阅读理解 Telephone, television, radio, and the Internet help people communicate with each other. Because of these devices, ideas and news of events spread quickly all over the world. For example, within seconds, people can know the results of an election in another country. An international football match comes into the homes of everyone with a television set. News of a disaster, such as a flood, can bring help from distant countries. Within hours, help is on the way. Because of modern technology, information travels fast.
How has this speed of communication changed the world? To many people, the world has become smaller. Of course, this does not mean that the world is actually smaller. It means that the world seems smaller. Two hundred years ago, communication between continents took a long time. All news was carried on ships that needed weeks or even months to cross the oceans. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, up to six weeks would be needed for news from Europe to reach America. This time difference influenced people' s actions. For example, a few battles in the War of 1812 between England and the United States could have been avoided. A peace agreement had already been signed. Peace was made in England, but the news of peace did not reach America until after six weeks. During the six weeks, the large and serious Battle of New Orleans was fought. Many people lost their lives after the peace treaty (条约) had been signed. They would not have died if the news had come in time. In the past, communication needed much more time than it does now. There is a good reason why the world seemed so much larger than it does today.

单选题 6.Thanks to______, we can get the latest news of events instantly from all over the world.

单选题 7.______would need six weeks a couple of hundred years ago.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】根据第二段第六、七句“All news was carried on ships…up to six weeks would be needed for news from Europe to reach America．”可知，在两百年前，消息是通过船只从欧洲传送到美国的，这个过程需要大约六周的时间。由此可推知，当时从欧洲到美国的海运需要六周的时间。故选D。

单选题 8.Some battles in the war between England and America could have been avoided if______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】根据第二段倒数第三、四、五句“During the six weeks…Many people lost their lives after the peace treaty had been signed．They would not have died if the news had come in time．”可知，英美签署和平条约的消息通过海运传送到美国大约需要六周的时间，在这期间爆发了大规模的、激烈的新奥尔良战役，许多人因此而丧命。如果消息及时到达，他们就不会死了。由此可推知，如果签署和平协议的消息早点儿传到美国，英美之间的战争就可以避免了。B项中的earlier是文中in time(及时)的同义替换。故选B。