US Probes Google's Business Practices

 　　The U.S. government has launched an investigation¹ into whether Internet search engine Google is using its dominance to promote its products while blocking competitors.

　　Google controls more than 65 percent of web searches worldwide and earns most of its money - billions of dollars - in search-related advertising².

　　The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says it wants to know whether Google is using its dominance in searches not only to earn advertising revenue but also to channel users to its growing network of services.

　　The FTC investigation mirrors a similar probe the European Union opened last year.  The U.S. state of Texas also is looking at Google's business practices.

　　Google executives say they do not believe they are doing anything wrong or violating any antitrust laws.

　　In the 1990s the FTC looked into the business practices of Microsoft and whether it was using its Windows operating system to kill competing software makers³.

　　That case was settled in 2002.  It was only last month that Microsoft emerged from government oversight⁴.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。