Most households have at least one device that can connect to the internet. people pay their bills online, order products to be shipped to their homes, and apply for jobs. according to the united states census bureau in their report “computer and internet use in the united states: 2015,” it states, “among all households, 78 percent had a desktop or percent had a handheld computer such as a smartphone or other handheld wireless computer.” even more, “77 percent had a broadband internet subscription.”

so, the national average for internet usage is 77%. however, some areas have a much higher rate. in the report from the census bureau titled “pacific coast & most northeast lead in broadband internet use,” it states, “states on the pacific coast and most of those in the northeast such as new hampshire and massachusetts had higher levels of broadband internet use.” additionally, the census bureau found that “utah and colorado were states with higher percentages of households with broadband subscriptions.” the households with more money had a higher internet usage rate. states like new mexico and mississippi had a much lower percentage.

military—then and now

the internet became available to the public in 1991. it has since grown into more than what it was ever imagined to be. in 1969, the military started using a form of the internet before the public even knew about it. however, the public created a variety of apps and ideas that the military now uses. for instance, soldiers train for combat using internet gaming. they can train with other soldiers around the world while preparing for unseen or unknown enemies.

today, the internet is used for basically everything. schools have even incorporated significant internet usage. teachers create and maintain websites and apps for students, and states test students online. schools also use the internet for communication and learning.

in the home, devices like echo, a voice-controlled device, allow users to ask questions, play music, and order products online. smartphones give users the ability to read news, watch movies and videos, and keep in touch. everyone seems to own a smartphone, and everyone seems to use it daily. imagine what it would be like without access to the internet. global connectivity and innovation are infinite.

which one sentence from passage 2 explains why people use the internet?

a “people pay their bills online, order products to be shipped to their homes, and apply for jobs.”
b “the households with more money had a higher internet usage rate.”
c “in 1969, the military started using a form of the internet before the public even knew about it.”
d “everyone seems to own a smartphone, and everyone seems to use it daily.”