Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Founded in Oulu, Finland, in 2013 by Petteri Lahtela, Kari Kivelä, and Markku Koskela, Oura Health sought to revolutionize personal well-being by ____X____ precision, comfort, and actionable sleep insights into a wearable device. The company launched its first-generation ring through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and formally debuted the product at the Slush tech conference in 2017. Early recognition followed with awards including Time magazine's 100 Best Inventions of 2020 and Best Consumer Wellness Company from the UCSF Digital Health Awards, especially noting Oura's role in NBA COVID-19 monitoring.
The Oura Ring uses advanced infrared LEDs, combined with sensitive accelerometers and temperature sensors, to track biometric data from the finger. It measures heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, body temperature, and more, offering continuous monitoring with minimal disruption to daily life. Equipped with a 3D accelerometer, the ring is capable of identifying user movement in all directions and uses machine learning to improve recognition of different activities.
Oura Health's funding journey began with a $2.3 million seed round in 2015, followed by additional funding rounds through 2022. By then, its valuation had crossed the $2 billion mark, backed by investors including Temasek, MSD Capital, and Elysian Park Ventures.
Beloved by celebrities such as Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Oura gained a strong cultural profile as a wellness accessory and not just a health gadget. Its precise monitoring of sleep, heart rate, and body temperature helped individuals, from athletes to patients with conditions like Parkinson's disease, make informed health decisions. As one reviewer noted, Oura captures nuanced changes in motion that may be overlooked by other wearables, making it a discreet yet powerful tool for daily well-being.
In addition to personal use, researchers and medical institutions also explored the Oura Ring's potential in clinical studies before 2023. The device was tested in areas such as illness detection, menstrual cycle prediction, and mental health monitoring, reflecting its promise as more than just a lifestyle product. These research applications positioned Oura as a bridge between consumer wellness technology and formal healthcare systems.
Which statement best summarizes the evolution and cultural impact of the Oura Ring as described in the passage?
1.Oura was founded in Silicon Valley in 2015 and became a global leader in smartwatches.
2.Oura focused only on consumer sleep tracking and avoided expansion into other areas.
3.The Oura Ring combined advanced biometric sensors, continuous tracking, funding support, and celebrity adoption, positioning itself as both a scientific tool and a cultural wellness accessory.
4.Oura's market valuation peaked in 2017 after the Kickstarter campaign and declined thereafter.
5.The Oura Ring 4 reduced the number of sensors compared to earlier models to emphasize aesthetics over accuracy.
Correct Answer : 3
Solution :
(a) Incorrect - The passage clearly states Oura was founded in Finland in 2013, not in Silicon Valley in 2015. It also emphasizes that Oura makes rings, not smartwatches.
(b) Incorrect - Oura's evolution went far beyond consumer sleep tracking, expanding into areas like stress monitoring, illness detection, and enterprise health partnerships, which contradicts the claim that it "avoided expansion."
(c) Correct - The passage highlights Oura's journey: integrating advanced sensors (3D accelerometer, PPG, temperature sensors), continuous tracking abilities, major funding rounds, and adoption by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Prince Harry. This dual identity - as both a serious scientific health tool and a cultural wellness accessory - is the best overall summary of its evolution and impact.
(d) Incorrect - Oura's valuation grew significantly in later years (to billions of dollars), not peaked in 2017; the Kickstarter campaign only marked its beginning.
(e) Incorrect - Oura Ring 4 added new sensors and features for better accuracy; it did not reduce them to focus on aesthetics.
Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
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