7．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 letter-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 software called a'"beacon"to capture what people are typing on a website．
Lotame packages the data into profiles （个人资料） about individuals，only without their names，and sells the profiles to companies seeking customers．Such data may be sold for a few dollars．
The Wall Street Journal survey discovered that spying on Internet users is one of the fastest-growing businesses on the Internet．
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 beacons instantly assess the Internet user's location，income，shopping interests and even medical conditions．
Millions of Internet users around the world also face great threats．Their private，sensitive，personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge．
Companies insist that the information they gather is anonymous （匿名的） 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 （安装） intrusive （侵入的） 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．
57．The purpose of the passage is toA．
A．show how your private information is let out when surfing the Internet
B．introduce a very tiny file in your computer-a single code
C．tells you about the ways of protecting your privacy on the Internet
D．introduce the sophisticated software called a"beacon"
58．Why do people want computer users'personal information via the Internet？B
A．Because they haven't realized the function of the tiny file．
B．Because they want to use the information to make some money．
C．Because the cookies in computers encourage them to do so．
D．Because they know it's harmless if they get anonymous information，
59．It can be inferred from the passage thatB．
A．Internet users around the world will not face threats，for the data is used harmlessly
B．when you surf the Internet，your personal details may be let out without knowledge
C．your computer is so smart that sometimes it can really read your mind
D．MSN．com uses software to capture what people are typing on a website
60．According to the passage，a"beacon"C．
A．is a tiny text file put on your PC by websites
B．is not more complex than the"cookie"
C．can assess Internet users'location，income and other personal data
D．is the software that can package the data into personal profiles．
分析 本文是科技说明文，文章告诉我们当我们在宿舍或在家上网时，我们的个人信息包括一些隐私的活敏感的信息正在被悄悄的收集并销售；一些公司运用一些设备如"信标"能够即时获取网络用户的信息；而销售从网上利益收集的个人信息已经成为一个迅速崛起的行业；虽然这些公司宣称销售的信息是匿名信息，但是这种技术如此强大甚至一些大的公司独不知道被入侵．
解答 57．A 主旨大意题．文章第一段提出了问题"When you're surfing the Internet on your laptop from your dorm or home，do you know your personal details are being gathered secretly？（当你在宿舍或在家上网时，你知道你的个人信息正在被悄悄的收集吗？"，在随后的各段中分析如何被悄悄的收集，由此判断本文的目的在于向读者解释自己的信息如何在上网的过程中被泄露的，所以答案选择A．
58．B．细节理解题．根据文章中第四段的最后一句"Such data may be sold for a few dollars．（这些数据也许能买几美元．）可以判断是为了赚钱而通过网络获取信息，所以答案选择B．
59．B． 推断题． 由第7段中的"Their private，sensitive，personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge．他们的（网络用户的私人的、敏感的或个人的商业的信息在他们不知情的情况下被收集和出售"可以推断答案是B．
60．C．细节理解题．由第六段中的"'These beacons instantly assess the Internet user's location，income，shopping interests and even medical conditions．（这些信标即时评估网络用户的位置、收入、购物兴趣甚至医疗情况）"可知答案选择C．
点评 阅读要在整体理解文章的基础上，根据题干选项定位细节，然后对照选项做出合理的判断．如果是主旨大意的判断要把握文章整体，避免以偏概全．
