4. The Internet

　　a. 什么是英特网

　　b. 英特网的作用

　　c. 英特网对社会的影响

　　The Internet

　　The later part of the 1990s finds the worlds "the Internet" become fashionable in people's daily life. The Internet is a network of thousands of networks, linking schools, universities, businesses, government agencies, libraries and millions of individuals.

　　Something like "information superhighways", the internet can bring many conveniences into the school, home and office. College students can check the card catalogue of Library of

　　Congress in the United States to finish their papers. Housewives can do shopping and pay bills without leaving their homes. Businessmen can sign a contract and land an order through electronic media. Patients can reach the world's leading authorities and experts on the disease they may suffer from .men and women can have a conversation with people all over the world by sending and receiving electronic mail. With a basic computer and modem any individual can call up information about almost anything from almost anywhere and almost anytime.

　　The Internet exerts such a profound effect on our life that it revolutionizes the way of people's living and thinking.