Welcome back to another post!
Oil and Gasoline
In 1999, the price of oil hovered around $16 a barrel.
In July 2008, it reached a peak of $147 a barrel. In the
months that followed, as fears of a global recession grew,
prices plunged to the $75 a barrel range, a roller coaster
ride that left both producers and consumers confused
and wrung out. Prices were still far higher than they had
been a few years earlier, but oil-producing countries that
had reshaped their economies around the huge influx of
revenues faced a suddenly altered landscape.
Many factors contributed to the long buildup
between 1999 and 2008, including the relentless growth
of the economies of China and India and widespread
instability in oil-producing regions, including Iraq and
Nigeria’s delta region. The triple-digit oil prices that
followed appeared to redraw the economic and political
map of the world, challenging some old notions of power.
Oil-rich nations enjoyed historic gains and opportunities,
whereas major importers — including China and India,
home to a third of the world’s population — confronted
rising economic and social costs.
Managing this new order became a central problem
of global politics. Countries that need oil clawed at each
other to lock up their scarce supplies, and were willing to
deal with any government, no matter how unsavory, to do
it. In many poor nations with oil, much of the proceeds
were lost to corruption, depriving these countries of their
best hope for development. And oil fueled gargantuan
investment funds run by foreign governments, which some
in the West see as a new threat.
Countries like Russia, Venezuela and Iran that were
flush with rising oil revenue saw that change reflected in
newly aggressive foreign policies. But some unexpected
countries reaped benefits, as well as costs, from higher
prices. Consider Germany. Although it imports virtually
all its oil, it has prospered from extensive trade with a
booming Russia and the Middle East. German exports
to Russia grew 128 percent from 2001 to 2006.
The high price of gas became an important issue in
the presidential campaign. Senator John McCain in
particular made energy a focus, proposing to suspend
the gas tax during the summer. He also made fervent
calls to expand domestic drilling for oil, whereas his
opponent, Barack Obama, emphasized the need for
alternative fuels.
The surge in prices hit automakers hard, as sales
of the truck-based models that had been Detroit’s most
profitable product dropped sharply. Mass transit systems
across the country reported a sharp increase in riders.
As prices fell in the fall, the question facing Opec and
car makers alike was whether those shifts would reverse,
as they had in previous downturns, or whether a tipping
point had been reached.
http://topics.nytimes.com/
top/reference/timestopics/subjects/o/
oil_petroleum_and_gasoline/index.html?
scp=1-spot&sq=&st=nyt
01 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
The main purpose of this article is to
(A) report on the impact of high oil prices on the global political
scenario.
(B) denounce the rising social costs that are devastating
oil-rich nations.
(C) convince the world population that there is no possibility
of a global recession.
(D) inform that corruption has been preventing the development
of many poor countries.
(E) complain against the recent economic instability caused
by research on oil derivatives.
02 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
In paragraph 2,
it is said that China and India
(A) produced all of the oil they needed for domestic use.
(B) experienced a period of low economic development after
1999.
(C) represent half of the world population and are major oil
exporters.
(D) were considered unstable oil-producing nations along with
Iraq and Nigeria’s delta region.
(E) have faced increasing expenses in the economic and
social sphere to deal with the rise in oil prices.
03 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
In the sentence
“Countries that need oil clawed at each other
to lock up their scarce supplies,” (lines 22-23),
lock up means
the same as
(A) spoil.
(B) waste.
(C) secure.
(D) use up.
(E) buy out.
04 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
According to paragraph 3 (lines 21-29),
the development of
oil-rich countries did not reach the levels expected because
(A) there was no need to expand their domestic oil production.
(B) they feared the illegal policies of foreign investment funds.
(C) they considered investing in social development a real
threat to prosperity.
(D) their social stability was considered an urgent priority for
the local governments.
(E) government officials were considered corrupt and did not
invest all of the nation’s revenues in its development.
05 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
In paragraph 4 (lines 30-37),
Germany is mentioned because it
(A) has been considered a powerful oil-exporter.
(B) became a threat to Russia, Venezuela and Iran.
(C) was affected by a sharp increase in its oil revenue.
(D) profited from a flourishing commerce with Russia and the
Middle East.
(E) faced a sudden decrease in its oil exports to Russia,
Venezuela and Iran.
06 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
According to paragraph 5 (lines 38-44),
(A) John McCain criticized the intensive oil drilling in the
United States.
(B) Barack Obama considers alternative fuels a necessary
strategy to face the high price of gas.
(C) both John McCain and Barack Obama recommended a
sudden decrease in oil taxes.
(D) both John McCain and Barack Obama consider the
increase in oil prices a minor political issue.
(E) neither John McCain nor Barack Obama came up with
strategies to contain the sudden increase of oil prices.
07 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
The only item where the boldfaced word may be replaced by
while is
(A) “Oil-rich nations enjoyed historic gains and opportunities,
whereas major importers…confronted rising economic
and social costs.” (lines 17-20)
(B) “But some unexpected countries reaped benefits, as well
as costs,” (lines 32-33)
(C) “Although it imports virtually all its oil, it has prospered
from…” (line 34-35)
(D) “He also made fervent calls to expand domestic drilling
for oil,” (line 41-42)
(E) “The surge in prices hit automakers hard, as sales of
truck-based models … dropped sharply.” (lines 45-47)
08 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
Which option contains a correct correspondence of meaning?
(A) “plunged” (line 4) and dropped are synonymous.
(B) “growth” (line 11) and prosperity are antonymous.
(C) “redraw” (line 15) could not be substituted by redefine.
(D) “threat” (line 29) and menace have opposite meanings.
(E) “fell” (line 49) and rose have similar meanings.
09 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
In terms of reference,
it is correct to affirm that
(A) “they” (line 6) refers to “producers and consumers” (line 5).
(B) “these countries” (line 26) refers to “poor nations with oil,”
(line 25).
(C) “that change” (line 31) refers to “newly aggressive foreign
policies.” (line 32).
(D) “He” (line 41) refers to “Barack Obama” (line 43).
(E) “they” (line 51) refers to “car makers” (line 50).
10 – (CESGRANRIO-2009-EPE)
According to the last paragraph (lines 45-52),
a consequence
of the increase in oil prices is the
(A) intensive production of truck-based models worldwide.
(B) increase in car sales motivated by previous campaigns
for alternative fuels.
(C) interest of Opec and car makers in expanding Detroit’s
profitable car industry.
(D) significant rise in the number of users of public
transportation systems all over the U.S.
(E) end of constant shifts in automobile production, according
to announcements of car makers.
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