17．Computer power is moving into the"cloud"-networks of data centers that use the Internet to supply all kinds of services，from e-mail and social networks to data storage and analysis．
The rise of cloud computing is rapid and causing huge changes in the tech industry．The old guard is suffering：this week's $67billion merger （合并） between Dell and EMC，makers of computers and storage devices respectively，was a marriage forced by the rise of the cloud．Disruptive （搗亂的） newcomers are blooming：if Amazon's cloud-computing unit were a stand-alone public company，it would probably be worth almost as much as Dell and EMC combined．
The gains for customers have been equally dramatic．Compared with older IT systems，cloud computing is often much cheaper．It adds tremendous flexibility：firms that need more computing capacity no longer have to spend weeks adding new servers and installing software．In the cloud they can get hold of it in minutes．Their applications can be updated continually，rather than just every few months．Individual users can reach their e-mails，files and photos from any device．And cloud services also tend to be more secure，since providers know better than their customers how to protect their computing systems against hackers．
But cloud computing makes one problem worse．In the old IT world，once a firm or a consumer had decided on an operating system or database，it was difficult and costly to switch to another．In the cloud this"lock-in"is even worse．Cloud providers go to great lengths to make it easy to upload data．They accumulate huge amounts of complex information，which cannot easily be moved to an alternative provider．
Cloud firms also create a world of interconnected services，software and devices，which is convenient but only for as long as you don't adventure outside their universe．Being locked in to a provider is risky．Firms can start to tighten the screws by increasing prices．If a cloud provider goes bust （崩潰），its customers may have trouble getting back their data．
These risks have already caused a debate about whether the cloud needs stricter regulation．Some European politicians want to force cloud providers to ensure that data can be moved between them．That is too heavy-handed，because strict rules will inhibit （阻礙） innovation in what is still a young industry．The history of computing suggests that common standards may well appear naturally in response to customers'demands-just as in personal computers，where it is now much easier to use the same files on different systems．
In the meantime，a few commonsense measures can reduce the risk of lock-in．Firms that use more than one cloud provider to host their data are less affected．So are those that keep their most important information in their own data centers．Consumers can take precautions，too．Some services are better than others at enabling users to move data between providers （Google does well on this score）．Cloud computing promises its users many benefits，but don't mistake it for some sort of digital heaven．
50．The author takes"the merger between Dell and EMC"for example to showA．
A．the influence of cloud computing on computer and storage device makers
B．the miserable sufferings of old computer companies
C．the rapid development of new computer companies
D．the interaction between old companies and newcomers
51．With wide applications of cloud computing customers canB．
A．pay less for the older IT systems
B．gain more computing capacity quickly
C．know better about defeating the hackers
D．install software within weeks
52．The problem of"lock-in"can be dangerous becauseC．
A．it can make data easily be moved to another provider
B．it can create a network of services connected with devices
C．it may make it difficult for customers to recover their data
D．it will discourage an argument about stricter rules
53．It can be inferred from the last two paragraphs thatB．
A．the European politicians'advice is perfect
B．customers'demands play a role in setting standards
C．lock-in is caused by firms'storing information in their own centers
D．Google enables users to provide services and move data
54．Which of the following sayings can best express the main idea of the passage？D
A．Everything has its time and that time must be watched．
B．The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence．
C．A candle lights others and consumes itself．
D．Every white has its black，and every sweet has its sour．
分析 云計(jì)算使得計(jì)算機(jī)的應(yīng)用又達(dá)到一個(gè)新高度，服務(wù)更快捷方便，但是任何事物都不是完美的，云計(jì)算也一樣．
解答 50-54 ABCBD
50．A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)The rise of cloud computing is rapid and causing huge changes in the tech industry．The old guard is suffering：可知，Dell和EMG合并是云計(jì)算和存儲(chǔ)設(shè)備生產(chǎn)者帶來的影響，故選A
51．B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)第三段的優(yōu)點(diǎn)可知，顧客有了云計(jì)算可以更方便地享受服務(wù)，更新下載速度更快，分分鐘就可以解決，供應(yīng)商知道如何防止黑客的攻擊，故選B
52．C 細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)第四段和第五段介紹的缺點(diǎn)可知，一旦系統(tǒng)崩潰，用戶就可能丟失數(shù)據(jù)，難以修復(fù)，故選C
53．B 推理判斷題 根據(jù)The history of computing suggests that common standards may well appear naturally in response to customers'demands顧客的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)在云計(jì)算設(shè)置方面起到很重要的作用，故選B
54．D 主旨大意題 A．Everything has its time and that time must be watched．機(jī)不可失時(shí)不再來；B．The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence．這山望著那山高；C．A candle lights others and consumes itself．蠟燭燃燒了自己，照亮了別人D．Every white has its black，and every sweet has its sour．事有利弊，物無全美．本文介紹了云計(jì)算的優(yōu)點(diǎn)和缺點(diǎn)，說明事物沒有十全十美的，故選D
點(diǎn)評(píng) 做閱讀時(shí)經(jīng)常犯錯(cuò)的主要原因是，僅憑讀過文章后殘留在腦海中的一絲印象來勾選答案，這樣便很容易掉入出題人故意設(shè)布下的題目陷阱．所謂閱讀理解，對(duì)于題目的理解一定要忠實(shí)于原文，因此，每一道題都應(yīng)該與原文作全面的對(duì)比與核查，再得出答案．也就是說，閱讀理解的每一道題目，在原文都應(yīng)該有明確的出處，我們把這一出處叫做原文相關(guān)句，（1）排除與原文相關(guān)句主題不一致的選項(xiàng)（2）排除與原文相關(guān)句態(tài)度相反的選項(xiàng) （3）排除用于過于極端或負(fù)面的選項(xiàng)（4）注意結(jié)合文章主旨和主題去排除．
