21 - The picture of the current Brazilian economy given by this article is

a) highly optimistic.
b) guardedly hopeful.
c) unremittingly positive.
d) faintly negative.
e) distinctly bleak.

22 - According to the text, a think tank recently caused the government some embarrassment by predicting

a) lower growth than most other economists had forecast.
b) cynicism over the government’s tax reform program.
c) one of the highest tax burdens in the world.
d) stubbornly high interest rates for bank loans.
e) further cuts in the national interest rates for loans.

23 - The advantage of the proposed tax reform measures is

a) particularly fast progress through Congress.
b) a proposed 41.7% reduction in taxation.
c) a welcome simplification of the tax system.
d) the prospect of controlling high inflation.
e) further political support for the government

24 - According to the last section of the text, taxation will only be reduced if

a) there are strong signs of growing inflation.
b) Congress passes the new taxation reform bill.
c) Brazil’s economy goes nowhere soon.
d) the sum needed to meet public debt is reduced.
e) income tax bills cease to be such a heavy burden.

For questions 25-27 below, choose the answer which best fits the ideas in the text.

How the world's poor changed dynamics of global politics

A new alliance of some of the world's poorest countries forged during the last week's global trade talks has changed the entire dynamics of world politics, the foreign minister of Brazil told The Independent yesterday.In an exclusive interview, Celso Amorim said the formation of the Group of 21 nations (G21) had "reshuffled the cards" by creating a powerful counterweight to Washington and Brussels. The creation of the G21 has been one of the most significant developments of the World Trade Organisation meetings that have dominated the Mexican beach resort of Cancun since Wednesday.Thanks to tough negotiating by the G21, analysts believe that the world's two most powerful economic blocs have been prevented from riding roughshod over the 100-plus countries that make up the developing world. It has also enhanced the reputation of Brazil - the leading voice in the G21 and the country with the largest democratic support for any left-wing government in the world - and the administration led by the uneducated steelworker Lula da Silva. "We have gained the political initiative," said Mr Amorim on the fringes of the conference.(From: The Independent September 15th 2003 – slightly adapted.)

25 - The expression “forged” in the first paragraph of the text could best be defined as

a) misled.
b) broken down.
c) set up.
d) made off with.
e) falsified.

26 - According to the text, G21 is a group involved in trade talks, and it aims to

a) bring up new trump cards in Mexico negotiations.
b) offset the bargaining power of the USA and the EU.
c) shore up the power of the WTO to do deals.
d) lead over 100 countries to victory in the talks.
e) enhance the power of Brazil internationally.

27 - In relation to Brazil, the G 21 is expected to

a) reinforce the President’s left-wing tendencies.
b) override national decisions of smaller powers.
c) make it the leading voice in the WTO.
d) leave it on the fringes of the conference.
e) bring additional prestige to the country.

For questions 28-30 below, choose the answer which best fits the ideas in the text.

Virtues of viceThe rewards from investing in politically incorrect companies REGRETTABLE though it may be, the wages of sin can be well worth having. Vice Fund, a mutual fund started 14 months ago by Mutuals.com, a Dallas investment company, is profiting nicely from what some would consider the wickedest corners of the legitimate economy: alcohol, arms, gambling and tobacco. So far this year, Vice Fund has returned 17.2% to investors, beating both the S&P 500 (15.2%) and the Dow Jones industrial average (13.2%) by a few points.In fact, all four vice-ridden sectors have outperformed the overall American market during the past five years. “No matter what the economy's state or how interest rates move, people keep drinking, smoking and gambling,” says Dan Ahrens, a portfolio manager at the self-described “socially irresponsible” fund. With President George Bush pursuing a muscular foreign policy, the outlook for defence spending is also bright.(From: The Economist October 30th 2003)

28 - According to the text, Vice Fund

a) is concerned with stamping out illegal vices.
b) deals with illicit assets in the grey economy.
c) has attracted 17.2% of the legitimateinvestors.
d) profits from human addictions and conflicts.
e) is barely worth serious attention from investors.

29 - The text points out that Vice Fund has

a) proved a good investment for its shareholders.
b) outperformed smoking, drinking and gambling.
c) had mutually regrettable fund results.
d) found popularity with portfolio managers.
e) been promoted in wicked corners of Dallas.

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