Match the headlines A-F with texts 1 – 5. There is one EXTRA headline. A. New developments
B. Information online
C. Entertainment online
D. Communication improved
E. New relationships online
F. More peaceful world
1. As we know, approximately fifty years ago television was introduced, making the world smaller by bringing images from all four corners of the world into our homes. Over the last decade or so, a breakthrough in technology has come into our lives which is making the world even smaller: the Internet. With a PC and a telephone line, we are now connected to the whole world in a matter of seconds.
2. It is now possible to speak to relatives and friends anywhere in the world cheaply and quickly. It is even possible, with something called a webcam, to see and hear them at the same time. It was not that long ago that the only way to communicate with family members who were far away was by letter, which could take days or sometimes weeks to reach its destination.
3. The Internet also allows us to access a world of facts, figures and knowledge. If we have a question on any subject at all from history to mathematics or philosophy to geography, it can be discovered on the Net. We can find out the latest news or what the weather is going to be like. Many subjects that required the reading of books and were once only available to a few people are now available to everybody.
4. The Internet not only means that we can communicate with loved ones but also with complete strangers. By using “chat” services, it is possible to meet and exchange ideas with people from all over the world. It is sometimes unbelievable to think that the person we are writing to may be thousands of miles away, living in a completely different culture with a way of life that is nothing like our own. Of course, to be able to do this, we must speak the same language and that’s why most communication on the Internet takes place in English.
5. Other services are also available through the Internet. One of these which provides hours of pleasure for many people is the ability to download songs and music from other people. This has also helped to bring down cultural barriers as we are able to hear all the different kinds of music that exist all over the world. This helps us to understand other cultures better and makes us familiar with what used to be regarded as something completely foreign and strange to us.