Question

【题目】When you're surfing the Internet on your laptop from your dorm or home, do you know your personal details are being gathered secretly? And would you be surprised to know the information may be sold cheaply to advertisers and marketers?

According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, all it takes is a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters-to record the computer user's age, gender, location, favorite movies and hobbies.

The newspaper reports that Lotame Solutions Inc.，a New York company, uses sophisticated （高科技）software called a "beacon" to capture what people are typing on a website.

Lotame packages that data into profiles （个人资料）about individuals, only without their names, and sells the profiles to companies seeking customers. Batches of such data may be sold for a few dollars.

Hie Wall Street Journal survey discovered that spying on Internet users is one of the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web.

The "cookie"-a tiny text file put on your PC by websites or marketing firms which might be used to remember your preferences for one site, or to track you across many sites is already old news. There are new and more complex tools such as " beacons " which scan in real time what people are doing on a webpage. These bea-cons instantly assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions.

Millions of Internet users around the world also face unprecedented （空前的）threats. Private, sensitive, personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge.

Companies insist the information they gather is anonymous and the data is used harmlessly. But the technology has grown so powerful that even some of the biggest websites in the US don't know that they were installing intrusive files on visitors' computers. These include MSN. com and Yahoo, com.

Next time you visit a webpage and find an ad banner advertising something you've been planning to buy, don't be amazed that your computer can read your mind.

【1】The purpose of the passage is to __________.

A. introduce a tiny file in a computer-a single code

B. show how your individual information was let out when you surf the Internet

C. show how to protect your privacy

D. introduce a sophisticated software called a "beacon"

【2】It can be inferred that __________.

A. because the data is used harmlessly the Internet users around the world will not face threats

B. when a person surf the Internet, his personal details may be let out without his knowledge

C. your computer can really read your mind

D. MSN. com and Yahoo, com use software to capture what people are typing on a website

【3】According to the passage，"beacon"__________.

A. is a tiny text file put on your PC by websites

B. is a soft ware that can package that data into profiles about individuals

C. can assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions

D. is not more complex than the "cookie"

【4】What's the writer's attitude to this problem?

A. Neutral. B. Worried.

C. Optimistic. D. Indifferent.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】B

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

【1】B 主旨大意题。本文围绕着上网时，你的个人信息被别人收集并且被出售了展开。故选择B项。

【2】B 判断推理题。第一段以及下文可知，当一个人上网时，他的信息有可能在自己不知道的情况下泄露或被别人出售。

【3】C 细节理解题。根据第六段"beacons instantly assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions. "可知选C选项。根据第六段"The‘ cookie ’ - a tiny text file put on your PC by website"可知 A错误。根据第四段 " Lotame packages that data into profiles（个人资料）about individuals"可知B错误。根据第六段" there are new and more complex tools such as beacons"可知 D错误。

【4】B 判断推理题。根据文章倒数第三段"Millions of Internet users around the world also face unprecedented threats. Private, sensitive, personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge. " 可知，作者指出互联网用户面临着空前的威胁。故可以推断作者对这个问题非常的担心。所以选B。