The Internet has the power to connect people across the world to a single shared community. Billions of people in different parts of the world have joined it already, and obviously many more will follow. Even in the countryside, the Internet enables people to reach beyond their villages and get in touch with the outside world. We can achieve almost anything online—with access to the Internet come some truly life-changing advantages.
互联网拥有将全球民众联结成一个共享社区的力量。世界各地已有数十亿人接入网络，显然未来还会有更多人加入。即便身处乡村，互联网也能让人们跨越村庄的界限，与外界保持联系。通过网络我们几乎无所不能 —— 互联网接入带来的，是真正改变生活的种种可能。
One of the greatest advantages of the Internet lies in the quick and easy access to a huge amount of information. To a certain extent, the world’s knowledge is all at our fingertips. With the click of a mouse or the touch of a button, it is possible to find out almost anything we care to know, from recipes to travel packages, from military affairs to learning resources. In the time it takes to find one book in the library, we can use a search engine to bring up millions of results. No wonder the Internet has now become the first place that the majority of people turn to for information.
互联网最大的优势之一在于能够快速便捷地获取海量信息。某种程度上，全世界的知识都触手可及。只需轻点鼠标或触碰按键，从菜谱到旅行套餐，从军事动态到学习资源，几乎任何我们想知道的信息都能即刻呈现。在图书馆查找一本书的时间里，搜索引擎就能为我们呈现数百万条结果。无怪乎如今互联网已成为大多数人获取信息的首选渠道。
The Internet has also made our lives unbelievably convenient, with all sorts of goods and services provided by electronic commerce, more commonly known as e – commerce. You can have food delivered to you using food delivery apps and sites. Gone are the days of searching shop after shop for the perfect pair of boots—you can compare styles and prices quickly and easily in the comfort of your living room. Why wait hopelessly for a taxi in the cold rain? It is now simple and fast to order one with a taxi app. Sit back and relax indoors for a few warm minutes until the driver arrives. When you wish to go on holiday, you can make all your travel arrangements just in front of the computer. Forgot to carry cash? There is no need to worry—you can pay for almost everything on your smartphone.
互联网还让我们的生活便捷得超乎想象，这一切得益于电子商务（通常简称电商）提供的各类商品与服务。借助外卖应用和网站，美食能直接送上门；再也不用为寻觅一双完美靴子而挨家逛店 —— 坐在客厅里就能轻松比款式、比价格。何必在冷雨中苦等出租车？如今通过打车软件，分分钟就能搞定订单。你大可在温暖的室内放松小憩，静候司机到来。想出门度假时，对着电脑就能搞定全部行程安排。忘记带现金？根本无需担心 —— 智能手机几乎能支付一切消费。
Above all else, the Internet helps us establish and maintain social ties. With all sorts of communication software, physical distance no longer gets in the way. No matter where we are, we are able to keep in contact with loved ones, find long – lost friends and discover whole new communities who share our hobbies. An instant message, a group chat, a video call, a comment on an update—there are endless ways to share our views or let someone know we care about them.
最重要的是，互联网帮助我们建立并维系社交纽带。借助各式通讯软件，地域阻隔不复存在。无论身处何地，我们都能与至亲保持联系、寻回失联已久的故友，或是发现志趣相投的全新社群。一条即时消息、一场群组讨论、一通视频电话、一条动态评论 —— 传递心声或表达关怀的方式无穷无尽。
However, while the Internet brings many valuable advantages, being connected has its problems. As with any great invention, we must be aware of these problems and be careful to use the Internet properly and responsibly. Only in this way can the Internet be a place of discovery, wonder and inspiration for everyone.It is truly a world without frontiers.
然而，尽管互联网带来了诸多宝贵优势，互联互通亦存在隐忧。正如任何伟大发明一样，我们必须正视这些问题，谨慎且负责任地使用网络。唯有如此，互联网才能真正成为人人皆可探索、惊叹与获取灵感的无疆之域。