- Texto (1) | China’s Communist Party at 100 | www.economist.com |
- Texto (2) | Stormy weather | Natural History |
- 15 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) | Five-Option Question |
CHINA’S COMMUNIST PARTY AT 100
Partido Comunista da China faz 100 anos
[1º PARÁGRAFO]
One party has ruled China for 72 years, without a mandate from voters.
Um partido governou a China por 72 anos, sem um mandato dos eleitores.
Isso não é um recorde mundial.
Lenin and his dismal heirs held power in Moscow for slightly longer, as has the Workers’ Party in North Korea.
Lenin e seus sombrios [sinistros] herdeiros mantiveram o poder em Moscou por um pouco mais de tempo, assim como o Partido dos Trabalhadores na Coreia do Norte.
But no other dictatorship has been able to transform itself from a famine-racked [assolado pela fome] disaster, as China was under Mao Zedong, into the world’s second-largest economy, whose cutting-edge [da vanguarda] technology and infrastructure put America’s decaying roads and railways to shame.
Mas nenhuma outra ditadura conseguiu se transformar de um desastre assolado pela fome, como a China foi sob Mao Zedong, na segunda maior economia do mundo, cuja tecnologia e infraestrutura de ponta [da vanguarda] envergonham as decadentes estradas e ferrovias dos Estados Unidos.
China’s Communists are the world’s most successful authoritarians.
Os comunistas da China são os autoritários mais bem-sucedidos do mundo.
[2º PARÁGRAFO]
O Partido Comunista Chinês conseguiu manter seu controle sobre o poder por três razões.
First, it is ruthless.
Primeiro, é implacável [cruel].
Sim, ele demorou para esmagar os protestos na Praça da Paz Celestial em 1989.
Mas no final, ele respondeu aos manifestantes com balas, aterrorizando o país até a submissão.
[3º PARÁGRAFO]
Os atuais líderes da China não mostram nenhum sinal de arrependimento sobre o massacre.
On the contrary, President Xi Xinping laments that the Soviet Union collapsed because its leaders were not “man enough to stand up and resist” at the critical moment.
Pelo contrário, o presidente Xi Xinping lamenta que a União Soviética colapsou porque seus líderes não foram "homens o suficiente para se levantar e resistir" no momento crítico.
For which read: unlike us, they did not have the guts [coragem] to slaughter unarmed protesters with machine-guns.
Leia-se: diferentemente de nós, eles não tiveram coragem de massacrar manifestantes desarmados com metralhadoras.
[4º PARÁGRAFO]
A second reason for the party’s longevity is its ideological agility.
Uma segunda razão para a longevidade do partido é sua agilidade ideológica.
Within a couple of years of Mao’s death in 1976, a new leader, Deng Xiaoping, began abandoning the late chairman’s productivity-destroying “people’s communes” and setting market forces to work in the countryside.
Poucos anos após a morte de Mao em 1976, um novo líder, Deng Xiaoping, começou a abandonar as "comunas populares" destruidoras de produtividade do falecido presidente e a colocar as forças do mercado para trabalhar no campo [zona rural].
Maoists complained, but production soared.
Os maoístas reclamaram, mas a produção disparou.
In the aftermath of Tiananmen and the Soviet Union’s downfall, Deng fought off Maoist diehards and embraced capitalism with even greater fervor.
Após a queda da Praça da Paz Celestial e da União Soviética, Deng lutou contra os maoístas fanáticos[de linha-dura] e abraçou o capitalismo com ainda mais fervor.
This led to the closure of many state-owned firms and the privatization of housing.
Isso levou ao fechamento de muitas empresas estatais e à privatização da habitação.
Millions were laid off, but China boomed.
Milhões foram demitidos, mas a China prosperou.
[5º PARÁGRAFO]
Sob o Sr. Xi, o partido mudou novamente, para se concentrar na ortodoxia ideológica.
Seus antecessores recentes permitiram uma medida de dissidência moderada; ele a esmagou.
Mao is lauded once more.
Mao é elogiado [lovado] mais uma vez.
Party cadres study “Xi Xinping thought.”
Os quadros do partido estudam o "pensamento de Xi Xinping".
A burocracia, o exército e a polícia passaram por expurgos de funcionários corruptos e desviantes.
As grandes empresas estão sendo colocadas na linha.
Mr. Xi has rebuilt the party at the grassroots, creating a network of neighborhood spies and injecting cadres into private firms to watch over them.
O Sr. Xi reconstruiu o partido na base, criando uma rede de espiões de bairro e injetando quadros em empresas privadas para vigiá-las.
Not since Mao’s day has society been so tightly controlled.
Desde os dias de Mao, a sociedade nunca foi tão rigidamente controlada.
[6º PARÁGRAFO]
The third cause of the party’s success is that China did not turn into a straightforward [pura, aberta] kleptocracy in which wealth is sucked up exclusively by the well-connected.
A terceira causa do sucesso do partido é que a China não se transformou em uma cleptocracia direta [pura, aberta] na qual a riqueza é sugada exclusivamente pelos bem relacionados.
Corruption did become rampant [desmedida, galopante], and the most powerful families are indeed super-rich.
