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 not 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.
1.The word "it" (Line 3, Para. 2) most probably refers to_______.
A.the lack of stable communities
B.the breakdown of informal information channels
C.the increased mobility of families
D.the growing number of people moving from place to place
2.The main problem people may encounter today arises from the fact that_______.
A.they have to learn new things consciously
B.they lack the confidence of securing reliable and trustworthy information
C.they have difficulty obtaining the needed information readily
D.they can hardly carry out casual communications with an extended family
3.From the passage we can infer that_______.
A.electronic mail will soon play a dominant role in transmitting messages
B.it will become more difficult for people to keep secrets in an information era
C.people will spend less time holding meetings or conferences
D.events will be reported on the spot mainly through satellites
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that_______.
A.it is necessary to obtain as much as possible
B.people should make the best use of the information
C.we should realize the importance of accumulating information
D.it is of vital importance to acquire needed information efficiently
5.Many factors expel people to learn more EXCEPT_______.
A.changing society makes the life's problems difficult to solve
B.people migrate too much so the old information is cut off
C.technology develops too much and information amount more than before
D.greatly important information is changing
长难例句分析
［长难例句］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.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the development of technologies。which引导的是定语从句，在这个定语从句中用了比较级。
［参考译文］伴随着信息量的大量增加，各种技术发展开来。这些技术的发展使人们可以更快地储存更多的信息，更快地传递到更多的地方去，这在以前是不可能的。
全文参考译文
在这样一个不断变化的复杂社会中，从前满足信息需求的简单方法变得复杂了。许多过去可以通过询问家庭成员、朋友或同事就能解决的生活难题，现在却超出了这个大家庭的能力范围。去哪儿寻求专家信息，以及如何确定哪些专家的建议应该接受，成了今天许多人应面对的问题。
此外，二战以来，人口流动更加频繁。随着家庭搬出他们多年居住的稳定的社区，离开了多年的朋友，脱离了大家庭的关系，这种日常的信息交流被切断了，随之，需要时就可以获得可靠信息的信心也不复存在了。生活中最简单方面的无意识的信息交流也被切断。所以，过去大家庭通过随意交流就能学到的东西现在必须有意识地去学。
除了当今的社会变化之外，信息量剧增也是一个问题。今天，个人可获得的信息比任何一代人都多，然而，找到一条与自己的问题相关的信息是既复杂又耗时，有时甚至相当有难度。
伴随着信息量的大量增加，各种技术发展开来。这些技术的发展使人们可以更快地储存更多的信息，更快地传递到更多的地方去，这在以前是不可能的。计算机技术使得把大量的信息储存在机读文件中变得可能，人们通过计算机编程定位特定信息。电信技术的发展使人们可以通过电视、无线电传送信息，不久电子邮件会经常给人们送来大量信息。卫星拓展了通信能力，可以对事件进行实时报道。专业知识可以通过电话会议在全球范围内共享。参加会议者不必离开家、工作岗位去遥远的会场，就可以解决有争议的问题。技术使信息的共享、储存和传递更加便利，因此，使更多的人得到更多的信息。
在这个复杂多变的世界里，对信息的需求最为重要。那些能够利用准确、可靠、最新的信息解决日常问题、企业的关键问题及社会与家庭生活问题的人就能生存下去并取得成功。“知识就是力量”很可能是再正确不过的谚语，对信息的获取也许是所有人最重要的需求了。
题目答案与解析
1.单词“it”（第二段第三行）最可能指的是________。
A.社区缺乏稳定 B.日常的信息交流被切断了
C.家庭的流动性增强 D.人口流动更加频繁
【答案】B
【解析】从文中“随着家庭搬出他们多年居住的稳定的社区，离开了多年的朋友，脱离了大家庭的关系，日常的信息交流被切断了，随之，需要时就可以获得可靠信息的信心也不复存在”可知，it指的是“日常的信息交流被切断了”。
2.今天人们可能遭遇的主要问题来自于________。
A.他们得自觉学习新的事务 B.他们对获得可靠的和可信的信息缺乏信心
C.他们很难轻易得到所需的信息 D.他们几乎无法与大家庭随意交流
【答案】C
【解析】从第三段第二句“今天，个人可获得的信息比任何一代人都多，然而，找到一条与自己的问题相关的信息既复杂又耗时，有时甚至相当有难度”可知，C项为正确答案。
3.根据本文我们可以推知________。
A.电子邮件不久可以在传递信息中起主导作用
B.对人们来说，在信息时代保密将变得更加困难
C.人们将花很少的时间来开会
D.现场事件将主要通过卫星报道
【答案】A
【解析】从第四段第三句“计算机技术使人们能把大量的信息储存在机读文件中，人们通过计算机编程找到某一信息。电信技术的发展使人们可以通过电视、无线电发送信息，不久电子邮件会不断地给人们送来大量信息”可知，A项为正确答案。
4.从最后一段我们可知________。
A.获取尽量多的信息是必要的 B.人们应充分利用信息
C.我们应该意识到积累信息的必要性 D.有效地获取所需信息是非常重要的
【答案】D
【解析】从第四段第三句可知答案。最后一段第一句指出“在这个复杂多变的世界里，对信息的需求最为重要”，第二句进行了具体说明“那些利用准确、可靠、最新的信息解决日常问题、企业的关键问题及社会与家庭生活问题的人就能生存下去并取得成功”。D项总结了最后一段的内容。
5.诸多因素迫使人们去多学习，除了______。
A.变化着的社会使得生活中的问题很难解决 B.人们迁移太多，旧的信息被切断
C.技术发展太快，信息也比以前多很多 D.极其重要的信息在变化着
【答案】D
【解析】本文讲述了时代的变化导致人们要去加强学习。原因在各段有分别的描述：社会结构变化，家庭结构变化，信息量剧增，技术发展等。选项D是一个错误的理解。
