The internet has had a profound effect on society over the last two decades. Although it began as a government operation, over time this innovative technology eventually evolved into a public novelty. Looking at society today, one may find that the situation has certainly evolved. For many, the Internet has become an essential for daily living, no longer the fun novelty it was 10 years ago. Even a decade ago if you were to think about whether or not the internet had a significant impact on society, the answer wouold likely have been probably not. While the Net may have been considered a neat innovation, it was not like anyone "needed it".

have a profound effect on sb． / sth．:对某人/某事有深远影响。

over time:随着时间的推移；超时

innovative technology：创新科技

evolved into：演变成

novelty：新奇的事或人；新颖；新鲜

For many：对许多人来说

essential：必须品；极其重要的；根本的

no longer：不再

Even a decade ago：甚至十年前

neat innovation：巧妙的创新

it was not like anyone "needed it"：不只是一种简单的需要

网络在过去的20年对社会产生了深远的影响，虽然最初它只是一个政府项目，然而随着时间的推移，这项技术已经演变成为大众的新奇事物。纵观今天的社会，你会发现形势已经完全发生了变化。对于很多人来说，网络已经成为日常生活的必需品，不再像10年前是一种好玩的新鲜事物。哪怕10年前，如果在大脑中设想网络是否对社会有重大影响，可能你的答案都是“不”。然而网络现在已经成为一种绝妙的创新，而不只是一种简单的需要。

However, over time this per ception has changed for many individuals in society. The Internet has become, for the most part, an absolute necessity, either by requirement or by desire. Going online has become as natural as doing other daily tasks people have traditionally done. People take it for granted that the Internet will be available, and dependency on being connected has become the norm. Both businesses and individuals alike depend upon the routine availability of the Internet. Due to the fact that many businesses, government agencies and other organizations have navigated to the online environment, generally people require consistent access, or 24/7^1 access, if you will.

然而，随着时间的推移，这种观念对社会中的许多人来说已经发生了变化。互联网已经变成了通常情况下的必需品，无论是需求还是欲望。上网已经成为人们日常必须要做的事情。人们想当然地认为互联网是可随意使用的，对上网的依赖成为常态。企业和个人同样依赖互联网的稳定性。由于许多企业、政府部门和其他组织已经实现了网络办公，所以人们可以一致访问，或者24小时随时地访问。

over time：随着时间的推移

perception:看法；洞察力；见解

for the most part：通常：大多数

absolute necessity：绝对的必需品

requirement：需求

desire：渴望；欲望

take it for granted ：想当然的：认为当然的

routine availability of the Internet：互联网的常规可用性

alike：同样地

depend upon：依赖

Due to the fact：由于

generally people：一般人

consistent access：一致访问

24/7^1 access：一直不断的访问

In many ways the internet has had a very positive effect on society. It has improved communication, simplified handling tasks and errands, offered huge convenience, enabled faster processing, and provided more options, all of which have freed more time to do other things.

In many ways：在许多方面

errands：差事

enabled：使能够

all of which：所有这些（前文）

在许多方面互联网都带来了积极的影响。它改善了沟通，简化了任务和差事，提供了巨大的便利，实现了更快的处理速度，并且提供了更多选择，所有的这些都腾出了更多时间去做别的事。

Yet, interestingly enough the Internet has, in some ways, had negative effects. The quality of communication has declined; people are impatient because they have become accustomed to instant gratification, and using the Internet also takes up a lot of time. As websites such as Facebook and other socially based interactions increase in usage, many hours a day are consumed as people keep up with their various network,taking away from other activities.

declined：减少

impatient：不耐烦的

accustomed：习惯的

instant gratification:即时满足感

consumed：充满的：消耗的：消费的

taking away from other activities：远离其他活动

然而，有趣的是互联网在某些方面也产生了负面的影响。沟通的质量在下降；人们不耐烦是因为他们已经习惯了即时的满足感，使用互联网也占用了很多时间。随着脸书等网站和其他基于社交的互动的使用量增加，人们每天会花费很多时间来跟上他们的各种网络活动，从而减少其他活动。

When looking at it from the latter perspective, one way wonder whether or not the Internet has truly benefited society. Realistically, as with anything else, the Internet has its pros and cons. Tools such as e-mail and instant messaging have become the standard; social network are in this respect the benefits of the Internet are tremendous. This is not only evidenced by the many activities people engage in when they connect to the Internet, but also by the continuous progression and development of mobile devices such as smartphones.

as with anything else：就像其他任何事一样

pros and cons：利弊

instant messaging：即时通讯

progression and development：进步和发展

从后一个角度来看，互联网是否真正造福了社会。实际上，与其他任何事物一样，互联网也有其优缺点。电子邮件和即时通讯等工具已成为标准；社交网络在这方面给互联网带来了巨大的好处。这不仅体现在人们连接到互联网时参与的许多活动上，也体现在智能手机等移动设备的不断进步和发展上。

Society has evolved to the point where people expect and rely on readily available information. People also expect to receive rapid responses when doing business and personal tasks. The Internet makes this possible. Many of the things that society takes for granted nowadays are all made possible by the development of the Internet.

readily available information:现成信息

takes for granted：视为理所当然

社会已经发展到人们期望并依赖现成信息的地步。人们还希望在处理业务和个人任务时得到快速响应。互联网使这一切成为可能。当今社会认为理所当然的许多事情都是互联网发展的结果。

What kind of an impact has the Internet had on society? Wrapped up in the advantages and disadvantages one thing is for certain： the internet has had a significant effect on society. To imagine the impact all one has to do is try to envision the consequences if the internet was suddenly removed from society. Imagine a world where the internet was unavailable. How would it affect you? Looking at it from this respect, for many it likely brings to light just how reliant and dependent society has become on the internet and it would be extremely hard to turn back the clock.

Wrapped up in the advantages and disadvantages：综上所述；集合优点和缺点；

envision：想象

reliant：依靠的；可靠的

for many：对大多数人

互联网对社会产生了何种影响？综上所述，有一件事是肯定的：互联网对社会产生了重大影响。想象一下，如果互联网突然从社会中消失，人们所要做的就是想象一下后果。想象一个没有互联网的世界。这会对你产生什么影响？从这个角度来看，对许多人来说，这可能会揭示社会对互联网的依赖和依赖程度，而且很难让时光倒流。