A corrupção se tornou desenfreada [desmedida, galopante], e as famílias mais poderosas são de fato super-ricas.
But many people felt their lives were improving too, and the party was astute enough to acknowledge their demands.
Mas muitas pessoas sentiram que suas vidas também estavam melhorando, e o partido foi astuto o suficiente para reconhecer suas demandas.
It abolished rural taxes and created a welfare system that provides everyone with pensions and subsidized health care.
Ele aboliu os impostos rurais e criou uma previdência social que fornece a todos pensões e assistência médica subsidiada.
Os benefícios não eram abundantes, mas eram apreciados.
[7º PARÁGRAFO]
Over the years Western observers have found plenty of reasons to predict the collapse of Chinese communism.
Ao longo dos anos, observadores ocidentais encontraram muitas razões para prever o colapso do comunismo chinês.
Surely the control required by a one-party state was incompatible with the freedom required by a modern economy?
Certamente o controle exigido por um estado de partido único era incompatível com a liberdade exigida por uma economia moderna?
Um dia, o crescimento econômico da China deve perder força, levando à desilusão e aos protestos.
And, if it did not, the vast middle class that such a growth created would inevitably demand greater freedoms – especially because so many of their children had encountered democracy first-hand, when they got their education in the West.
E, se não o fizesse, a vasta classe média que tal crescimento criou, inevitavelmente exigiria maiores liberdades — especialmente porque muitos de seus filhos encontraram a democracia em primeira mão, quando receberam educação no Ocidente.
[8º PARÁGRAFO]
These predictions have been confounded by the Communist Party’s continuing popularity.
Essas previsões foram confundidas pela popularidade contínua do Partido Comunista.
Many Chinese credit it for the improvement in their livelihoods.
Muitos chineses atribuem a ele a melhoria em seus meios de subsistência [sustentos, meios de vida].
True, China’s workforce is ageing, shrinking, and accustomed to ridiculously early retirement, but those are the sorts of difficulties every government faces, authoritarian or not.
É verdade que a força de trabalho da China está envelhecendo, encolhendo e acostumada a uma aposentadoria ridiculamente precoce, mas esses são os tipos de dificuldades que todo governo enfrenta, autoritário ou não.
O crescimento econômico vigoroso parece que continuará por algum tempo ainda.
- Adapted from The Economist, June 26 – July 2, 2021.
16 – With respect to China’s development, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) The Communist Party destroyed the legitimate, democratic government of China 72 years ago.
(B) Ironically, if the Communists were not in control of the government of China, that country would never have achieved such spectacular economic growth.
(C) Though the U.S. is a richer country, certain parts of the transportation system of China are far superior.
(D) No other national economy in history has grown so fast in such a short time as has China’s.
(E) At present, no other government in the world has been so successful in such a short time as has the government of Communist China.
• Gabarito C
With respect to China’s development, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
Relativamente ao desenvolvimento da China, a informação contida no artigo apoia qual das seguintes opções?
(A) The Communist Party destroyed the legitimate, democratic government of China 72 years ago.
(O Partido Comunista destruiu o governo legítimo e democrático da China há 72 anos.)
(B) Ironically, if the Communists were not in control of the government of China, that country would never have achieved such spectacular economic growth.
(Ironicamente, se os comunistas não estivessem no controle do governo da China, este país nunca teria alcançado um crescimento económico tão espectacular.)
(C) Though the U.S. is a richer country, certain parts of the transportation system of China are far superior.
(Embora os EUA sejam um país mais rico, certas partes do sistema de transportes da China são muito superiores.)
➭ CORRETA conforme o trecho:
➭ into the world’s second-largest economy, whose cutting-edge technology and infrastructure put America’s decaying roads and railways to shame.
(cuja tecnologia de ponta e infra-estruturas envergonham as decadentes estradas e ferrovias dos Estados Unidos.)
➭ CUTTING-EDGE – DE PONTA, VANGUARDISTA, INOVATIVA.
➭ FAR SUPERIOR – MUITO SUPERIOR, LARGAMENTE SUPERIOR.
➭ DECAYING – DECADENTE, DEGRADADA.
(D) No other national economy in history has grown so fast in such a short time as has China’s.
(Nenhuma outra economia nacional na história cresceu tão rapidamente em tão pouco tempo como a da China.)
(E) At present, no other government in the world has been so successful in such a short time as has the government of Communist China.
(Atualmente, nenhum outro governo no mundo teve tanto sucesso em tão pouco tempo quanto o governo da China comunista.)
17 – With respect to China’s socio-political situation, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) During its 100 years of existence in China, the Communist Party has held uncontested political power in most regions of that country.
(B) After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, most experts believed that China’s Communist system would collapse. (C) After the death of Mao Zedong, the people of China entered a period in which they enjoyed relatively more ideological freedom than they enjoy now.
(D) Despite China’s spectacular economic success under Xi Xinping, corruption among Communist Party officials has spiraled out.
(E) China’s Communist Party has remained vigorous and successful only because it has become less and less Communist.
• Gabarito C
Relativamente à situação sócio-política da China, a informação contida no artigo apoia qual das seguintes opções?
(A) During its 100 years of existence in China, the Communist Party has held uncontested political power in most regions of that country.
