virtually: almost; very nearly
　　　　 实际上，事实上，差不多

Examples:
　　　　 The reply is virtually an acceptance of our offer.
　　　　 这个回答实际上是接受了我们的建议。
　　　　 He is virtually a stranger to me though we have met.
　　　　 尽管我们以前见过面，但他对我们来说几乎还是个陌生人。

2. When you need current information and you need it now, there are few alternatives.
　　　　 The Web is one of the few places to look if you need up to date information immediately.
　　　　 要是你马上就需要最新的信息的话，除了网络你很少有其它选择。

alternative: a chance to choose or decide between two or more possible things, courses of action, etc.
　　　　 两者选一

Examples:
　　　　 I'm afraid I have no alternative but to report you to the teacher.
　　　　 恐怕我只得把你的情况向老师汇报了。
　　　　 We have no alternative in this matter.
　　　　 在这个问题上我们没有选择。

3.be involved in: become connected or concerned
　　　　 卷入，介入

Examples:
　　　　 If I were you I wouldn't get involved in their problems.
　　　　 如果我是你，我就不会卷入到他们的问题中去。
　　　　 He was involved in working out a plan.
　　　　 他参与了这个计划的制订。

4.The advent of the Web as a research tool has greatly expanded the availability of information while reducing the amount of time needed on each task.
　　　　 Since they've started using the Web, researchers have become able to find much more information and to do it faster.
　　　　 网络作为一种研究工具的出现，极大地拓展知识的获取的范围，大大地降低了我们在每一项工作上所耗费的时间。

advent: the arrival or coming of (an important event, period, invention, etc.)
　　　　 出现，来临

Examples:
　　　　 People are much better informed since the advent of television.
　　　　 自从电视出现以来，人们的信息更灵通了。
　　　　 The animal gets everything prepared before the advent of the coldest season.
　　　　 在最冷的季节到来之前，这种动物就做好了一切准备。

expand: increase in size, number, volume, degree, etc; grow larger
　　　　（使）扩大，（使）膨胀

Examples:
　　　　 He expanded his short story into a novel.
　　　　 他把自己的短篇故事扩展成了一部小说。
　　　　 These small enterprises expanded greatly.
　　　　 这些小企业迅速扩大。

5.The majority of ... looking up ...

majority: the larger number of or amount of…; most
　　　　 绝大多数

Examples:
　　　　 The majority of doctors agree that smoking is extremely harmful to health.
　　　　 绝大多数的医生认为吸烟对身体非常有害。
　　　　 The majority of the people who attended the meeting voted in favor of the proposal.
　　　　 参加这个会议的大多数人都赞成这个建议。

look up: find ( information) in a book
　　　　 查找

Examples:
　　　　 You'd better not look up every word in the dictionary while you are reading the articles.
　　　　 阅读文章的时候你最好不要每一个词都查字典。
　　　　 He can't find the telephone number though he has looked up it in the telephone directory for many times.
　　　　 虽然他在电话簿上查了好几次，但还是找不到这个电话号码。

6. Outside of work, I really like following all aspects of the financial world.
　　　　 工作之余，我对金融界的一切都非常感兴趣。

follow: go after in order to catch
　　　　 跟随，跟上

Examples:
　　　　 We have all along closely followed the development of the situation there.
　　　　 我们一直密切地关注着那里局势的发展。
　　　　 He followed the speaker's words with great attention.
　　　　 他一字不漏地听那人发言。

7.Although it takes time to sift through the multitude of sources, I find that after years of use I can quickly analyze the search results to find the most appropriate site.
　　　　 It takes time to compare the many sources and find the best website, but after years of practice I've learned to do this quickly.
　　　　 尽管筛选各种信息需要花费时间，但经过多年的使用后，我发现我能快速地分析搜寻的结果并找到最合适的网址。

sift through: make a close and thorough examination of (things in a mass or group)
　　　　 筛选，详看，细看

