me formula, and added a couple of tricks of its own. One of these is called "export credit": the state reduces the cost of US exports by providing cheap insurance for the exporters. These credits, against which Chirac was hoping to trade the European subsidies, are worth some 7.7bn to US grain sellers. In combination with other tricks, they ensure that American exporters can undercut the world price for wheat and maize by between 10% and 16%, and the world price for cotton by 40%. But the ugliest of its hidden export subsidies is its use of aid as a means of penetrating the markets of poorer nations. While the other major donors give money, which the World Food Programme can use to buy supplies in local markets, thus helping farmers while feeding the starving, the US insists on sending its own produce, stating that this programme is "designed to develop . " and expand commercial outlets for US products".
(8) The result is that the major recipients are not the nations in greatest need, but the nations that can again in the words of the US department of agriculture,. "demonstrate the potential to become commercial markets" for US farm products. This is why, for example, the Philippines currently receives more US food aid than Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe put together, all of which, unlike the Philippines, are currently suffering from serious food shortages.
(9) But US policy also ensures that food aid is delivered just when it is needed least. Oxfam has produced a graph plotting the amount of wheat given to developing nations by the US against world prices. When the price falls the volume of "aid" rises. This is as clear a demonstration of agricultural dumping as you could ask for. The very programme that is meant to help the poor is in fact undermining them.
(10) So, when faced with a choice between saving Africa and saving George Bush from a mild diplomatic embarrassment, Blair has, as we could have predicted, done as his master bids. The scar on the conscience of the world has just become deeper and angrier.
II. In this section, there are ten incomplete statements or questions, followed by four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on your Answer Sheet. (20 points, 2 points for each)
.16. The word "perpetual" in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. cruel B. costly
C. horrible D. ceaseless
17. What percentage of African workers are involved in farming?
A. about 70% B. about 40%
C. about 16% D. about 10%
18. According to the author, agricultural subsidies are a bad thing because______.
A. they only benefit the USA
B. they cause political unrest in Africa
C. they lead to cheaper food prices in Africa
D. they make the price of imported food cheaper than locally produced food
19. The word “vulnerable” in Paragraph 4 means ______.
A. tough B. weak
C. hostile D. indifferent
20. The author is angry with Tony Blair because ______.
A. he remains an insecure prime minister
B. he won the election with a huge majority
C. he always challenges the American position
D. he changed his mind and opposed the French proposal
21. The word “plight” in Paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. a bitter complaint B. a difficult condition
C. a habit of laziness
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