(Durante os seus 100 anos de existência na China, o Partido Comunista deteve um poder político incontestado na maior parte das regiões do país.)
(B) After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, most experts believed that China’s Communist system would collapse.
(Após a morte de Mao Zedong, em 1976, a maioria dos especialistas acreditava que o sistema comunista chinês entraria em colapso.)
(C) After the death of Mao Zedong, the people of China entered a period in which they enjoyed relatively more ideological freedom than they enjoy now.
(Após a morte de Mao Zedong, o povo chinês entrou num período em que gozava de uma liberdade ideológica relativamente maior do que a atual.)
➭ CORRETA conforme o trecho (4º parágrafo):
➭ A second reason for the party’s longevity is its ideological agility. Within a couple of years of Mao’s death in 1976, a new leader, Deng Xiaoping, began abandoning the late chairman’s productivity-destroying “people’s communes” and setting market forces to work in the countryside. Maoists complained, but production soared. In the aftermath of Tiananmen and the Soviet Union’s downfall, Deng fought off Maoist diehards [da linha-dura] and embraced capitalism with even greater fervor. This led to the closure of many state-owned firms and the privatization of housing. Millions were laid off, but China boomed.
(D) Despite China’s spectacular economic success under Xi Xinping, corruption among Communist Party officials has spiraled out.
(Apesar do espectacular sucesso econômico da China sob a liderança de Xi Xinping, a corrupção entre os funcionários do Partido Comunista aumentou.)
(E) China’s Communist Party has remained vigorous and successful only because it has become less and less Communist.
(O Partido Comunista da China manteve-se vigoroso e bem sucedido apenas porque se tornou cada vez menos comunista.)
18 – With respect to the 1989 incident in Tiananmen Square, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) It is not unreasonable to presume that if China’s Communist leaders are sorry about the massacre at Tiananmen Square, they are keeping that sentiment well hidden.
(B) In terms of pure brutality, no other Communist government, past or present, has ever surpassed the Chinese government’s reaction to the Tiananmen Square protesters.
(C) If the government of the Soviet Union had been willing to use measures similar to those the Chinese government used at Tiananmen Square, it would surely still be in power.
(D) China’s Communist government could only employ such extreme measures at Tiananmen Square because human life is worth very little in China.
(E) China’s Communist leaders used Mao Zedong’s famous dictum – “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” – to justify the extreme measures used against the Tiananmen Square protesters.
• Gabarito A
With respect to the 1989 incident in Tiananmen Square, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
Relativamente ao incidente de 1989 na Praça de Tiananmen, a informação contida no artigo apoia qual das seguintes opções?
(A) It is not unreasonable to presume that if China’s Communist leaders are sorry about the massacre at Tiananmen Square, they are keeping that sentiment well hidden.
(Não é descabido presumir que, se os dirigentes comunistas chineses estão arrependidos do massacre da Praça de Tiananmen, estão a manter esse sentimento bem escondido.)
(B) In terms of pure brutality, no other Communist government, past or present, has ever surpassed the Chinese government’s reaction to the Tiananmen Square protesters.
(Em termos de pura brutalidade, nenhum outro governo comunista, passado ou presente, ultrapassou alguma vez a reação do governo chinês aos manifestantes da Praça de Tiananmen.)
(C) If the government of the Soviet Union had been willing to use measures similar to those the Chinese government used at Tiananmen Square, it would surely still be in power.
(Se o governo da União Soviética tivesse estado disposto a utilizar medidas semelhantes às que o governo chinês utilizou na Praça de Tiananmen, certamente ainda estaria no poder.)
(D) China’s Communist government could only employ such extreme measures at Tiananmen Square because human life is worth very little in China.
(O Governo comunista da China só pôde adotar medidas tão extremas na Praça de Tiananmen porque a vida humana vale muito pouco na China.)
(E) China’s Communist leaders used Mao Zedong’s famous dictum – “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” – to justify the extreme measures used against the Tiananmen Square protesters.
(Os líderes comunistas chineses utilizaram a famosa frase de Mao Tse Tung - "O poder político nasce do cano de uma arma". - para justificar as medidas extremas adotadas contra os manifestantes da Praça de Tiananmen.)
19 – Which of the following is most likely an irony supported by the information in the article?
(A) By refusing to abandon its core Communist principles, the Soviet Union guaranteed its own destruction.
(B) Only by abandoning its core Communist principles could China become a rich country.
(C) Although Xi Xinping is less famous and less powerful than Mao Zedong, he must be considered a more successful and more significant leader.
(D) History shows that in Communist China, ignoring market forces and embracing market forces both caused suffering for many people.
(E) Communism only works effectively when it is transformed into capitalism.
• Gabarito D
Which of the following is most likely an irony supported by the information in the article?
Qual das seguintes opções é mais provavelmente uma ironia apoiada pela informação contida no artigo?
(A) By refusing to abandon its core Communist principles, the Soviet Union guaranteed its own destruction.
(Ao recusar-se a abandonar os seus princípios comunistas fundamentais, a União Soviética garantiu a sua própria destruição.)
(B) Only by abandoning its core Communist principles could China become a rich country.
