#84. Internet information: valuable or problematic?

The Internet is a great invention because it disseminates information freely. Freedom of information is in the interest of a country and its citizens, but, in light of the information anarchy on the Internet, people need to learn and understand how to evaluate and use the information they find at their fingertips.

The Internet promotes freedom of information and freedom of speech, which are integral part of a successful modern democratic society. With innumerable news sources at their disposal citizens have the opportunity to educate themselves, and this knowledge will allow them to contribute to the progression of their society. Similarly, the ability to consult different viewpoints, especially those diverging from their own, will allow people engage in meaningful dialogue with other citizens. The result of this continued discourse will be a more open minded and also tolerant society. As a vehicle of communication the Internet will connect people of the same interests and the same concerns. Thus connected citizens will be encouraged to work together and they will become active participants of society rather than passive subjects.

Critics of the Internet's free flow of information are concerned that people will fall victim to bad or rather incorrect information and act on it. This concern is warranted in so far that the Internet is intrinsically anarchic, and anybody with a computer can create Website and post information thereon. As a result, it can be very difficult to determine what information is correct or reliable and which is not. However, difficult as it may seem, there are ways that one can navigate the information jungle of the Internet and arrive at conclusions. In order to do so one has to learn to evaluate sources of information. For example, the Website of a research scientist at a major university or that of a well-known non-profit organization is a more reliable source of information than the personal Website of a senior school student.

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> ### 译文

> **84. 网络信息：有价值还是带来问题？**

> 互联网是一项伟大的发明，因为它可以自由地传播信息。信息的自由有益于国家和其人民。但是，由于在互联网上信息的混乱性，人们需要学习和理解如何去评价和利用通过指尖的点击找到的信息。

> 互联网促进了信息自由和言论自由，二者是一个自由、现代、民主的社会的有机组成部分。拥有无数可供支配的信息资源，人们就有机会自学。与此同时，这些知识将会使人们为社会的进步做出贡献。同样，能够考虑不同的，尤其是与本身观点大相径庭的观点，会使人们致力于与他人进行有意义的沟通与对话。这些持续对话的结果必将使当今社会变得更加开放和包容。作为交流的工具，互联网将会使具有相同兴趣和爱好的人们相互建立联系，从而促进这些相互联系的人一起工作，而他们也会成为社会活动的主动参与者而不是被动的客体。

> 对于互联网自由信息流，批评家们认为，人们会沉溺于不好的或者是非常不正确的信息之中并且模仿之。这种忧虑是有道理的，因为当今的互联网在本质上来说是无政府主义的，任何一个拥有计算机并能连到互联网上的人都可以建立网站并在上面发布信息，而使辨别信息的正确与否变得很困难。然而，虽然看起来困难，人们总会有方法穿越互联网的信息丛林而到达彼岸。为此，人们必须学会如何辨识信息的来源。例如，相对一个高中学生的个人网站来说，一个主流大学科学家的网站或者一个著名的非营利组织的网站就是更可靠的信息来源。

### Word List

 * disseminate ［diˈseməˌneit］ v. 散布；传播
 * viewpoint ［ˈvju:ˌpɔint］ n. 观点，看法
 * diverge from 与…
 * （意见等）有分歧
 * in light of 按照，根据
 * tolerant ［ˈta:lərənt］ adj. 容忍的，宽恕的
 * anarchy ［ˈænəki］ n. 无政府状态；政治混乱
 * critics ［ˈkritik］ n. 批评
 * victim ［ˈviktim］ n. 受害人，牺牲者
 * fingertip ［ˈfiŋgəˌtip］ n. 指尖；指套
 * warrant ［ˈwɔ:rənt］ v. 授权；证明
 * democratic ［ˌdeməˈkrætik］ adj. 民主的；民主主义的
 * intrinsic ［inˈtrinzik］ adj. 内在的，本质的
 * anarchic ［ænˈa:kik］ adj. 无政府主义的
 * innumerable ［iˈnu:mərəbəl］ adj. 无数的，数不清的
 * Website ［ˈwebˌsait］ n. 网站
 * navigate ［ˈnæviˌgeit］ v. 航行，航海
 * disposal ［diˈspəuzəl］ n. 布置，安排 
