考研英语阅读命题思路透析和真题揭秘(47)

In such a changing, complex society formerly simple solutions to informational needs become complicated. Many of life's problems which were solved by asking family members, friends or colleagues are beyond the capability of the extended family to resolve. Where to turn for expert information and how to determine which expert advice to accept are questions facing many people today.

In addition to this, there is the growing mobility of people since World War Ⅱ. As families move away from their stable community, their friends of many years, their extended family relationships, the informal flow of information is cut off, and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable. The almost unconscious flow of information about the simplest aspects of living can be cut off. Thus, things once learned subconsciously through the casual communications of the extended family must be consciously learned.

Adding to societal changes today is an enormous stockpile of information. The individual now has more information available than any generation, and the task of finding that one piece of information relevant to his or her specific problem is complicated , time-consuming and sometimes even overwhelming .

Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the development of technologies which enable the storage and delivery of more information with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before. Computer technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of data in machine-readable files, and to program computers to locate specific information. Telecommunications developments enable the sending of messages via television, radio, and very shortly, electronic mail to bombard people with multitudes of messages. Satellites have extended the power of communications to report events at the instant of occurrence. Expertise can be shared world wide through teleconferencing, and problems in dispute can be settled without the participants leaving their homes and/or jobs to travel to a distant conference site. Technology has facilitated the sharing of information and the storage and delivery of information, thus making more information available to more people.

In this world of change and complexity, the need for information is of greatest importance. Those people who have accurate, reliable up-to-date information to solve the day-to-day problems, the critical problems of their business, social and family life, will survive and succeed. "Knowledge is power" may well be the truest saying and access to information may be the most critical requirement of all people.

在这个不断变化的复杂社会中，从前人们获得信息的简单方法变得越来越复杂。过去许多生活问题可以通过询问家人、朋友或同事来解决，但是现在这些问题却超出了大家庭的能力范围。当今人们面临的问题是去哪里去寻求专家建议、以及如何决定接受哪些专家的建议。

此外，自二次世界大战以来，人口的流动性显著增强。由于很多家庭搬出了原来那个稳定的社区，由此离开了多年的朋友、并脱离了家族的联系，其非正式的信息交流就被中断了，因此他们也需要时就可以获得可靠信息的信心也随之失去了。所以过去通过在与家族在随意交流的过程中学到的东西现在去必须有意识地去进行学习。

除了先进社会的变化之外，还有一个大问题就是信息量的巨大增长。现代人比过去任何一代的人获得的信息都要多，但是要找到一条与自己的问题有关的信息变得既复杂又耗时，有时候甚至令人不知所措。

伴随信息量大大增加而来的是各种相关技术的发展，从而使人们可以更快地储存更多的信息并把更多的信息传播到四面八方，这在以前是不可能的。计算机技术使得把大量信息储存在机读文件中、并通过计算机编程寻找某一信息成为可能。电信技术的发展使得电视和无线电发送信息，而且很快电子邮件会不断地给人们送来大量的信息。人造卫星进一步发展了通信能力，可以对各个事件进行现场报道。人们通过电话会议就可以分享专业知识，会议参与者们不需要离开自己的住所或者工作岗位去遥远的会场就可以讨论和解决存在争议的问题。技术促进了信息的分享、储存和发送，因此更多的人比过去得到了更多的信息。

在这个复杂和多边的世界中，对于信息的需求是至关重要的。那些能够利用准确、可靠和最新的信息来解决日常问题和工作的重要问题、以及社会与家庭问题的人们才能够生存下去并且获得成功。"知识就是力量"这句谚语最正确不过，获取信息也许对于所有人来说是最迫切的要求了。