2014年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(第一套)PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.TheriseoftheInternethasbeenoneofthemosttransformativedevelopmentsinhumanhistory,comparableinimpacttotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph.Overtwobillionpeopleworldwidenowhaveaccesstovastlymoreinformationthaneverbefore,andcancommunicatewitheachotherinstantly,oftenusingWeb-connectedmobiledevicestheycarryeverywhere.ButtheInternet'stremendousimpacthasonlyjustbegun."MassadoptionoftheInternetisdrivingoneofthemostexcitingsocial,cultural,andpoliticaltransformationsinhistory,andunlikeearlierperiodsofchange,thistimetheeffectsarefullyglobal,"SchmidtandCohenwriteintheirnewbookTheNewDigitalAge.PerhapsthemostprofoundchangeswillcomewhenthefivebillionpeopleworldwidewhocurrentlylackInternetaccessgetonline.TheauthorsdoanexcellentjobofexaminingtheimplicationsoftheInternetrevolutionforindividuals,governments,andinstitutionslikethenewsmedia.Butifthebookhasonemajorshortcoming,it'sthatauthorsdon'tspendenoughtimeapplyingacriticaleyetotheroleofInternetbusinessesintheseweepingchanges.Intheirbook,theauthorsprovidethemostauthoritativevolumetodatethatdescribes—andmoreimportantlypredicts—howtheInternetwillshapeourlivesinthecomingdecades.Theypaintapictureofaworldinwhichindividuals,companies,institutions,andgovernmentsmustdealwithtworealities,onephysical,andonevirtual.Atthecoreofthebookistheideathat"technologyisneutral,butpeoplearen't."Byusingthisconceptasastartingpoint,theauthorsaimtomovebeyondthenowfamiliaroptimistvs.pessimistdichotomy(对立观点)thathascharacterizedmanyrecentdebatesaboutwhethertheriseoftheInternetwillultimatelybegoodorbadforsociety.InaninterviewwithTIMEearlierthisweek,Cohensaidalthoughheandhisco-authorareoptimisticaboutmanyaspectsoftheInternet,they'realsorealisticabouttherisksanddangersthatlieaheadwhenthenextfivebillionpeoplecomeonline,particularlywithrespecttopersonalprivacyandstatesurveillance(监视).56.InwhatwayistheriseoftheInternetsimilartotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph?A)Ittransformshumanhistory.B)Itfacilitatesdailycommunication.C)Itisadoptedbyallhumanity.D)Itrevolutionizespeople'sthinking.57.HowdoSchmidtandCohendescribetheeffectsoftheInternet?A)Theyareimmeasurable.B)Theyareworldwide.C)Theyareunpredictable.D)Theyarecontaminating.58.InwhatrespectisthebookTheNewDigitalAgeconsideredinadequate?A)ItfailstorecognizetheimpactoftheInternettechnology.B)ItfailstolookintothesocialimplicationsoftheInternet.C)ItlacksanobjectiveevaluationoftheroleofInternetbusinesses.1D)ItdoesnotaddressthetechnicalaspectsofInternetcommunication.59.Whatwillthefuturebelikewheneverybodygetsonline?A)Peoplewillbelivingintwodifferentrealities.B)Peoplewillhaveequalaccesstoinformation.C)Peopledon'thavetotraveltoseetheworldD)Peopledon'thavetocommunicatefacetoface.60.WhatdoesthepassagesayabouttheauthorsofTheNewDigitalAge?A)TheyleavemanyquestionsunansweredconcerningtheInternet.B)TheyareoptimisticaboutthefutureoftheInternetrevolution.C)Theyhaveexploredtheunknownterritoriesofthevirtualworld.D)Theydon'ttakesidesinanalyzingtheeffectsoftheInternet.PassageTwoIn1950,ayoungmanwouldhavefounditmucheasierthanitistodaytogetandkeepajobintheautoindustry.Andinthatyeardieaverageautoworkercouldmeetmonthlymortgage(抵押贷款)paymentsonanaveragehomewithjust13.4percentofhistake-homepay.Todayasimilarmortgagewouldclaimmor...
