UNDERSTANDING SUMMARY

One website that has attracted millions of Internet users is Second Life. It offers an escape from real life. Users are called residents, and they create their own characters, or avatars. They buy Linden Dollars, and they can make a lot of money selling land. Users can become musicians or Olympic basketball players. Today, business hold meetings there. The pop group Duran Duran has given live concerts on Second Life. I think Second Life is a great way to escape reality, and I would like to try it myself.

Second Life is a three-dimensional online environment that lets people escape reality. The online world has its own economy and currency, called the Linden Dollar. Residents use Linden Dollars to buy and sell items and land. In this world, residents have many opportunities to interact with others, at malls, clubs, and concerts, for example. Many users of Second Life escape their daily lives by exploring imaginary places and friends. Some users also choose to escape from themselves by changing their jobs, physical appearance, or nationalities. Although Second Life began as a fantasy world, today countries, businesses, and universities are also using it for real-life purposes.