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　考查推理判断。文章第一段最后一句指出,西方国家关心的是自己“如何”利用

这些新技术,而这些新技术“为谁”的问题再一次被抛到了一边；第二段最后一句则说,电子经济让拥有这项技术的国家加强了对全球市场的控制,而对没有这一技术的国家产生了破坏性的影响。因此可以推断出这些技术代表的是西方发达国家的利益。

2.B

解析　考查推理判断。文章第一段第二句指出“...little attention has been given to...the poor”,即很少有人注意这些发展对穷人的意义。而由后文的论述可以看出这里的“穷人”指的就是发展中国家,因此这句话的意思实际上就是这些发展并没有顾及发展中国家的利益。

3.A

解析　考查细节理解。根据第二段最后一句“...allows the haves to increase their control

on global markets...”以及后文的论述可以看出,这里的“the haves”指的就是西方发达

国家,因此答案为A项。

4.　D

解析　考查细节理解。文章第四段最后一句说“Yet this leads to long-term dependency...

economies (然而这会导致长期的依赖,也许会对发展中国家的经济产生永久性的制

约)”,也就是说会使发展中国家失去经济独立。

5.答案　B

解析　考查作者态度。本题较为简单,通过文中措辞,如第一段“little attention has...for

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

unstable.”等不难看出作者对这种代表着发达国家利益、不顾及发展中国家利益的通讯革命是持批评态度的,故选B；误选C项和D项是由于不理解词义所造成的。