N (for NO)if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;

　　NG (for NOT GIVEN)if the information is not given in the passage.

　　For questions 8-10,complete the sentences with information given in the passage.

　　Computer Crime

　　A computer crime is generally defined as one that involves the use of computers and software for illegal purposes. This doesn’t mean that all the crimes are new types of crime. On the contrary, many of these crimes, such as embezzlement of funds, the alteration of records, theft, vandalism, sabotage, and terrorism, can be committed without a computer. But with a computer, these offenses can be carried out more quickly and with less chance that the person responsible for the crime will be discovered.

　　Computer crimes are on the rise and have been for the last twelve years. Just how much these computer crimes cost the American public is in dispute, but estimates range from ?$3 billion to ?$5 billion annually. Even the FBI, which attempts to keep track of the growth or decline of all kinds of crimes, is unable to say precisely how large a loss is involved; however, it estimates that the average take from a company hit by computer crime is ?$600,000. A number of reasons are given for the increase in computer crime: (A) more computers in use and, thus, more people who are familiar with basic computer operation; (B) more computers tied together in satellite and other data—transmission networks; and (C) the easy access of microcomputers to huge mainframe data bases.

　　The Criminal

　　Movies and newspaper stories might lead us to believe that most computer crimes are committed by teenage “hackers”—brilliant and basically good children who let their imagination and technical genius get them into trouble. But a realistic look at the crimes reveals that the offender is likely to be an employee of the firm against which the crime has been committed, i.e., an “insider”.

　　Difficulty of Detection and Prevention

　　Given the kind of person who commits a computer crime and the environment in which the crime occurs, it is often difficult to detect who the criminal is. First of all, the crime may be so complex that months or years go by before anyone discovers it.

　　Second, once the crime has been revealed, it is not easy to find a clear trail of evidence that leads back to the guilty party. After all, looking for “weapons” or fingerprints does not occur as it might in the investigation of more conventional crimes.

　　Third, there are usually no witnesses to the computer crime, even though it may be taking place in a room filled with people. Who is to say if the person at the next terminal, calmly keying in data, is doing the company’s work or committing a criminal act?

　　Fourth, not enough people in management and law enforcement know enough about computer technology to prevent the crimes. Authorities have to be familiar with the computer’s capabilities within a given situation to guard against its misuses. In some large cities, such as Los Angeles, police departments have set up specially trained computer crime units.

　　But even when an offender is caught, the investigators, attorneys (律師), judges, or juries may find the alleged crime too complicated and perplexing to handle. More attorneys are specializing in computer law and studying the computer’s potential for misuse.

　　After a computer crime has been discovered, many companies do not report it or prosecute (起訴) the person responsible. A company may not announce the crime out of fear that the pubic will find out the weaknesses of its computer system and lose confidence in its organization. Banks, credit card companies, and investment firms are especially sensitive about revealing their vulnerabilities (脆弱性) because they rely heavily on customer trust.

　　To avoid public attention, cautious companies will often settle cases of computer tampering out of court. And if cases do go to trial and the offenders are convicted, they may be punished only by a fine or light sentence because the judge or jury isn’t fully trained to understand the nature and seriousness of the crime.

　　Not all companies are timid in apprehending computer criminals. For example, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company decided it had to get tough on violators. So when the company discovered that one of its computer technicians had embezzled ?$200,000 by entering false benefit claims, it presented it findings to the state’s attorney and aided in the prosecution of the technician. The technician was found guilty and sentenced to prison, not just for the computer misuse, but also for grand theft and insurance fraud. Connecticut General now has a policy of reporting all incidents of theft or fraud, no matter how small.

　　1. The FBI knows exactly how large a loss is involved in computer crimes.

　　2. It has become easy for microcomputer owners to use huge mainframe data bases.

　　3. It is implied in the Paragraph 3 that most computer criminals are the employees of the concerned companies.

　　4. Many companies don?t report computer crimes because law procedures against computer crimes usually cost a lot of money.

　　5. When computer crime takes place in a room filled with people, there are usually many witnesses to the crime.

　　6. The passage is mainly about the increase of computer crimes in America and the difficulties in combating computer crimes.

　　7. Computer crimes are on the rise because more cheap microcomputers are available.

　　8. According to the passage, computer crimes has been on the rise for the

　　last years.

　　9. Connecticut General Life Insurance company is cited as of companies that took serious measures to fight against computer crimes.

　　10. Banks, credit card companies, and investment firms are especially sensitive about revealing their vulnerabilities because they place too much reliance on .

　　參考答案：

　　1. N.該句句意為:美國聯邦調查局確切知道計算機犯罪造成了多大損失。本題解題依據為本文第二段 “Even the FBI,which attempts…is involved”，該句大意為:盡管FBI致力于對各種犯罪的上升和下降有清晰認識，但并不能精確說明損失多大，所以與原文之意不合。

　　2. Y. 該句句意為:計算機擁有者很容易利用大量計算機數據庫，本題解題依據為第二段最后一段話“…the easy access of microcomputers to huge mainframe data bases.”與原文之義吻合。

　　3. Y. 該句句意為: 本文第三段暗示大多數利用計算機犯罪者是相關公司雇員。本題解題依據為文章第三段最后一句話，其大意為: 現實情況表明很可能是該公司雇員內部人…,與原文所述之義吻合。

　　4. N. 該句句意為: 許多公司不舉報計算機犯罪是因為法律訴訟通常花費很多錢。解題依據為本文第九段第一和第二句話，他們不舉報是害怕公眾發現其計算機系統的弱點而對其喪失信心。據此可確定與原文所述不符。

　　5. N. 該句句意為: 當計算機犯罪在滿是人的房間里發生時，通常有很多證人指證犯罪。本題解題依據為本文第六段第一句話，該句大意為:即使計算機犯罪發生在滿是人的房間里，通常也無證人。據此可知該句所述之義與原文不符。

　　6. Y. 該句句意為:本篇文章主要是關于計算機犯罪的增長及與之作斗爭的困難性，通覽全文，尤其根據小標題的提示,我們不難看出文章主要論述了計算機犯罪與日俱增及難于發覺和阻止諸方面的原因，即文章的中心思想，與原文所述主旨吻合。

　　7. NG.該句句意為:計算機犯罪上升是因為有更多便宜的計算機。本文第二段用a，b，c列出了計算機犯罪增加的三大原因，其中并未提及計算機便宜這一點。

　　8. twelve 答案依據為第二段第一句話。

　　9. an example “…be cited as an example”,表示“引用…來作為一個例證”答案依據為文章最后一段第二句話。但原文沒有直接照抄的語言，只能根據理解完成此空。

　　10. customer trust 答案依據為本文第九段最后一句話。