VOA标准英语2015--古巴人渴望上网

Cubans Yearn¹ for Internet Access 古巴人渴望上网

Cuba is one of a handful of countries whose people still have very limited access to the Internet. While waiting for the government to live up to its promise of expanding connectivity, some enthusiasts³ have built their own local networks to communicate, share files and play games.

At community centers, authorized⁴ by the Ministry⁵ of Culture, young people use their mobile devices to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi connectivity.

Kevin, a visitor at one of the community centers, said even though the network doesn't have the highest speed and all, it's free.

"You can get on the Internet, most of the time,” he said.

Only a limited number of Cuban citizens have private Internet connections, which are not cheap. Foreigners can use the Internet at hotels, also at steep prices. The government’s promises of greater connectivity remain unfulfilled.

Local networks

But private citizens do own computers and some of them are forming local networks to experiment, connect and socialize.

Marlon, a computer enthusiast², said in the absence of Internet connectivity, people have created forums⁶ — "servers with games where people share with each other," exchange ideas, and debate topics like sports, culture and music.

Cables usually run over the rooftops, in some cases connecting up to 10 people in the same neighborhood.

“The 10th cable is the one which makes the connection to all the others," said Marlon. "The 10th cable is connected to another switch, which is connected to another switch, and on and on. That is how the connection with other people is made.”

Computer game enthusiasts

Exchanging music and movies, and playing games do not attract the suspicion of the authorities, but discussions are another matter.

“Everybody knows that we are being watched and they can be very picky and jumpy because nobody wants to lose their investment," said Adrian, a computer nethusiast. " Nobody wants to lose their entertainment, the only alternative they have, and ... well, it's a complicated matter.”

Knowing that computer game enthusiasts in other countries play tournaments with distant fellow gamers, young Cubans hope that someday they, too, will be able to play over the Internet.

Marlon said they don't necessarily have to do that with the United States, but any other country. "But to do that," he added, "this local connection that we have must be turned into the Internet.”

Unfortunately, the Cuban government’s fear of the free flow of information may hamper⁷ their wishes for some time.

1 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

2 enthusiast   

n.热心人，热衷者

参考例句：

• He is an enthusiast about politics.他是个热衷于政治的人。
• He was an enthusiast and loved to evoke enthusiasm in others.他是一个激情昂扬的人，也热中于唤起他人心中的激情。

3 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

4 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 forums   

讨论会； 座谈会； 广播专题讲话节目； 集会的公共场所( forum的名词复数 )； 论坛，讨论会，专题讨论节目； 法庭

参考例句：

• A few of the forums were being closely monitored by the administrators. 有些论坛被管理员严密监控。
• It can cast a dark cloud over these forums. 它将是的论坛上空布满乌云。

7 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。