#87. What discovery in the last century has been most beneficial for your compatriot?
In the last hundred years man has set a new mind-blowing rate for the development of new technologies. New products are being conceived every minute of every day, all of which will impact man in some respect. However I believe that the most beneficial invention, over the last hundred years is the Internet.
Internet allows us to access any information our hearts desire. With the power of the World Wide Web, one can receive information from any country in the world allowing individuals the ability to locate and acquire anything imaginable. Locally, computers via the Internet allow us to search out a variety of services that are necessary for day to day living. This can make living in one of China's many big cities a much more comfortable experience.
From net games to online chatting to viewing movies or Websites, Internet has the ability to entertain us in a wide variety of ways. For example, many people join forums where they can chat with their peers about any variety of topics. Many movie trailers are first released on the Internet where enthusiastic fans can be the first to catch a glimpse of the latest and greatest blockbusters. Computers also bring us the world of instant messaging, allowing people with a computer and an Internet connection to chat for free with their friends and colleagues anywhere in the world.
Internet has changed the very way businesses operate, bringing efficiency and convenience to the work place. The most obvious development is the use of emails instead of surface mail. Emails allow businesses to communicate large amounts of information almost instantly, saving time, paper and postage fees. Instead of making long distance telephone calls, some businesses have started using Web conferencing. Web conferencing not only eliminates long distance fees, but also allows two parties to see each other in real time and simultaneously work on projects through program sharing.
87. 过去100年中的何种发明使你的同胞受益最大？
在过去的一百年中，人类发明新技术的速度非常快。每分每秒人们都在构思新产品，而所有这些产品都将在某些方面影响人类。但是，我认为在过去的一百年中最有用的发明是互联网。
电脑使我们可以获得任何想要的信息。通过互联网，人们可以很方便地获得世界各地的信息，使人很容易找到并获得任何想要的东西。在本地，我们可以通过互联网寻找到日常生活中所需要的各种服务，这可以使你在中国的许多大城市中生活得更加舒服。
不管是网上游戏、网上聊天、在网上看电影，还是浏览网页，互联网总会有很多让人娱乐的方式。例如，很多人加入论坛，在那里他们可以和网友们畅所欲言。很多电影就是在网上首先发布的，电影爱好者可以在网上看到最新、最轰动的电影大片的预告片。电脑还给我们带来世界各地的即时信息，人们可以通过上网和异地的朋友、同事聊天。
互联网改变了做生意的方式，给工作带来了效率和便利。最大的变化就是电子邮件代替了书面信函。电子邮件使人们可以在很短的时间内交换大量的信息，节省了时间、纸张和邮寄费。有些公司开始在网上召开会议，进而取代了以前的电话会议。网上会议不仅可以省掉长途电话费，还可以让开会的双方实时看到对方，同时在共享的文件中就某个项目进行工作。
- conceive ［kənˈsi:v］ v. 构思，以为
- glimpse ［glimps］ n. 一瞥
- online chatting 在线聊天
- blockbuster ［ˈbla:kˌbʌstə］ n. 一鸣惊人者
- forum ［ˈfɔ:rəm］ n. 论坛，讨论会
- instant messaging 快讯
- trailer ［ˈtreilə］ n. 追踪者
- postage ［ˈpəustidʒ］ n. 邮资；邮费
- release ［riˈli:s］ v. 释放；解放；放弃
- fee ［fi:］ n. 费（会费、学费等），酬金
- enthusiastic ［enˌθu:ziˈæstik］adj. 热心的，热情的
- web conferencing 网络会议