Question

Ever since the invention of the printing press over 500 years ago, mass communication has been growing and affecting the way communities and people behave. Where once the written word was used by those with power to keep control of populations, now everyone believes that they have power over governments because of the huge amount of knowledge available to them thanks to electronic communication. At every stage of the development of communication, from the telegraph through to the Internet, societies have had to adapt to its effects. But have the effects been more positive or negative?

The saying “knowledge is power” has been an excellent motivator for people to improve their lives, but today the massive amount of information available through the Internet doesn’t always seem to be helping people in the way we’d hoped. Rather than improving people’s lives and bringing us closer together, the information age is making us more divided and irresponsible.

Nevertheless, many people find comfort in their virtual (虛擬的) worlds and are happy to connect with real-life friends and online friends from the familiar surroundings of their living rooms. However, being able to reinvent themselves online and be whoever they want to be leads to the question of whether they are losing their identities by living in a virtual world.

It’s not all bad news, however. Mass communication has helped change some attitudes for the better. Take our views on the environment for example. Internet campaigns by governments and other organizations have helped popularize the ideas of recycling, protecting wildlife and reducing pollution.

Modern electronic communication now influences every aspect of our lives — it is a powerful tool that has raised some concerns for society. However, it has also brought countless benefits to society. At the end of the day, it can be used both for good or evil and ultimately relies on the morals and sense of responsibility of the individual or community involved. In short, it needs to be used with care.

1.What does the writer imply about life before the printing press?

A. Population levels were lower.

B. The general public had little power.

C. People wanted to have more control over their lives.

D. Countries were governed by poorly educated people.

2.The writer states that the saying “knowledge is power” has ________.

A. encouraged people to get an education

B. sometimes failed to have the expected results

C. motivated people to access as much information as possible

D. been the driving force behind the development of mass media

3.What does the writer think about socialising online?

A. It can be comforting for some people.

B. Virtual lives can stop people enjoying a real life.

C. People have too many friends online to be of any value.

D. Crime is a problem for people on social networking sites.

4.Which statement best summarises the writer’s overall view of electronic communication?

A. It should be used wisely.

B. It changes attitudes much too quickly.

C. It is more powerful than many people believe.

D. It should be better controlled by the government.

Answer 1