(Só abandonando os seus princípios comunistas fundamentais é que a China poderia tornar-se um país rico.)
(C) Although Xi Xinping is less famous and less powerful than Mao Zedong, he must be considered a more successful and more significant leader.
(Embora Xi Xinping seja menos famoso e menos poderoso do que Mao Zedong, deve ser considerado um líder mais bem sucedido e mais significativo.)
(D) History shows that in Communist China, ignoring market forces and embracing market forces both caused suffering for many people.
(A história mostra que, na China comunista, tanto ignorar as forças de mercado como adotar as forças de mercado causaram sofrimento a muitas pessoas.)
(E) Communism only works effectively when it is transformed into capitalism.
(O comunismo só funciona efectivamente quando se transforma em capitalismo.)
20 – In the first sentence of paragraph 5, the phrase “Under Mr. Xi the party has shifted again…”
is most likely connected to which of the following statements?
(A) Xi Xinping has aggressively maintained certain innovative economic policies that were introduced during the mandate of Deng Xiaoping.
(B) Like his predecessors, President Xi Xinping never lets economic necessity compromise the Communist Party’s commitment to its core values.
(C) The recent focus on ideological orthodoxy is a fundamental part of a campaign to establish Xi Xinping as the unquestioned source of all correct Communist thought.
(D) Before the advent of Xi Xinping, it was unthinkable that the Communist Party would aggressively persecute deviant or corrupt army and police officers.
(E) His willingness to change the Communist Party’s policies shows that Xi Xinping is, in a sense, a traditionalist.
• Gabarito E
In the first sentence of paragraph 5, the phrase “Under Mr. Xi the party has shifted again…”
is most likely connected to which of the following statements?
Na primeira frase do parágrafo 5, a frase "Sob o comando do Sr. Xi, o partido mudou novamente..."
está mais provavelmente relacionada com qual das seguintes afirmações?
(A) Xi Xinping has aggressively maintained certain innovative economic policies that were introduced during the mandate of Deng Xiaoping.
(Xi Xinping tem mantido agressivamente certas políticas econômicas inovadoras que foram introduzidas durante o mandato de Deng Xiaoping.)
(B) Like his predecessors, President Xi Xinping never lets economic necessity compromise the Communist Party’s commitment to its core values.
(Tal como os seus antecessores, o Presidente Xi Xinping nunca permite que as necessidades económicas comprometam o empenho do Partido Comunista nos seus valores fundamentais.)
(C) The recent focus on ideological orthodoxy is a fundamental part of a campaign to establish Xi Xinping as the unquestioned source of all correct Communist thought.
(O recente enfoque na ortodoxia ideológica é uma parte fundamental de uma campanha para estabelecer Xi Xinping como a fonte inquestionável de todo o pensamento comunista correcto.)
(D) Before the advent of Xi Xinping, it was unthinkable that the Communist Party would aggressively persecute deviant or corrupt army and police officers.
(Antes do advento de Xi Xinping, era impensável que o Partido Comunista perseguisse agressivamente oficiais do exército e da polícia desviantes ou corruptos.)
(E) His willingness to change the Communist Party’s policies shows that Xi Xinping is, in a sense, a traditionalist.
(A sua vontade de mudar as políticas do Partido Comunista mostra que Xi Xinping é, de certa forma, um tradicionalista.)
21 – The information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) Despite appearances to the contrary, not all the super-rich families in China owe their wealth to corruption.
(B) Although it has not ended inequality, the Communist Party has, in a sense, successfully bought the favorable opinion of a large portion of the Chinese people.
(C) It would be inaccurate to call China a dictatorship, since the majority of the people clearly support the government and its policies.
(D) Although corruption has led to increased inequality in China, it has undeniably benefited, in one way or another, most of the Chinese people.
(E) In order to preserve the advantages and status of China’s elite minority, the Communist Party has brutally repressed all dissenting opinions and deviant thought.
• Gabarito B
The information in the article most supports which of the following?
A informação contida no artigo apoia qual das seguintes opções?
(A) Despite appearances to the contrary, not all the super-rich families in China owe their wealth to corruption.
(Apesar das aparências em contrário, nem todas as famílias super-ricas da China devem a sua riqueza à corrupção.)
(B) Although it has not ended inequality, the Communist Party has, in a sense, successfully bought the favorable opinion of a large portion of the Chinese people.
(Embora não tenha acabado com a desigualdade, o Partido Comunista conseguiu, de certa forma, comprar a opinião favorável de uma grande parte do povo chinês.)
(C) It would be inaccurate to call China a dictatorship, since the majority of the people clearly support the government and its policies.
(Seria impreciso chamar à China uma ditadura, uma vez que a maioria da população apoia claramente o governo e as suas políticas.)
(D) Although corruption has led to increased inequality in China, it has undeniably benefited, in one way or another, most of the Chinese people.
(Embora a corrupção tenha conduzido a um aumento das desigualdades na China, é inegável que beneficiou, de uma forma ou de outra, a maioria do povo chinês.)
(E) In order to preserve the advantages and status of China’s elite minority, the Communist Party has brutally repressed all dissenting opinions and deviant thought.
