstable. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As “futures” are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies.

So what are the options of regaining control？One alternative for developing countries is to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints on developing countries’ economies.

Communication technology is generally exported from the US, Europe or Japan；the patents, skills and ability remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, therefore imported products and services must be bought on credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain.

1. From the passage we know that the development of high technology is in the interests of________.

A．the rich countries B．scientific development

C．the local elitesD．the world economy

2.It can be inferred from the passage that________.

A．international trade should be expanded

B．the interests of the poor countries have not been given enough consideration

C．the exports of the poor countries should be increased

D．communication technology in developing countries should be modernized

3.Why does the author say that the electronic economy may have a destructive impact on developing countries?

A．Because it enables the developed countries to control the international market.

B．Because it destroys the economic balance of the poor countries.

C．Because it violates the national boundaries of the poor countries.

D．Because it inhibits the industrial growth of developing countries.

4.The development of modern communication technology in developing countries may________.

A．hinder their industrial production

B．cause them to lose control of their trade

C．force them to reduce their share of exports

D．cost them their economic independence

5.The author’s attitude towards the communication revolution is________.

A．positive B．critical

C．indifferent D．tolerant

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.D

5.B

【解析】

1.A

解析　考查推理判斷。文章第一段最后一句指出,西方國家關(guān)心的是自己“如何”利用

這些新技術(shù),而這些新技術(shù)“為誰”的問題再一次被拋到了一邊；第二段最后一句則說,電子經(jīng)濟讓擁有這項技術(shù)的國家加強了對全球市場的控制,而對沒有這一技術(shù)的國家產(chǎn)生了破壞性的影響。因此可以推斷出這些技術(shù)代表的是西方發(fā)達(dá)國家的利益。

2.B

解析　考查推理判斷。文章第一段第二句指出“...little attention has been given to...the poor”,即很少有人注意這些發(fā)展對窮人的意義。而由后文的論述可以看出這里的“窮人”指的就是發(fā)展中國家,因此這句話的意思實際上就是這些發(fā)展并沒有顧及發(fā)展中國家的利益。

3.A

解析　考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。根據(jù)第二段最后一句“...allows the haves to increase their control

on global markets...”以及后文的論述可以看出,這里的“the haves”指的就是西方發(fā)達(dá)

國家,因此答案為A項。

4.　D

解析　考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。文章第四段最后一句說“Yet this leads to long-term dependency...

economies (然而這會導(dǎo)致長期的依賴,也許會對發(fā)展中國家的經(jīng)濟產(chǎn)生永久性的制

約)”,也就是說會使發(fā)展中國家失去經(jīng)濟獨立。

5.答案　B

解析　考查作者態(tài)度。本題較為簡單,通過文中措辭,如第一段“l(fā)ittle attention has...for

the poor”；第二段“Economists are only now realizing...”；第三段“For them the result is

unstable.”等不難看出作者對這種代表著發(fā)達(dá)國家利益、不顧及發(fā)展中國家利益的通訊革命是持批評態(tài)度的,故選B；誤選C項和D項是由于不理解詞義所造成的。