Cyberspace, data superhighways, multi media—for those who have seen the future, the linking of computers, television and telepho

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问题    Cyberspace, data superhighways, multi media—for those who have seen the future, the linking of computers, television and telephones will change our lives forever. Yet for all the talk of a forthcoming technological Utopia, little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor. As with all new high technology, while the West concerns itself with the "how", the question of "for whom" is put aside once again.
   Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communications revolution has affected the world economy. Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries, and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade, exchange and interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods. The electronic economy made possible by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets—with destructive impact on the have-nots.
   For them the result is instability. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As "futures" are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies.
   So what are the options for regaining control? One alternative is for developing countries to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications themselves—so-called "development communications" modernization. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints on developing countries’ economies.
   Communications technology is generally exported from the U.S., Europe or Japan; the patents, skills and ability to manufacture remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, and imported products and services must therefore be bought on credit—credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain.
   Furthermore, when new technology is introduced there is often too low a level of expertise to exploit it for native development. This means that while local elites, foreign communities and subsidiaries of transnational corporations may benefit, those whose lives depend on access to the information are denied it.
Why does the author say that the electronic economy may have a destructive impact on developing countries?

选项 A、Because it enables the developed countries to control the international market.
B、Because it destroys the economic balance of the poor countries.
C、Because it violates the national boundaries of the poor countries.
D、Because it inhibits the industrial growth of developing countries.

答案A

解析 细节题。本题问作者为什么说电子经济对发展中国家可能有毁灭性的影响。根据题十关 键词,可知问题指向文章第二段末句:信息技术使电子经济成为可能,但是这却使富国加强了 对世界市场的控制,对穷国造成的是毁灭性的影响。with destructive impact on the have-nots中的 with引导独立主格结构表示结果,前面的句子是造成这个结果的原因,也就是这使得发达国家 可以控制国际市场,所以A项对。B、C项文章中没提到。D项讲这限制了发展中国家的工业发 展,非常容易误选,因为这和第四段最后一句的后半句内容是一致的。但是,首先这句话偏离了 考点,而且this leads to…and perhaps permanent constraints…中的this是指代发展中国家买进 最新的计算机和通讯技术的,而问题是电子经济对发展中国家为什么有毁灭性的影响。选择项 中的it是指代the electronic economy的,所以D项不能选,这是典型的移花接木。
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