Today, there’s hardly an aspect of our life that isn’t being upended(顛覆) by the tons of information available on the hundreds of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not to mention its ability to keep us in constant touch with each other via electronic mail. “If the automobile and aerospace technology had exploded at the same pace as computer and information technology,” says Microsoft, “a new car would cost about $ 2 and go 600 miles on a small quantity of gas. And you could buy a Boeing 747 for the cost of a pizza.”

　　Probably the biggest payoff, however, is the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and serving for the needs of their customers. Nothing like it has been seen since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when power-driven machines began producing more in a day than men could turn out in nearly a year. “We view the growth of the Internet and e-commerce as a global trend,” says Merrill Lynch, “along the lines of printing press, the telephone, the computer, and electricity.”

　　You would be hard pressed to name something that isn’t available on the Internet. Consider: books, health care, movie tickets, construction materials, baby clothes, stocks, cattle feed, music, electronics, antiques, tools, real estate, toys, autographs of famous people, wine and airline tickets. And even after you’ve moved on to your final resting place, there’s no reason those you love can’t keep in touch. A company called FinalThoughts.com offers a place for you to store “afterlife e-mails” you can send to Heaven with the help of a “guardian angel”.

　　Kids today are so computer literate that it in fact ensures the United States will remain the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the foreseeable(能預測的) future. Nearly all children in families with incomes of more than $75,000 a year have home computers, according to a study by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Youngsters from ages 2 to 17 at all income levels have computers, with 52% of those connected to the Internet. Most kids use computers to play games (some for 30 hours or more a week), and many teenage girls think nothing of rushing home from school to have e-mail chats with friends they have just left.

　　What’s clear is that, whether we like it or not, the Internet is an ever growing part of our lives and there is no turning back. “The Internet is just 20% invented,” says cyber pioneer Jake Winebaum. “The last 80% is happening now.”

　　1. What can we learn from the Microsoft’s remark?

　　A. Today’s cars and airplanes are extremely overpriced.

　　B. Information technology is developing at an amazing speed.

　　C. Information technology has reached the point where improvement is difficult.

　　D. There’s more competition in information technology industry than in car industry.

　　2. The author gives the example of FinalThoughts.com to make the point that____.

　　A. there are some genius ideas on the Internet

　　B. almost anything is available on the Internet

　　C. people can find good bargains on the Internet

　　D. some websites provide novel services to increase hits

　　3. What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?

　　A. There is a link between income and computer ownership.

　　B. Many American children don’t put computers to good use.

　　C. Studies show that boys are more computer literate than girls.

　　D. The U.S. will stay ahead in the information technology in years.

　　4. Which sentence has the phrase that possesses the same meaning as the one underlined in the fifth paragraph?

　　A. Some can tell you that he has changed their lives, while others think nothing of him.

　　B. Think nothing of it. It was my pleasure.

　　C. He thinks nothing of staying up all night in the Café bar.

　　D. He thinks nothing of the pain in his back for the moment.

　　5. What is the message the author intends to convey?

　　A. The Internet is going to get firm hold of our lives some day.

　　B. The Internet is going to influence our lives even more greatly.

　　C. We should have a positive attitude towards the changes the Internet brings.

　　D. Children should be well prepared for the challenges in the information age.

　　Hans was an honest fellow with a funny round good-humored face. Living alone, every day he worked in his garden. In all the countryside there was no garden so lovely as his. All sorts of flowers grew there, blooming in their proper order as the months went by, one flower taking another flower’s place, so that there were always beautiful things to see, and pleasant odors to smell.

　　Hans had many friends, the most devoted being the Miller. So devoted was the rich Miller to Hans that he’d never go by his garden without plucking a large bunch of flowers or a handful of sweet herbs, or filling his pockets with fruits. The Miller used to talk about noble ideas, and Hans nodded and smiled, feeling proud of having such a friend.

　　The neighbors thought it strange that the rich Miller never gave Hans anything in return, though he had hundreds of sacks of flour, many cows and sheep, but Hans never troubled his head about these, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all the wonderful things about the unselfishness of true friendship.