Examples:
　　　　 We must sift through the evidence very carefully before we come to any conclusions.
　　　　 我们必须非常仔细地考虑这些证据后才能得出结论。
　　　　 She sifted through her papers to find the lost letter.
　　　　 她翻遍了所有的文件去找那封丢失的信件。

appropriate: correct or suitable for a particular situation or occasion
　　　　 适当的

Examples:
　　　　 He thought that was an appropriate moment to raise the question of his promotion.
　　　　 他认为那是提出他晋升问题的适当时机。
　　　　 Complaints must be addressed to the appropriate authority.
　　　　 应该向相关部门投诉。

8. The amount of information on the Web is staggering, so it is important to remember what it is you are searching for and not get sidetracked.
　　　　 There is a huge amount of information on the Web, so it is important to remember your search topics and avoid distractions.
　　　　 网上的信息量多得让人难以置信，重要的是得记住自己要搜寻的目标而不要偏离主题。

staggering: astonishing, shocking
　　　　 难以置信的，令人震惊的

Examples:
　　　　 The gift costs a staggering ￡30,000!
　　　　 这件礼物竟花了3万英镑。
　　　　 Nobody could solve the staggering problem no matter how hard they tried.
　　　　 不管如何努力，谁也无法解决这个棘手的问题。

sidetrack: to cause to leave one subject or activity and follow another usu. less important one
　　　　 使离题，使转移目标

Examples:
　　　　 I was looking up American history in the encyclopedia when I got sidetracked by a fascinating article on chess.
　　　　 我在百科全书中查找美国历史方面资料的时候，却被另外一篇有关象棋方面的文章吸引住了。
　　　　 We were supposed to be discussing the building plans but we got sidetracked into talking about politics.
　　　　 我们原打算讨论大楼计划，但我们却谈起政治来了。

9.The Web is a wonderful resource when you can substantiate that the information provided is accurate and true.
　　　　 The Web is a wonderful resource when you can verify the validity of the information it provides.
　　　　 当你能证实网上所提供的信息是准确无误的时候，网络便是一个伟大的资料库。

substantiate: to prove the truth of (sth. said, claimed ,etc)
　　　　 证明…有证据，证实

Examples:
　　　　 Can you substantiate your claim in a court of law?
　　　　 你能证实在法庭上的陈述吗？
　　　　 Nobody could substantiate his statements because the witness had died.
　　　　 没有人能证实他的陈述，因为目击证人已经死了。

10.Overall, the Web has given me the opportunity to be many more times effective at obtaining data.
　　　　 Most of the time the Web allows me to be far more effective at obtaining data.
　　　　 总的来说，用网络查阅资料让我有机会把效率提高好几倍。

overall: including everything
　　　　 全面地；全部地；总共

Examples:
　　　　 My overall impression of their work is good.
　　　　 我对他们工作的整体印象不错。
　　　　 Overall, we are making progress.
　　　　 总的来说，我们正在进步。

effective: producing the desired result
　　　　 产生预期效果的，有效的

Examples:
　　　　 Their efforts to improve the school have been very effective.
　　　　 他们为改善学校所付出的努力富有成效。
　　　　 The boss managed to find an effective treatment for hair loss.
　　　　 老板终于找到了有效治疗脱发的方法。

11. This enhances my networking capability to be in touch with many people with the same interest looking at a particular subject.
　　　　 This improves my ability to interact with many people who share my interest.
　　　　 这增强了我的联网能力，我可以和许多在某一领域有相同兴趣的人保持联系。

enhance: increase in strength or amount
　　　　 提高，增加，增强

Examples:
　　　　 Your good oral English will enhance your chances of getting the job.
　　　　 你漂亮的英语口语更有利于你获得这份工作。
　　　　 Everybody believes that this interview will surely enhance the friendship between the two countries.
　　　　 大家都认为这次会晤一定会增强两国之间的友谊。

12.It also provides a highly collaborative environment in which it is quick and easy to exchange ideas with colleagues.
　　　　 It also promotes a very convenient and cooperative approach to the rapid sharing of ideas with colleagues.
　　　　 网络也提供了高度协作的工作环境，通过它可以和同事们随时交换意见。

exchange: give or receive in turn
　　　　 交换

Examples:
　　　　 The two teams exchanged presents before the game.
　　　　 比赛之前，两个队交换了礼物。
　　　　 I haven't seen him for years, though we exchange letters at Christmas.
　　　　 尽管我们在圣诞节都相互通信，但我许多年都没见到他了。