参考答案：20世纪即将过去，人类见证了在信息和通信技术方面空前绝后的发展，这一发展几乎给我们生活的方方面面都带来了深刻的变化。教育也不例外。随着新经济的出现，教育成为社会进步和经济持续增长的决定性因素。它决定着一个国家能从全球化浪潮中获益多少以及多快获益。本质上，新经济是一个以知识为支柱的经济，而教育就是它的基础。
现在，教育对于大多数人来说已经成了他们生活的一部分。但是，提供全民教育和终身教育依然是一个有待于实现的伟大构想。网络教育为我们打开了一扇机遇之窗。通过将信息技术融人教育，它提供了一种远程学习模式，而这种模式能以快捷而最省钱的方式为人们送去教育，这样就能使世界上任何地方的不同年龄的人在他们最为方便的时候学习。这也正好解释了为何网络教育迅速占据一席之地的原因。

解析：[听力原文]
At the close of the 20th century, mankind has witnessed the unprecedented progress in information and communication technology which has brought about profound changes in almost all aspects of our life. Education is no exception. With the advent of New Economy, education has become a decisive factor for the progress of society and the sustainable growth of economy. It determines how much and how fast an economy can benefit from globalization. New economy in essence is knowledge-based economy with education as its very foundation.
Nowadays, education for most people is already a part of their life. But to provide education for all and for lifelong is still a noble vision yet to be realized. The cyber education has opened a window of opportunity for us. By incorporating IT into education, it provides a mode of distance learning which can deliver education to people in a speedy and the most cost-effective way, enabling people of all ages anywhere in the world to learn at their own convenience. This explains the very reason why cyber education is fast gaining ground.