1) According to this definition, what is rather a database: Your address booklet or the Internet? Discuss in what ways this question matter when choosing whether or not to use database technology.

2) Would you use a database if you needed micro-second response times? Explain your answer. How about guaranteed response times of no more than 1 second?

3) The relative virtues of hierarchical vs. relational systems were discussed extensively in the 1970s, but the question still resurfaces occasionally in the context of hierarchical formats for semi-structured data, like XML. Discuss the motivations for using relational systems rather than hierarchical ones as it applies to structured data, i.e., a logically coherent collection of data that was designed for a purpose.

4) Discuss the role of views in relational database management systems.