阅读理解。

     The internet will open up new vistas (前景), create the global village-you can make new friends all around

the world. That, at least, is what it promised us. The difficulty is that it did not take the human mind into

account. The reality is that we cannot keep relationships with more than a limited number of people. No matter

how hard the internet tries to put you in communication, its best efforts will be defeated by your mind.

     The problem is twofold (双重的). First, there is a limit on the number of people we can hold in mind and

have a meaningful relationship with. That number is about 150 and is set by the size of our brain. Second, the

quality of your relationships depends on the amount of time you invest (投入) in them. We invest a lot in a

small number of people and then distribute what's left among as many others as we can. The problem is that

if we invest little time in a person, our engagement with that person will decline (减弱) until eventually it dies

into "someone I once knew".

     This is not, of course, to say that the internet doesn't serve a socially valuable function. Of course it does.

But the question is not that it allows you to increase the size of your social circle to include the rest of the

world, but that you can keep your relationships with your existing friends going even though you have to move

to the other side of the world.

     In one sense, that's a good thing. But it also has a disadvantage. If you continue to invest in your old friends

even though you can no longer see then, then certainly you aren't using your time to make new friends where

you now live. And I suspect that probably isn't the best use of your time. Meaningful relationships are about

being able to communicate with each other, face to face. The internet will slow down the rate with which

relationships end, but it won't stop that happening eventually.

1. What is stressed in the first paragraph?

A. The present situation of the internet.

B. The difficulty in communication on the internet.

C. The socially valuable function of the internet.

D. The role of the human mind in the internet communication.

2. The underlined word "engagement" in the second paragraph probably means "_____".

A. appointment

B. connection

C. interview

D. agreement

3. According to the passage, the author holds the view that _____.

A. the internet fails to play so valuable a role in communication as it promised

B. the internet determines the quality of social relationships

C. the internet greatly increases the size of social circles

D. the internet communication is no less effective than the face-to-face talk

4. What is the author's attitude towards the use of the internet to strengthen relationships?

A. He is uncertain about it.

B. He is hopeful of it.

C. He approves of it.

D. He doubts it.