A transformation is occurring that should greatly __1__ living standards in the developing world. Places that until recently were deaf and dumb are rapidly __2__ up-to-date telecommunications. Many developing countries are planning to invest vast sums of money in their telecommunications networks to allow them to compete with developed countries. They believe this will __3__ foreign and domestic investment. However, how fast these nations should push ahead is a matter of debate. And some developing countries lack experience in __4__ costs and choosing between technologies. Vietnam, in particular, though __5__ for any phones, requires that all mobile phones be expensive digital models. Still, there is __6__ dispute that communications will be a key factor separating the winners from the losers. Over the next decade, China plans to pour some $100 billion into telecommunications equipment. Telecommunications is also a key to Shanghai’s ambition of becoming a top financial center. Shanghai plans to be as electronically __7__ as New York. __8__, some other developing countries and areas are all hoping to jump into the modern world by means of telecommunication revolution. For countries that have lagged behind for so long, the __9__ to move ahead in one jump is hard to resist. And __10__ the mistakes they’ll make, they’ll persist― so that one day they can cruise alongside Americans and Western Europeans on the information superhighway.
A) boost | I ) promote |
B) acquiring | J) weighing |
C) desperate | K) little |
D) advanced | L) Meanwhile |
E) temptation | M) despite |
F) popularity | N) depression |
G) although | O) giving |
H) measure |
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the one that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding answer on ANSWER SHEET.
The kids who grew up on “Star Trek” can’t find ___36___ way around Earth. Americans can___37___direct to England, but only half can find it on a map of Europe. They can fly almost___ 38___in the United States for a few hundred dollars, but they put New York State in 37 placed on both coasts. When they look for the United States__39___ , they spot it in China, Australia, Brazil, the Soviet Union, India and Botswana. For people who are supposed to be leaders of the__40 __world, Americans are___41 ___ dumb, according to a survey conducted for the National Geographic Society. In many school systems, geography has been mixed with history___42___melted down into social studies. Social studies has been processed into “teacher resource packages” and___43___of good writing, excitement, color and any ideas that aren’t simplistic, too__44___and too deadening to hold students’ attention.
In the last few years, evidence of America’s educational__45___has prompted hundreds of studies, generated baskets___46___legislation and moved parents into advocacy groups. But there’s little to show that the trend has been___47___. No matter___48___you try, you can’t make it seem funny that many Americans say pandas come from Panama, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Vietnam or___49___ Iraq, and Columbus was trying to get to Europe when he bumped into___ 50___.
