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  3. A couple of years ago, the digital divide — generally defined as the schism between those with access to technology and those wi

A couple of years ago, the digital divide — generally defined as the schism between those with access to technology and those wi

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问题     A couple of years ago, the digital divide — generally defined as the schism between those with access to technology and those without — was a hot-button issue. It was almost fashionable for government officials and high-tech tycoons to voice their concerns about the plight of African Americans missing the boat to the New Economy, and trailing whites in every category from computer ownership to Internet use.
    In the past, the digital divide was largely thought to be an issue of access to relevant websites. Today, there is a realization that the focus needs to be on training, awareness, and helping African Americans make their lives more meaningful through the use of technology.
    But the buzz about providing access has quieted. One reason is that many tech companies are hurting. Since the Internet bubble burst, many firms no longer have the resources to focus on bridging the divide. Of course there are some exceptions. Some companies provide support for programs that teach minorities about computers and the Internet, while others donate computer equipment to low-income schools.
    So has the divide been bridged? Not quite. But recent statistics suggest that it is narrowing. According to a recent study, the number of black Web users surged 19% in the past year, while the overall Internet population only grew 14% during the same period. But experts fear those gains could be hampered by governmental budget cuts. And some technologists say an increase in the number of African American Web users doesn’t show the big picture. They maintain that focusing on the number of African Americans who own a computer, or who have ever logged on to the Internet, misses the point. The real question is what people do with their computers.
    Until more African Americans develop an aptitude for using their computers and the Internet to better their economic situations, the digital divide is as wide as an ocean. Many remain optimistic, though, believing that as more and more African Americans discover practical uses for the Internet, such as finding business and employment opportunities, the divide will be bridged.
The word "schism"(Line 1, Para. 1)means "______".
选项 A、gap
B、misunderstanding
C、difference
D、disagreement
答案A
解析 schism出现在文章首段首句中，由该句中的…the digital divide—generally definedas the schism between those with access to technology and those without可知，schism是对divide进行的解释，因此它的意思应与divide相近，the digital divide意为“数字鸿沟”，故选A)gap“差距”。
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