古巴人期待使用互联网

AS IT IS 2015-07-28 Cubans Look Forward to Using Internet 古巴人期待使用互联网

Cuba is one of a few countries whose people still have very limited use of the Internet. But some Internet users there have developed their own computer networks to communicate, share documents and even play games.

Many young people in Cuba use their mobile devices at government-operated community centers to get free Internet connections. This young man, named Kevin, likes the free connectivity.

He says that “Even though the community center connection doesn’t have the highest speed, it is free. You can get on the Internet, most of the time.”

Only a limited number of Cuban citizens have private Internet connections. Such connections are costly¹ in Cuba. Foreigners can use the Internet at hotels, but the service is often pricey.

The Cuban government’s promises of greater connectivity remain unfulfilled. But private citizens do own computers. And some of them are forming local networks to experiment, connect and communicate with others.

Marlon is a young computer user.

He says that, “By creating a local network, we created servers with games where people share with each other, they exchange ideas, debate all kinds of subjects -- sports, culture, music.”

Cables and wiring usually go over tops of buildings. One cable can connect as many as 10 people in the same neighborhood.

Cubans know that computer game lovers in other countries play in competitions against gamers from faraway lands. They hope that someday they will be able to compete in gaming events over the Internet, too.

But the Cuban government’s fear of the free flow of information may hamper² their wishes for some time.

Words in This Story

mobile – adj. able to be moved

unfulfilled – v. not yet come true

servers – n. the main computer in a network which provides files and services that are used by other computers in the network

hamper – v. to slow movement; to limit or restrict

1 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

2 hamper   

vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子

参考例句：

• There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
• The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。