(A fim de preservar as vantagens e o status da elite minoritária da China, o Partido Comunista reprimiu brutalmente todas as opiniões divergentes e pensamentos desviantes.)
22 – In paragraph 7, “it” in the phrase “And, if it did not…” most likely refers to the
(A) economic growth of China.
(B) Chinese Communist Party.
(C) collapse of Chinese communism.
(D) collapse of China’s economy.
(E) loyalty of China’s vast middle class.
• Gabarito A
In paragraph 7, “it” in the phrase “And, if it did not…” most likely refers to the
(A) economic growth of China.
(B) Chinese Communist Party.
(C) collapse of Chinese communism.
(D) collapse of China’s economy.
(E) loyalty of China’s vast middle class.
➭ IT refere-se à 'China’s economic growth'.
➭ One day China’s economic growth must run out of steam, leading to disillusion and protests. And, if it did not, the vast middle class that such a growth created would inevitably demand greater freedoms – especially because so many of their children had encountered democracy first-hand, when they got their education in the West.
(Um dia, o crescimento econômico da China terá de perder o fôlego, levando à desilusão e aos protestos. E, se ele (= o crescimento econômico da China) não acontecesse, a vasta classe média que esse crescimento criou exigiria inevitavelmente mais liberdades - especialmente porque muitos dos seus filhos tinham conhecido a democracia em primeira mão, quando receberam a sua educação no Ocidente.)
(A) provide arguments supporting the idea that China’s economic supremacy will be long-lasting.
(B) point out some of the Chinese economy’s unique strengths and weaknesses.
(C) summarize China’s model of authoritarian economic planning.
(D) identify characteristics that China’s economy shares with other major economies.
(E) come to a reasonably well-balanced conclusion about the future of China’s economy.
• Gabarito E
The main purpose of the last paragraph is most likely to
O objetivo principal do último parágrafo é, muito provavelmente de
(A) provide arguments supporting the idea that China’s economic supremacy will be long-lasting.
(APRESENTAR argumentos que sustentem a ideia de que a supremacia econômica da China será duradoura.)
➭ TO PROVIDE - FORNECER, PROPORCIONAR, APRESENTAR, PROVIDENCIAR.
➭ LONG-LASTING - DURADOURO, DURÁVEL, PERSISTENTE.
(B) point out some of the Chinese economy’s unique strengths and weaknesses.
(DESTACAR alguns dos pontos fortes e fracos únicos da economia chinesa.)
➭ STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES - PONTOS FORTES E FRACOS.
(C) summarize China’s model of authoritarian economic planning.
(RESUMIR o modelo de planeamento econômico autoritário da China.)
(D) identify characteristics that China’s economy shares with other major economies.
(identificar características que a economia chinesa partilha com outras grandes economias.)
(E) come to a reasonably well-balanced conclusion about the future of China’s economy.
(chegar a uma conclusão razoavelmente equilibrada sobre o futuro da economia chinesa.)
❑ TEXTO 2: Texto para as perguntas de 24 a 30.
Mau Tempo
[1º PARÁGRAFO]
On earth, weather is defined, for the most part, by atmospheric wind (direction and velocity), water (precipitation and humidity), and temperature.
Na Terra, define-se o clima, em grande parte, pelo vento atmosférico (direção e velocidade), água (precipitação e umidade) e temperatura.
These elements are never in a steady state, and intermittently their level of activity – individually or collectively – can become violent.
Esses elementos nunca estão em um estado estável e, intermitentemente, seu nível de atividade — individual ou coletivamente — pode se tornar violento.
The giant blob of plasma that Earth orbits also has its mood swings.
A bolha gigante de plasma que a Terra orbita também tem suas oscilações de humor.
When activity on the Sun becomes violent, solar flares fling radiation at the speed of light in all directions, and clouds of plasma break away [se separam], traveling at up to 7 million miles per hour.
Quando a atividade no Sol se torna violenta, as explosões solares arremessam radiação na velocidade da luz em todas as direções, e nuvens de plasma se separam, viajando em até 7 milhões de milhas por hora.
Radiation can reach Earth’s atmosphere in eight minutes, and plasma clouds follow in a matter of hours.
A radiação pode atingir a atmosfera terrestre em 8 minutos, e as nuvens de plasma seguem em questão de horas.
[2º PARÁGRAFO]
Storms come and go on both spheres, with varying degrees of impact.
Tempestades vêm e vão em ambas as esferas, com vários graus de impacto.
Meteorologists, with their measuring instruments and computer models, can forecast most Earthly weather events in time to forewarn [avisar antecipadamente] the public of impending catastrophes.
Meteorologistas, com seus instrumentos de medição e modelos de computador, podem prever a maioria dos eventos climáticos terrestres a tempo de avisar [avisar antecipadamente] o público sobre catástrofes iminentes.
Solar events are less predictable.
Eventos solares são menos previsíveis.
[3º PARÁGRAFO]
The Sun can have storms of sufficient magnitude that plasma shock waves affect Earth’s magnetic field, creating a violent distortion called a “geomagnetic storm” that can last six to twelve hours.
O Sol pode ter tempestades de magnitude suficiente para que ondas de choque de plasma afetem o campo magnético da Terra, criando uma distorção violenta chamada de "tempestade geomagnética" que pode durar de seis a doze horas.