　　In spring, summer, and autumn Hans was very happy, but when winter came, and he had no fruit or flowers to sell, he suffered from cold and hunger. Though extremely lonely, the Miller never came to see him then.

　　“There’s no good in going to see Hans while the snow lasts.” The Miller said to his wife, “When people are in trouble they shouldn’t be bothered. So I’ll wait till the spring comes when he’s happy to give me flowers.”

　　“You’re certainly very thoughtful,” answered his wife, “It’s quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship.”

　　“Couldn’t we ask Hans up here?” said their son. “I’ll give him half my meal, and show him my white rabbits.”

　　“How silly you are!” cried the Miller. “I really don’t know what’s the use of sending you to school. If Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, our good supper, and our red wine, he might get envious, and envy is a most terrible thing, and would spoil anybody’s nature. I am his best friend, and I’ll always watch over him, and see that he’s not led into any temptation. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me for some flour. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they shouldn’t be confused. The words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that.” He looked seriously at his son, who felt so ashamed that he hung his head down, and grew quite scared, and began to cry into his tea.

　　Spring coming, the Miller went down to see Hans. Again he talked about friendship. “Hans, friendship never forgets. I’m afraid you don’t understand the poetry of life. See, how lovely your roses are!”

　　Hans said he wanted to sell them in the market to buy back his things which were sold during the hard time of the winter.

　　“I’ll give you many good things. I think being generous is the base of friendship.” said the Miller. “And now, as I’ll give you many good things, I’m sure you’d like to give me some flowers in return. Here’s the basket, and fill it quite full.”

　　Poor Hans was afraid to say anything. He ran and plucked all his pretty roses, and filled the Miller’s basket, imagining the many good things promised by the Miller.

　　The next day he heard the Miller calling: “Hans, would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to market?”

　　“I’m sorry, but I am really very busy today.”

　　“Well,” said the Miller, “considering that I’m going to give you my things, it’s rather unfriendly of you to refuse. Upon my word, you mustn’t mind my speaking quite plainly to you.”

　　Poor Hans was driven by his friendship theory to work hard for his best friend, leaving his garden dry and wasted.

　　One evening Hans was sitting by fire when the Miller came.

　　“Hans,” cried the Miller, “My little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himself, and I’m going for the Doctor. But he lives so far away, and it’s such a bad windy night. It has just occurred to me that you can go instead of me. You know I’m going to give you my good things, so you should do something for me in return.”

　　“Certainly,” cried Hans. He struggled into the stormy night, and got the doctor to ride a horse to the Miller’s house in time to save the boy. However, Hans got lost in the darkness, and wandered off into a deep pool, drowned.

　　At Hans’ funeral, the Miller said, “I was his best friend. I should walk at the head of the procession.” Every now and then he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.

　　6. From the passage, we can learn that Hans ___________.

　　A. was extremely wise and noble

　　B. was highly valued by the Miller

　　C. admired the Miller very much

　　D. had a strong desire for fortune

　　7. “Flour is one thing, and friendship is another” can be understood as ___________.

　　A. “Different words may mean quite different things.”

　　B. “Interest is permanent while friendship is flexible.”

　　C. “I’m afraid you don’t understand the poetry of life.”

　　D. “I think being generous is the base of friendship.”

　　8. From the Miller’s talk at home, we can see he was ___________.

　　A. serious but kind

　　B. helpful and generous

　　C. caring but strict

　　D. selfish and cold-hearted

　　9. What’s the main cause of Hans’ tragedy?

　　A. True friendship between them.

　　B. A lack of formal education.

　　C. A sudden change of weather.

　　D. Blind devotion to a friend.

　　10. The author described the Miller’s behavior in order to ___________.

　　A. entertain the readers with an incredible joking tale

　　B. show the friendship between Hans and the Miller

　　C. warn the readers about the danger of a false friend

　　D. persuade people to be as intelligent as the Miller

　　參考答案：

　　1-5 BBDCB 6-10 CBDDC

　　Only in that way can we benefit from them.

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