1. The Internet dates back to 1969, when the
US Department of Defense decided to build an experimental network to make
sure computer-based command in the event of a nuclear attack. As the time
went by, public and commercial networks in North America and Europe joined
the system, and the expanding giant was born.
Until 10 years ago, the Internet was actually the private fields of
scientists and university students. During recent years, curious private
citizens and businesses are crowding onto the Internet at a speed that is
doubling its size every year.
Now, computer networks have spread to form a giant global web. Some
100 million people from over 140 countries around the world have logged on
to the Internet, a system linking tens of thousands of networks filled
with information, discussion and entertainment. Millions of web pages
contained in a great number of sites are commonly used to exhibit a
mixture of text, graphics, sounds and video clips, as well as links to
other web pages.
On a typical day, data, as much as several million 250-page books,
will pour through the Internet. Stored in the system are huge amounts of
scholarly and scientific data, government documents and public records,
airline timetables, weather reports, the full text of the Bible, and
thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world.
The Internet user can reach about 14000 discussion forums (known as
news groups) covering everything from medicine to sports, Chinese culture
to French wines. By creating communities of people sharing common
interests, computer networks are making their influence felt in schools,
in the business world, in politics and government.
What’s ahead? More convenience. In the next century, many commercial
activities that require you to queue up in front of service counters, like
paying bills or shopping, will be completed electronically through the
information superhighway. You can do it at home and at any time. In the
meantime, the rapidly developing computer networks, by helping millions of
users to work, learn and have fun on-line, are providing a fascinating
preview of the electronic future.1). Who first created the networks that
later developed into the Internet?
A. Some scientists and university students.
B. Big commercial businesses
C. The US Department of Defense
D. US government together with several European governments
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