Have a look at Paragraphs 4 to 6 to find out the comparisons made between Russia and China. Then fil

Paras. 4-6

Still, there's little dispute that communications will be a key factor separating the winners from the losers. Consider Russia. Because of its strong educational system in mathematics and science, it should thrive in the Information Age. The problem is its national phone system is a rusting antique that dates from the 1930s. To lick this problem, Russia is starting to install optical fiber and has a strategic plan to pump $40 billion into various communications projects. But its economy is stuck in recession and it barely has the money to even scratch the surface of the problem.

Compare that with the mainland of China. Over the next decade, it plans to pour some $100 billion into telecommunications equipment. In a way, China's backwardness is an advantage, because the expansion occurs just as new technologies are becoming cheaper than copper wire systems. By the end of 1995, each of China's provincial capitals except for Lhasa will have digital switches and high-capacity optical fiber links. This means that major cities are getting the basic infrastructure to become major parts of the information superhighway, allowing people to log on to the most advanced services available.

Telecommunications is also a key to Shanghai's dream of becoming a top financial center. To offer peak performance in providing the electronic data and paperless trading global investors expect, Shanghai plans telecommunications networks as powerful as those in Manhattan.

There's little dispute about communications being a key factor separating the winners from the losers.

Russia: A strong educational system in mathematic and science.

China: Backwardness.

Russian development was held up by its national phone system, a rusting antique.

China takes advantage of its backwardness because ____________.

Russia plans to ____________.

China plans to pour some $100 billion into telecommunication equipment.

Russian economy is stuck in recession and ____________.

China has the money to invest. (Implied)

Russia: A loser. (Implied)

Nothing mentioned to show achievements so far.

China: A winner (Implied)

China's major cities are ____________. Telecommunications helps Shanghai to realize its dream of ____________.