Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage. The rise of the Inter n et has been one of the most transformative developments in human history comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people w orldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can commu n icate with each other instantly, o f ten using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet ’ s tremendous impact has only just begun . Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global, Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book, he New Digital Age . Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Inter n et access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortcoming, it's that the authors don ’ t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these sweeping changes In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes-and more importantly predicts-how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They vain a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities one physical, and one virtual At the core of the book is the idea that"technology is neutral, but people aren ’ t. "By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy ( 对立观点 )that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they're also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance ( 监视 )