Read the passage carefully and choose the best option to fit each space.People who live in the industrially advanced and affluent countries of the world take telecommunication for granted. Computer data with text, graphics and even video clips (15)......been added to the telephone. Fax, e-mail and modems have become integral parts of office equipment for most businesses in the developed world. It is important to remember, however, that although North America, Europe and Japan own about 85 ...

Read the passage carefully and choose the best option to fit each space.

People who live in the industrially advanced and affluent countries of the world take telecommunication for granted. Computer data with text, graphics and even video clips (15)......been added to the telephone. Fax, e-mail and modems have become integral parts of office equipment for most businesses in the developed world. It is important to remember, however, that although North America, Europe and Japan own about 85 percent of the world's telephones; they have under a quarter of the world’s population.

Today, telecommunications are at the center of (17).....international economy. To participate in this economy, countries need telecommunications to enable them to obtain information and knowledge which they can use to attract industrial (19).....and find new markets. Businesses and factories need the telephone and computer because producers and customers may be thousands of kilometers apart. Regional and national borders are no (20).....barriers to trade. With the trend towards a more cooperation between countries, global telecommunications increase in importance. They are the key to development and progress.