According to a 2015 BBC report, “the rapidly changing magnetic field generates an electrical current in any conductive material near the ground, including telephone and power lines, undersea cables, and oil and gas pipelines.
De acordo com uma reportagem da BBC de 2015, "o campo magnético em rápida mudança gera uma corrente elétrica em qualquer material condutor próximo ao solo, incluindo linhas telefônicas e de energia, cabos submarinos e oleodutos e gasodutos.
Once the electrical surges reach the power grid, they overload transformers and trip their circuit breakers, causing widespread blackouts.”
Uma vez que os surtos elétricos atingem a rede elétrica, eles sobrecarregam transformadores e acionam seus disjuntores, causando apagões generalizados.
Such an event happened in 1989, knocking out power for the entire Canadian province of Quebec for twelve hours.
Tal evento aconteceu em 1989, cortando a energia de toda a província canadense de Quebec por doze horas.
In 1859, a “blaze lit the heavens…visible from Hawaii to London…caused by a super-explosion on the Sun, equivalent to ten billion atomic bombs.
Em 1859, um "incêndio iluminou os céus... visível do Havaí a Londres... causado por uma superexplosão no Sol, equivalente a dez bilhões de bombas atômicas.
In our solar system, it was the biggest stellar outburst of the last 500 years.”
Em nosso sistema solar, foi a maior explosão estelar dos últimos 500 anos.
The blast was three times the size of the one in 1989.
A explosão foi três vezes maior que a de 1989.
If one that size were to occur today, according to a UK government report, it “would likely cause unprecedented chaos.
Se uma desse tamanho ocorresse hoje, de acordo com um relatório do governo do Reino Unido, ela “provavelmente causaria um caos sem precedentes.
It would disrupt satellite communications and GPS navigation, and trigger [causar, iniciar] global blackouts lasting up to a year.”
Ela interromperia as comunicações via satélite e a navegação por GPS, e desencadearia [causar, iniciar] apagões globais com duração de até um ano.”
[4º PARÁGRAFO]
“Today, scientists know when a storm is headed toward us, but it’s impossible to predict where on Earth it will hit hardest,” according to a 2016 University of Michigan report.
"Hoje, os cientistas sabem quando uma tempestade está se dirigindo para nós, mas é impossível prever onde na Terra ela atingirá com mais força”, de acordo com um relatório de 2016 da Universidade de Michigan.
In October 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center began using a geospace forecast model – developed by researchers at the University of Michigan and Rice University – that can “give unique data for each 350-squaremile plot [pedaço] of Earth, and up to 45 minutes before a solar storm hits.”
Em outubro de 2016, o Centro de Previsão do Clima Espacial da Administração Oceânica e Atmosférica Nacional começou a usar um modelo de previsão geoespacial — desenvolvido por pesquisadores da Universidade de Michigan e da Universidade Rice — que pode “fornecer dados exclusivos para cada parcela de 350 milhas quadradas [pedaço] da Terra, e até 45 minutos antes de uma tempestade solar atingir”.
It may be enough time for utility companies and satellite operators to “limit damage to their systems by shutting off key components.”
Pode ser tempo suficiente para as empresas de serviços públicos e operadoras de satélite “limitarem os danos aos seus sistemas desligando componentes-chave”.
- Adapted from Natural History, February 2018
24 – With respect to Earth and the Sun, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) Although less destructive, the weather elements on Earth are more unstable than the weather elements on the Sun.
(B) Earthly weather may be defined by more than wind, water, and temperature.
(C) At any given moment, the entire Earth can be bombarded with deadly solar radiation.
(D) Violent weather activity on the Sun is more common and more extreme than violent weather activity on Earth.
(E) Because of its unique composition, the Sun is more susceptible than Earth to violent activity.
• Gabarito B
With respect to Earth and the Sun, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
Em relação à Terra e ao Sol, qual das seguintes afirmações, o artigo corrobora?
(A) Although less destructive, the weather elements on Earth are more unstable than the weather elements on the Sun.
Embora menos destrutivos, os elementos climáticos da Terra são mais instáveis do que os do Sol.
(B) Earthly weather may be defined by more than wind, water, and temperature.
O clima terrestre pode ser definido por mais do que o vento, a água e a temperatura.
Em qualquer momento, toda a Terra pode ser bombardeada com radiação solar mortífera.
(D) Violent weather activity on the Sun is more common and more extreme than violent weather activity on Earth.
A atividade climática violenta no Sol é mais comum e mais extrema do que a atividade climática violenta na Terra.
(E) Because of its unique composition, the Sun is more susceptible than Earth to violent activity.
Devido à sua composição única, o Sol é mais suscetível do que a Terra à atividade violenta.
25 – The information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) Radiation emitted from a point equidistant from Earth and the Sun will reach the surface of the Sun before it reaches the surface of Earth.
(B) When solar flares fling radiation at Earth’s surface, this radiation drags plasma clouds along with it.
(C) Solar flares and plasma clouds can seriously destabilize the three defining elements of Earth’s weather.
(D) The advanced technology available to meteorologists does not enable them to predict Earthly weather events and solar events with equal accuracy.
