Q.7 Moving into a world of big data will require us to change our thinking about the merits of
exactitude. To apply the conventional mindset of measurement to the digital, connected world of
the twenty-first century is to miss a crucial point. As mentioned earlier, the obsession with
exactness is an artefact of the information-deprived analog era. When data was sparse, every data
point was critical, and thus great care was taken to avoid letting any point bias the analysis.
From “BIG DATA” Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Kenneth Cukier
The main point of the paragraph is:
(A) The twenty-first century is a digital world
(B) Big data is obsessed with exactness
(C) Exactitude is not critical in dealing with big data
(D) Sparse data leads to a bias in the analysis
Answer: (C) Exactitude is not critical in dealing with big data
The paragraph’s main point is that the traditional obsession with exactness, born from data-scarce analog era, is misplaced in today’s abundant big data world. Precision matters less when you have massive volumes.
Detailed Analysis of Each Option
(A) The twenty-first century is a digital world ❌
-
Too general/vague: Merely describes the setting, not the main argument.
-
Paragraph assumes digital context, focuses on mindset change about exactitude.
(B) Big data is obsessed with exactness ❌
-
Direct contradiction: Paragraph says opposite – exactness obsession is from analog era, not big data.
-
“Obsession with exactness is an artefact of the information-deprived analog era.”
(C) Exactitude is not critical in dealing with big data ✅ CORRECT
-
Captures core thesis: “To apply the conventional mindset of measurement… is to miss a crucial point.”
-
Key shift: Sparse data → every point critical → avoid bias. Big data → volume trumps precision.
(D) Sparse data leads to a bias in the analysis ❌
-
Supporting detail, not main point: This explains why exactitude mattered before, not big data’s implication.
-
Secondary evidence supporting (C), not the primary argument.
Introduction: Exactitude Is Not Critical in Dealing with Big Data
The seminal paragraph from Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier’s “Big Data” reveals a paradigm shift: exactitude is not critical in dealing with big data. In the analog era, sparse data made every point precious. Today’s data deluge changes everything – volume beats precision.
Core Argument Breakdown
Paragraph thesis: Traditional exactitude obsession = analog era artifact
Sparse data world → Every data point critical → Exactness essential
Big data world → Data abundance → Exactness less important
Key transition: “Moving into a world of big data will require us to change our thinking about exactitude.”
Why Other Options Fail
| Option | Why Incorrect | Evidence from Text |
|---|---|---|
| (A) Digital world | Background assumption, not argument | “digital, connected world” (setting) |
| (B) Big data obsessed | Contradicts text | “obsession… artefact of analog era“ |
| (D) Sparse data bias | Supporting detail | Explains past mindset, not future |
Big Data Philosophy: Messy > Precise (Small)
Mayer-Schönberger’s radical insight:
-
Small, perfect datasets → brittle analysis
-
Large, messy datasets → robust correlations
-
Exactitude → analog scarcity mindset
-
Approximation → big data strength
Analogy: 100% accurate sample of 100 people
vs 95% accurate sample of 1,000,000 people
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Main point questions test:
-
Author’s primary purpose (not details)
-
Biggest shift/contrast in argument
-
What must change (thinking about exactitude)
Red flags:
-
Too broad/general ❌
-
Direct contradiction ❌
-
Supporting detail ❌
-
Paradigm shift ✅
Modern Applications
Exactitude is not critical enables:
-
Real-time analytics (good enough > perfect)
-
Machine learning (patterns > precision)
-
A/B testing (scale > exactness)
Google processes billions of imperfect searches daily
→ Better results than perfect small-scale analysis
Exam Takeaway
Main point = paradigm shift. When texts contrast old vs new thinking, the answer describes what changes:
Old: Exactitude critical (scarce data)
NEW: Exactitude NOT critical (abundant data)
Answer: (C)
Key Phrase Application: “Exactitude is not critical in dealing with big data” perfectly captures this revolutionary mindset shift from the analog to digital era.
