In somewhat similar fashion, computers promise to revolutionize the struccure of American fife,particularly as they free the human mind and open new possibilities in knowledge andcommunication. The Industrial Revolution supplemented and replaced the muscles of humansand animals by mechanical methods. The computer extends this development to supplementand replace some aspects of the mind of human beings by electronic methods. n is thecapacity of the computer for solving problems and making decisions that represents itsgreatest potential and that poses the greatest difficulties in predicting the impact on society.

　　如今，生活在美國就會理解達倫道夫關于社會變化無所不在的斷言。作為知識的實際性應用。技術是社會變化的主要根源。

　　但是，我們應當提醒自己：技術也是人類的產物，它不是自然存在的。一根矛或一個機器人都既是客觀物體又是文化產物。[l]除非人們用矛去捕獲獵物或用機器人去生產機器零件，否則二者都只不過是硬梆梆的物體而已。對于一只尋找棲息物的小鳥來說，一根矛或一個機器人所起的作用完全一樣。[2/4]美國挑戰者號航天飛機的爆炸以及俄羅斯切爾諾貝利核泄露事件徹底暴露了技術的人為性特征。在這些案例中，規劃良好的體系一下子變得混亂，而且沒人能讓它們立即恢復正常運轉。既然技術是人類的創造，我們就要對它所造成的后果負責。悲觀者擔心我們利用技術到頭來會把這個世界和我們自己炸成齏粉。但是這話他們說了幾十年，到目前為止，我們還是安然無恙，甚至欣欣向榮。我們能否在未來的歲月里繼續如此還是未知之數。顯然，技術給我們生活所帶來的影響值得進一步調查研究。

　　很少有其他技術發展比計算機革命給我們生活帶來的影響更大了。科學家和工程師設計出專門的機器來完成曾經是只有人類才能完成的任務。有人斷言這種以信息為基礎的經濟轉型可以同其他重大的歷史里程碑——尤其是工業革命相提并論。[3]但是，當我們探詢工業革命何以是場革命的時候，我們發現原因不在于機器的革新，首要原因在于工業革命引發了巨大的社會變化。它促進了大規模生產。并通過大規模生產，產生了一個財富不只為少數人擁有的社會。

　　遵循多少有些相同的模式，計算機注定會使美國人的生活結構發生革命性變化，尤其是計算機解放了人腦，在獲取知識和交流溝通方面開辟了新的途徑。工業革命利用機械手段補充和替代了人和動物的部分體力勞動。計算機深化了這種發展趨勢，利用電子手段補充和替代了人類思維的某些方面。正是計算機這種解決問題和做出判斷的能力代表了它巨大的潛力，也為人們預測其對社會所帶來的影響增加了極大的難度。

　　1. A spear or a robot has the quality of technology only when it_____________.

　　A) is used both as a cultural and a physical object

　　B) serves different purposes equally well

　　C) is utilized by man

　　D) can be of use co both man and animal

　　2. The examples of the Challenger and Chernobyl cited by the author serve to show that_________________.

　　A) if not given close examination, technology could be used to destroy our world

　　B) technology is a human creation, so we are responsible for it

　　C) technology usually goes wrong, if not controlled by man

　　D) being a human creation. technology is liable to error

　　3. According to the author. the introduction of the computer is a revolution mainly because__________________.

　　A) the computer has revolutionized the workings of the human mind

　　B) the computer can do the tasks that could only be done by people before

　　C) it has helped to switch to an information technology

　　D) it has a great potential impact on society

　　4. By using the phrase "the human quality of technology" (Line 7, Para. 2), the author refersto the fact that technology_______________.

　　A) has a great impact on human life

　　B) has some characteristics of human nature

　　C) can replace some aspects of the human mind

　　D) does not exist in the natural world

　　5. The passage is based on the author's_______________.

　　A) keen insight into the nature of technology

　　B) prejudiced criticism of the role of the Industrial Revolution

　　C) cautious analysis of the replacement of the human mind by computers

　　D) exaggerated description of the negative consequences of technology