(E) Fortunately, extreme Earthly weather events no longer surprise meteorologists with unexpected destructive intensity.
• Gabarito D
The information in the article most supports which of the following?
A informação contida no artigo corrobora qual das seguintes afirmações?
(A) Radiation emitted from a point equidistant from Earth and the Sun will reach the surface of the Sun before it reaches the surface of Earth.
A radiação emitida a partir de um ponto equidistante da Terra e do Sol atingirá a superfície solar antes de atingir a superfície terrestre.
(B) When solar flares fling radiation at Earth’s surface, this radiation drags plasma clouds along with it.
Quando as erupções solares lançam radiação na superfície terrestre, essa radiação arrasta consigo nuvens de plasma.
(C) Solar flares and plasma clouds can seriously destabilize the three defining elements of Earth’s weather.
As explosões solares e as nuvens de plasma podem desestabilizar gravemente os três elementos que definem o clima da Terra.
(D) The advanced technology available to meteorologists does not enable them to predict Earthly weather events and solar events with equal accuracy.
A tecnologia avançada ao dispor dos meteorologistas não lhes permite prever os eventos climáticos terrestres e solares com a mesma precisão.
(E) Fortunately, extreme Earthly weather events no longer surprise meteorologists with unexpected destructive intensity.
Felizmente, os eventos climáticos extremos na Terra já não surpreendem os meteorologistas com uma intensidade destrutiva inesperada.
26 – The “violent distortion” mentioned in paragraph 3 is most likely connected to which of the following?
(A) It always begins and ends on the same day.
(B) It probably will not affect airborne material located at a great distance from Earth’s surface.
(C) By modifying Earth’s magnetic field, it generates a huge electrical charge that, fortunately, standard technology can easily control.
(D) It is the end result of a chain reaction set off by the plasma shock waves emanating from an intense solar storm.
(E) It begins on the Sun as a huge “geomagnetic storm” that soon sets off a chain reaction affecting Earth’s magnetic field.
• Gabarito B
The “violent distortion” mentioned in paragraph 3 is most likely connected to which of the following?
A “distorção violenta” mencionada no parágrafo 3 está provavelmente relacionada com qual das seguintes situações?
(A) It always begins and ends on the same day.
Começa e acaba sempre no mesmo dia.
(B) It probably will not affect airborne material located at a great distance from Earth’s surface.
Provavelmente não afetará o material em suspensão no ar localizado a uma grande distância da superfície da Terra.
(C) By modifying Earth’s magnetic field, it generates a huge electrical charge that, fortunately, standard technology can easily control.
Ao modificar o campo magnético da Terra, gera uma enorme carga elétrica que, felizmente, a tecnologia padrão pode facilmente controlar.
(D) It is the end result of a chain reaction set off by the plasma shock waves emanating from an intense solar storm.
É o resultado final de uma reação em cadeia desencadeada[detonada] pelas ondas de choque de plasma emanadas de uma intensa tempestade solar.
(E) It begins on the Sun as a huge “geomagnetic storm” that soon sets off a chain reaction affecting Earth’s magnetic field.
Começa no Sol como uma enorme “tempestade geomagnética” que logo desencadeia uma reação em cadeia que afeta o campo magnético terrestre.
27 – According to the information in the article, in 1989
(A) Canada came close to experiencing a nationwide blackout caused by violent solar activity.
(B) A massive plasma cloud struck Earth with such force that it threatened to cause extensive blackouts in the Canadian province of Quebec.
(C) The Canadian province of Quebec suffered from an extreme technical event resulting from an extreme natural event.
(D) Fortunately for Canada, the plasma shock waves that hit the entire country prejudiced only the province of Quebec’s energy supply.
(E) A quick reaction from technicians, together with an adequate response from well-designed equipment, helped block the full destructive power of the plasma shock waves that struck the Canadian province of Quebec.
• Gabarito C
According to the information in the article, in 1989
De acordo com a informação do artigo, em 1989
(A) Canada came close to experiencing a nationwide blackout caused by violent solar activity.
o Canadá quase sofreu um apagão nacional provocado por uma violenta atividade solar.
(B) A massive plasma cloud struck Earth with such force that it threatened to cause extensive blackouts in the Canadian province of Quebec.
Uma enorme nuvem de plasma atingiu a Terra com tanta força que ameaçou provocar apagões generalizados na província canadiana do Quebeque.
(C) The Canadian province of Quebec suffered from an extreme technical event resulting from an extreme natural event.
A província canadiana do Quebeque sofreu um evento técnico extremo resultante de um evento natural extremo.
(D) Fortunately for Canada, the plasma shock waves that hit the entire country prejudiced only the province of Quebec’s energy supply.
Felizmente para o Canadá, as ondas de choque de plasma que atingiram todo o país apenas prejudicaram o fornecimento de energia da província do Quebeque.
(E) A quick reaction from technicians, together with an adequate response from well-designed equipment, helped block the full destructive power of the plasma shock waves that struck the Canadian province of Quebec.
Uma reação rápida dos técnicos, juntamente com uma resposta adequada de equipamento bem concebido, ajudou a bloquear todo o poder destrutivo das ondas de choque de plasma que atingiram a província canadiana do Quebeque.
