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  3. A couple of years ago, the digital divide — generally defined as the schism

A couple of years ago, the digital divide — generally defined as the schism

游客2024-02-10  64
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. [br] An increase in the number of African American web users doesn’t tell the whole story because______.
选项 A、many still don’t have access to technology
B、the numbers can’t indicate what people are using their computers for
C、the statistics may be flawed
D、the digital divide has not yet been bridged
答案 B
解析 由第4段第6句中提到的一些技术人员说拥有电脑的美国黑人人数的增加不能说明整个问题和末句的The real question is what people do with their computers可知，拥有电脑的人数增加不能表明人们知道如何使用电脑，B)的表述正是此意，故为答案。A)是表面现象；C)是对文中statistics的错误理解；D)是相对于整篇文章而言的，不符合此处语义。
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