The rise of big data

文章内容（节选）

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题目与答案

1. 27 What does the passage suggest is the main difference between the Internet and Big Data?
   • The Internet is older and more established than Big Data.
   • The Internet connects people, while Big Data connects data to other data.
   • The Internet is used for communication, while Big Data is used for storage.
   • The Internet is global, while Big Data is limited to specific applications.

   答案：The Internet connects people, while Big Data connects data to other data.

   原文定位：Unlike the Internet, which connects people and enables communication, Big Data connects data to other data

2. 28 According to the passage, what makes it possible to track the spread of influenza using Google?
   • Surveys collected by public health agencies.
   • Monitoring search terms related to flu symptoms.
   • Analyzing GPS movements of infected individuals.
   • Combining data from credit card transactions.

   答案：Monitoring search terms related to flu symptoms.

   原文定位：For example, Google can track the spread of influenza by monitoring search terms related to flu symptoms, providing results that are faster and sometimes more accurate than those collected by public health agencies

3. 29 What concern about privacy is raised in the passage?
   • Data that seems anonymous can often be re-identified.
   • Governments have stopped collecting personal information.
   • Companies no longer store data about individuals.
   • Privacy laws have made data analysis impossible.

   答案：Data that seems anonymous can often be re-identified.

   原文定位：Data that seems anonymous can often be re-identified when combined with other datasets

4. 30 Why does the passage argue that Big Data is not necessarily objective?
   • Because numbers are always unreliable.
   • Because human choices shape what data is collected and how it is interpreted.
   • Because computers make frequent errors in analysis.
   • Because statistical methods are inherently biased.

   答案：Because human choices shape what data is collected and how it is interpreted.

   原文定位：Big Data is often assumed to be objective because it is based on numbers rather than human judgment. However, the data itself is shaped by human choices: what to collect, how to categorize it, and which questions to ask

5. 31 What limitation of focusing on correlation rather than causation is mentioned?
   • Correlations are always accurate and reliable.
   • Correlations can be spurious and lead to false conclusions.
   • Correlations are too difficult for computers to calculate.
   • Correlations require understanding of underlying reasons.

   答案：Correlations can be spurious and lead to false conclusions.

   原文定位：However, it also has limitations. Correlations can be spurious, leading to false conclusions

6. Big Data has transformed how we understand society by allowing researchers to analyze entire 32_____ in real time, rather than relying on small samples.

   答案：populations

   原文定位：With Big Data, it is possible to analyze entire populations in real time

7. Credit card companies use Big Data to detect 33_____ within seconds by comparing transactions against millions of others.

   答案：fraud

   原文定位：Similarly, credit card companies can detect fraud within seconds by comparing a transaction against millions of others to identify patterns that deviate from the norm

8. In urban planning, data from mobile phones and GPS devices helps planners design more efficient 34_____ systems.

   答案：transport

   原文定位：In the realm of urban planning, data from mobile phones and GPS devices can reveal how people move through cities, helping planners design more efficient transport systems

9. However, concerns about privacy arise because data that seems anonymous can often be 35_____ when combined with other datasets.

   答案：re-identified

   原文定位：Data that seems anonymous can often be re-identified when combined with other datasets

10. Another issue is that algorithms trained on historical data may reproduce existing 36_____ , such as racial profiling in policing or discrimination in hiring.

    答案：prejudices

    原文定位：If these choices reflect existing prejudices, the resulting analysis will simply reproduce those prejudices at a larger scale

11. 37 Predictive policing algorithms are always fair and unbiased.
    • YES
    • NO
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：NO

    原文定位：For example, predictive policing algorithms that analyze crime data may reinforce racial profiling if the original data reflects biased policing practices

12. 38 Understanding causation is less important than identifying correlations.
    • YES
    • NO
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：NOT GIVEN

    原文定位：The rise of Big Data also challenges traditional notions of causality;Big Data, by contrast, often focuses on correlation;The challenge for the future is to combine the power of Big Data with the rigor of traditional scientific methods

13. 39 In medicine, Big Data is helping to develop treatments tailored to individual patients.
    • YES
    • NO
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：YES

    原文定位：In medicine, researchers are using data from electronic health records, genetic sequencing, and wearable devices to develop personalized treatments tailored to individual patients

14. 40 The decisions made today about data use will have long-term consequences for future generations.
    • YES
    • NO
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：YES

    原文定位：As Big Data becomes ever more pervasive, the decisions we make today about how to collect, analyze, and use data will shape the world for generations to come