28 – Considering the information in the article, what can you most likely conclude about the solar-related event that took place 1859?
(A) It was probably not as disruptive to global activity as it would be if it happened today.
(B) No solar explosion before or since has ever equaled the magnitude of that particular stellar outburst.
(C) It was a solar explosion of such power that it turned day into night for the region of the globe from Hawaii to London.
(D) It showered the entire globe with radioactive particles.
(E) If it occurred today, its disastrous consequences would affect all Earthly regions with equal severity.
• Gabarito A
Considering the information in the article, what can you most likely conclude about the solar-related event that took place 1859?
Considerando a informação do artigo, o que poderá provavelmente concluir sobre o evento solar ocorrido em 1859?
(A) It was probably not as disruptive to global activity as it would be if it happened today.
Provavelmente não foi tão prejudicial para a atividade global como seria se acontecesse hoje.
(B) No solar explosion before or since has ever equaled the magnitude of that particular stellar outburst.
Nenhuma explosão solar, antes ou depois, igualou a magnitude dessa explosão estelar específica.
(C) It was a solar explosion of such power that it turned day into night for the region of the globe from Hawaii to London.
Foi uma explosão solar de tal poder que transformou o dia em noite na região do globo, do Havai a Londres.
(D) It showered the entire globe with radioactive particles.
Ela cobriu todo o globo com partículas radioativas.
(E) If it occurred today, its disastrous consequences would affect all Earthly regions with equal severity.
Se ocorresse hoje, as suas consequências nefastas afetariam todas as regiões da Terra com a mesma gravidade.
29 – With respect to solar storms and their effects, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
(A) At present, the only information of which scientists can be sure is that a solar storm is or is not headed toward Earth.
(B) Scientists are only beginning to understand the direct impact that solar storms have on Earthly weather.
(C) Although solar storms are defined by far fewer elements than are Earthly storms, they are much harder to predict.
(D) In the days before human society’s heavy dependence on electrical energy, solar storms attracted little attention in the world’s scientific community.
(E) Although scientists have determined the speed of solar radiation, the speed of plasma clouds appears to be variable.
• Gabarito E
With respect to solar storms and their effects, the information in the article most supports which of the following?
Em relação às tempestades solares e aos seus efeitos, a informação contida no artigo corrobora qual das seguintes afirmações?
(A) At present, the only information of which scientists can be sure is that a solar storm is or is not headed toward Earth.
Atualmente, a única informação de que os cientistas podem ter a certeza é se uma tempestade solar se dirige ou não para a Terra.
(B) Scientists are only beginning to understand the direct impact that solar storms have on Earthly weather.
Os cientistas estão apenas a começar a compreender o impacto direto que as tempestades solares têm no clima terrestre.
(C) Although solar storms are defined by far fewer elements than are Earthly storms, they are much harder to predict.
Embora as tempestades solares sejam definidas por muito menos elementos do que as tempestades terrestres, são muito mais difíceis de prever.
(D) In the days before human society’s heavy dependence on electrical energy, solar storms attracted little attention in the world’s scientific community.
Nos dias anteriores à forte dependência da sociedade humana em relação à energia elétrica, as tempestades solares atraíam pouca atenção da comunidade científica mundial.
(E) Although scientists have determined the speed of solar radiation, the speed of plasma clouds appears to be variable.
Embora os cientistas tenham determinado a velocidade da radiação solar, a velocidade das nuvens de plasma parece ser variável.
30 – The information in the article most likely supplies information that would help to answer which of the following questions?
(A) What protective measures are readily available to guarantee that no blackout will result when a massive solar storm hits Earth?
(B) When is the exact most propitious moment to begin preparing for the arrival of any massive solar storm?
(C) How can the most vulnerable part of the planet be reliably identified when a massive solar storm is heading toward Earth?
(D) How powerful was the solar explosion that caused the blackout in the Canadian province of Quebec in 1989?
(E) How is it possible to calculate precisely the duration of an ongoing “geomagnetic storm”?
• Gabarito D
The information in the article most likely supplies information that would help to answer which of the following questions?
As informações contidas no artigo fornecem provavelmente informações que ajudariam a responder a qual das seguintes questões?
(A) What protective measures are readily available to guarantee that no blackout will result when a massive solar storm hits Earth?
Que medidas de proteção estão prontamente disponíveis para garantir que não há apagão quando uma grande tempestade solar atinge a Terra?
(B) When is the exact most propitious moment to begin preparing for the arrival of any massive solar storm?
Qual é o momento exato mais propício para começar a preparar a chegada de qualquer grande tempestade solar?
(C) How can the most vulnerable part of the planet be reliably identified when a massive solar storm is heading toward Earth?
Como pode a parte mais vulnerável do planeta ser identificada com segurança quando uma grande tempestade solar se dirige para a Terra?
(D) How powerful was the solar explosion that caused the blackout in the Canadian province of Quebec in 1989?
Qual foi a potência da explosão solar que provocou o apagão na província canadiana do Quebeque, em 1989?
(E) How is it possible to calculate precisely the duration of an ongoing “geomagnetic storm”?
Como é possível calcular com precisão a duração de uma "tempestade geomagnética" em curso?