Broadband technology is seen as the key to the new digital economy.

　　In this rapidly changing world, media and technology information Can be sent via phone calls and downloads like music, graphics, business information or films.

　　The simpler the information, the smaller the package and the narrower the bandwidth needed to deliver it.

　　Broadband is used for high speed Internet connections at a fixed monthly rate. It turns an exciting telephone line into a high speed digital line capable of carrying data up to 40 times conventional modem speeds.

　　Any download is available at the click of a mouse-there is no dial-up as there is with standard Internet Service Providers.

　　For home owners and families there are many advantages. One of the most important is simultaneous (同时的)access to both telephone lines and the Internet. No queses and no delay.

　　For businesses, broadband can impove customer relations and provide direct access to corporate e-malls and databases. Entire operations can go online.

　　41. The function that broadband technology has on the new digital economy is ________.

　　A) further

　　B) critical

　　C) costly

　　D) global

　　42. How much does a user pay if he has broadband technology installed?

　　A) It depends On the length of time.

　　B) It depends on the times of dial-up.

　　C) He pays at a fixed monthly rate.

　　D) He pays a lot of money.

　　43. Compared with the modem speed the broadband technology can transmit data ________.

　　A) at up to forty times of ordinary speed

　　B) much more faster

　　C) at a high speed

　　D) within a second

　　44. Who can take advantage of the broadband technology according to the passage?

　　A) Family members.

　　B) College students.

　　C) Both home owners and businessmen.

　　D) Only businessmen and their partners.

　　45. With the broadband technology companies can have all their operations done

　　A) during the work days.

　　B) during the whole week

　　C) online

　　D) offline

　　参考译文

　　宽带技术被视作新的数字经济的关键所在。

　　在高速发展的社会，像音乐、图表、商务信息或电影之类的传媒和技术信息可以通过电话和下载的方式进行传播。

　　信息越简单，下载包就越小，所需用以传输的带宽就越窄。

　　宽带每月收取固定的费用，提供网际间的高速连接。它将电话线转化为传输数据速度可达通常调解器40倍的高速数字接线。

　　因为拥有标准网络服务提供商，无需拨打电话号码，只需轻轻一点鼠标，各种下载即成可能。

　　对于居家用户和家庭有许多便利。最重要的是可以同时上网和使用电话，不用等候也不会延误。

　　对于商务来说，宽带能改进客户关系，并提供公司邮件和数据库的直接查询。整个操作都可在网上进行。

　　答案及精解

　　41.【答案精解】B。推理题。从文中Broadband technology is seen as the key to the new digital economy.宽带技术被看作新数字经济的关键所在。可推断出宽带技术在新数字经济中发挥了至关重要的作用。

　　42.【答案精解】C。细节题。从文章第三段句首Broadband is used for high speed Internet connections at a fixed monthly rate可以得出，使用者每月所付宽带费是固定的，即at a fixed monthly rate。