One of the founding fathers of the Internet has predicted the end of traditional television.Vint Cerf,who helped to build the Internet while working as a researcher in America,said that the television was approaching its “iPod moment”.

In the same way that people now download their favorite music onto their iPod,he said that viewers would soon be downloading most favorite programs onto their computers.“85% of all videos we watch are prerecorded,so you can set your system to download them all the time,” said Mr Cerf,who is now the vice president of Google,the world’s largest search engine.“You’re still going to need live television for certain things—like news,sporting events and emergencies—but increasingly it is going to be almost like the iPod.”

Although television on demand has not yet become a mainstream activity in the UK,the BBC,ITV and Channel 4 have all spent vast sums of money on technology which enables viewers to watch their favorite shows on their computers.

But some critics (批评人士),including some Internet service providers,have warned that the Internet will collapse with millions of people downloading programs at the same time.Over the next four years,it is thought that the number of videos watched over the Internet will be four times as big as that.Broadband companies claim that the service will cause “traffic jams”,which will cost millions of pounds to get it to normal.

But Mr Cerf dismissed the warnings as “scare thoughts”,saying that critics had predicted 20 years ago that the Net would collapse when people all around the world started to use it all together.“In the past 30 years it’s increased a million times...We’re far from reaching the capacity,” he said,“It’s an understandable worry when they see huge amounts of information being moved around online.”

1.What would happen to television according to Vint Cerf?

A.Television would come to an end.

B.Television would be replaced by the computer.

C.Viewers would prefer watching TV programs downloaded on their computers.

D.Most people would prefer the Internet to television.

2.“iPod moment” refers to the time when________.

A.people can enjoy the live broadcast of television

B.people can download content to look at later

C.all programs are recorded with careful plan

D.the computer and television are closely combined

3.According to the last paragraph,Mr Cerf held the idea that______.

A.the Internet will collapse with many people downloading programs at the same time

B.the Net will collapse when people all around the world start to use it all together

C.the Internet service will break down with many videos watched over the Internet

D.people’s downloading TV programs on their computers won’t cause the collapse of the Internet

 

Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may go through some form of culture shock,and its degree is determined by the differences between cultures,the anxiety to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity with a new culture,etc.If you go,for example,to a culture that is far different from your own,you’re likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the custom of it.

It is important to understand and learn how to deal with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home’s cultures.There are four general stages of cultural adjustment,and being aware of them helps you understand that culture shock won’t last long.It’s just a process you are going through rather than a constant situation.

The first stage is usually referred to as “the honeymoon stage”.Upon arriving in a new environment,you’ll be interested in the new culture.Everything will seem thrilling and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.During this stage you are merely taking in these impressions passively.

But it isn’t long before the honeymoon stage gives way to the second stage—“the withdrawal stage”.The excitement you felt before is gone and problems arise.The language is hard to learn,people are unusual and unpredictable,friends,are hard to make,and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges.It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick,and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country.This is the stage called “culture shock”.

At some point,if you can manage it well,you’ll begin the transition into the next stage,“the recovery stage”,in which you’ll feel more confident functioning in the new culture.Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand.At this stage,you’ll deal with new challenges with humor rather than anxiety.

1.According to the passage,culture shock can be________.

A.dealt with more easily for some people

B.reduced by learning the language alone

C.avoided by knowing adjustment stages

D.got rid of by learning just the custom

2.“The honeymoon stage” here refers to________.

A.the first month after the wedding

B.the period of excitement

C.the stage of adaptation

D.the holiday for a newly?married couple

3.Which of the following doesn’t belong to the second stage?

A.Becoming upset. B.Missing family.

C.Feeling confident. D.Making complaints.

4.What would be probably discussed in the following paragraph?

A.Consequences of culture shock.

B.Challenges in a new country.

C.Preparations for a new culture.

D.The 4th stage of cultural adjustment.

 

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