英语沙龙：信息就是力量

Information is Power

In such a changing,

complex society formerly¹ 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 capability² of 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.

Adding to societal changes today is an enormous supply 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.

Telecommunication³ 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 occurrence.

Expertise⁴ can be shared world wide through teleconferencing,

and problems in dispute can be settled without 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 complexity⁵,

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 most critical requirement of all people.

1 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

2 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

3 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

4 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

5 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。