Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer networks didn’t work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then all of the network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It had to be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could still be sent through another part. In this way, the computer network system would keep working all the time. 

        In the early 1970s, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became less expensive and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made surfing the Internet more convenient. 

        Today, it is easy to get on line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular with students. (excerpted from GEPT reading comprehension by Jolihi Press, 2003)