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.
The development of modern communications technology in developing countries may

选项 A、hinder their industrial production.
B、cause them to lose control of their trade.
C、force them to reduce their share of exports.
D、cost them their economic independence.

答案D

解析 细节题。本题问发展中国家现代信息技术的发展可能导致什么。问题指向文章第四段最 后一句。此句中的this又是指代题干中的内容,所以答案就是最后一句的内容。答案为“丧失经 济独立”,与原文中的“导致长期依赖”一致,所以选D项。其他选项的内容都没有在最后一句话 中反映出来。
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