The speaker compares the Internet to______. [originaltext] The Internet is a

The Internet is a global web of computers connected to each other by wires, cables, satellites, radio waves, and waves of light. If you look at a map of big cities, smaller towns, and scattered houses, each is connected by roads, railways, rivers and other things. This is similar to the Internet.
     The "big cities" of the Internet are the server computers of Yahoo, Tripod, AOL, and other networks. They often have search engines, e-mail services, shopping, entertainment, and other services that draw mil- lions of people from all around the world just like the post offices, stores, movie theaters, and other places do in the communities where we live.
    Other computers on the Internet are also part of these online towns. Local banks often provide access to account information with their computers. Businesses like Wal-Mart, Lowes, and many others have computers that provide online stores where people can purchase different items. Many colleges and universities offer on- line classes that allow people to get their degrees on the Internet. Yon can often pay your cable bill, credit card payment, electric bill and other payments online. You can even buy groceries online at places like NetGrocer. You can do just about anything online that you can offline.