单选题 The sudden, dramatic explosion in value of online social media sites like Facebook and Twitter is reminiscent of the rise, about 15 years ago, of the online businesses that created the "dotcom bubble. " The Internet was far less widely used than it is today. Still, visionaries saw the potential for the Internet we have today, so virtual companies sprung up and grew like weeds as investors threw money their way. Some, like Google and Amazon, developed an enduring online presence and lasting financial value. But far too many quickly lost value when it became apparent that their rapid growth wasn't yielding revenue.
So, how much is Facebook's network of users really worth? The potential is clear—when so many people are gathered in one virtual place, offering so much personal information about themselves, they create an unprecedented platform for targeted advertising. Or they would, if they were on the network to shop. When eBay and Amazon suggest products to their customers, they're talking to people who've already proven that they're interested in buying similar products. People go on Facebook for a variety of reasons-to catch up with old friends, share pictures, make new acquaintances, and talk, sometimes endlessly, about themselves. Whether they'll appreciate having their virtual conversations interrupted by advertising, targeted or not, remains unclear.
It's also unclear whether Facebook will actually be able to share information about its users' browsing habits with advertisers. Complaints about the ineffectiveness of Facebook's privacy policies have arisen in multiple countries, part of a larger social concern about how private information gets used on line. In December, the Federal Trade Commission issued a proposed framework that, among other things, would permit Facebook users to block advertisers from accessing information about their online interests. If that framework is implemented and widely used by Facebook subscribers, it could seriously impair the site's value as a potential platform for targeted marketing.
What is clear is that Goldman Sachs has a significant interest in Facebook's financial value, at least for the short term. Goldman Sachs' decision to invest heavily in Facebook has had some interesting impacts. For one thing, the investment has allowed Facebook an opportunity to postpone issuing an IPO. That means that, at least for the moment, Facebook doesn't yet have to disclose its finances or publicly address investor complaints.
Goldman Sachs' investment also puts the firm in an ideal position to handle Facebook's IPO when it eventually is issued, perhaps sometime next year. That, of course, has the potential to generate substantial revenues for Goldman Sachs' clients. Google's 2004 IPO raised an initial $1.2 billion for the company. After all the propaganda, Facebook's IPO can hardly be expected to raise less. However, there remains a significant question as to whether Facebook's potential for generating income is more virtual than real. If it turns out that Facebook can't live up to its potential for generating advertising revenue, venture capitalists who invest for the long term may get burned.

单选题 The text is written to answer the question
[A] Will the social media be the next dotcom bubble?
[B] Does Goldman Sachs really want to invest in Facebook?
[C] When will it be the right time for Facebook to issue its IPO?
[D] What lessons can we learn from the ups and downs of social media?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】文章在第一段就提出了这个问题，说目前社交网站让人想到了15年前网络公司的繁荣景象，但这些网络公司生存至今天的不多，只有像Google和Amazon这样为数不多的公司今天还存在并能挣钱。本文具体分析了Facebook的状况。Facebook靠吸引广告挣钱，但是用户已经就广告商侵犯其隐私权提出了投诉，而Facebook还没有对这些投诉做出公开回应。如果Facebook加强用户信息的保护，得不到这些信息的广告商的利益就会受到伤害，可能撤离Facebook，致使Facebook的收入下降。因此作者说，Facebook挣钱的前景并不乐观。全文的最后一句照应了全文第一句，作者得出的结论是：目前的社交网络很可能会步15年前的网络公司之后尘，被泡沫化。
单选题 Companies like Amazon and Facebook earn their money by
[A] luring more visitors to their sites.
[B] providing easily accessible services.
[C] attracting advertisements.
[D] offering a platform for free conversations.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】第二段提到，像Facebook和Amazon这样的公司，收入来源主要是定向广告，所谓targeted advertising主要指那些针对特定消费群体的广告。但是作者也指出，二者不同的是：Amazon推荐的产品可能是顾客感兴趣的产品，而Facebook这样的社交网络面临的最大问题是：正在进行社交活动的用户不一定喜欢自己的交谈被广告打断。另外，Facebook是否能与广告商分享用户信息而不受到用户的投诉，这也是值得怀疑的。这些因素都可能减少Facebook的公司收人。
单选题 One dilemma faced by social media like Facebook is that
[A] its customers often exchange private information on it.
[B] advertisers often interrupt its customers' conversations.
[C] the FTC threatens to limit its service with new regulations.
[D] the users' private information is misused by advertisers.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】第三段提到这个问题。在很多国家，已经有人投诉(complaint)说Facebook没有有效地保护他们的个人信息。美国联邦贸易委员会也提出了一个指导框架，允许用户阻止广告商获得他们的个人信息，如果这个框架得以实施并被Facebook的用户广泛采用，那么广告商的利益就会受到伤害。这样，Facebook作为定向广告平台的作用就大打折扣，其营业收入就会受到严重影响。
单选题 Goldman Sachs' investment is a good thing to Facebook because
[A] Facebook is now finding itself short of money.
[B] venture investment is safer than issuing an IPO.
[C] it gives Facebook more time for propaganda.
[D] Facebook does not have to make its finances public yet.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】第二、三段提到了影响Facebook收入的两种因素，第四段提到，由于高盛对Facebook的投资，使得它不急于上市。既然不是上市公司，它就暂时没有必要公开披露其财务状况，也暂时不用回应用户的投诉。
单选题 The dot-com bubble demonstrates that
[A] Facebook will generate substantial profits for its investors.
[B] potential profits assigned to dotcom firms don't always materialize.
[C] no dotcom companies can ripe any revenues from issuing their IPO.
[D] Facebook will certainly disappoint its investors in the long run.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】第一段提到网络公司泡沫。15年前人们将钱投向网络公司，但是到头来大部分网络公司并没有挣到钱。作者在第一段提到15年前的事，目的是为了与目前的社交网的投资热潮作一个对比。言外之意，当心目前的社交网也步15年前的网络公司的后尘，使得很多投资都付诸东流。最后两段提到了高盛投资Facebook的事，目的也是说明这个道理。