Passage 1Already though, China’s commercial strength is starting to worry competitors. Last year China’s trade surplus surged, buoyed by exports of toys, textiles and consumer electronics. Its trade surplus with the United States hit a record $18 billion. Only Japan’s was larger. With the U.S. Congress due to consider the renewal of China’s most-favored nation trade status in June, officials in Beijing fear the trade imbalance could surpass human rights as a source of U.S. opposition to preferred status for China. “【The trade surplus itself will be the No. 1 problem】 this year,” says one Chinese official. “After Japan, we’ll be 【first in line for retaliation】.”37.Why would trade surplus be a problem?

Passage 1Already though, China’s commercial strength is starting to worry competitors. Last year China’s trade surplus surged, buoyed by exports of toys, textiles and consumer electronics. Its trade surplus with the United States hit a record $18 billion. Only Japan’s was larger. With the U.S. Congress due to consider the renewal of China’s most-favored nation trade status in June, officials in Beijing fear the trade imbalance could surpass human rights as a source of U.S. opposition to preferred status for China. “【The trade surplus itself will be the No. 1 problem】 this year,” says one Chinese official. “After Japan, we’ll be 【first in line for retaliation】.”38.For what reason(s) or on what excuse will we be “first in line for retaliation”?

Passage 2Yet in its current 【dour】 mood, Europe risks almost overlooking the 【revolutionary 】step forward it has taken in creating the world’s largest and wealthiest barrier—free market?and on a continent where, for centuries, economic battles have led to some of history’s bloodiest wars. Moreover, a failure to reinforce the single market by pushing forward with European integration could lead to an unraveling of what the internal market program has achieved, some observers say.39.What do “dour” and “revolutionary” mean in the first sentence?

Passage 2Yet in its current 【dour】 mood, Europe risks almost overlooking the 【revolutionary 】step forward it has taken in creating the world’s largest and wealthiest barrier—free market?and on a continent where, for centuries, economic battles have led to some of history’s bloodiest wars. Moreover, a failure to reinforce the single market by pushing forward with European integration could lead to an unraveling of what the internal market program has achieved, some observers say.40.What did the writer worry about for Western Europe?

Passage 2Yet in its current 【dour】 mood, Europe risks almost overlooking the 【revolutionary 】step forward it has taken in creating the world’s largest and wealthiest barrier—free market?and on a continent where, for centuries, economic battles have led to some of history’s bloodiest wars. Moreover, a failure to reinforce the single market by pushing forward with European integration could lead to an unraveling of what the internal market program has achieved, some observers say.41.What did some observers think might cause the failure of the internal market program?

In the most recent talks about farm trade, America has shown a new willingness to compromise on details, doubtless reflecting George Bush’s need for an economic success to boast of in his election campaign. Whatever the motive a spirit of compromise makes sense for America, since it stands to gain a lot more from a successful round than any other country. But the EC continues to hesitate—because of France. French farmers are violently opposed to the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) that Europe’s governments agreed to last May.

The strong increase in imports last year is 【attributed】 to buoyant economic activity as well as to the success of the Government’s trade and foreign investment policies.

In April 1984, the State Council 【declared】 14 cities along the entire coast plus Hainan Island open to foreign investment.

In Shanghai, Tianjin and other urban centers, China is trying — with 【considerable】 success — to attract high-technology firms that will modernize its economy.

Chile has now been growing at an average 【annual】 rate of 4.5 percentage points for the past six years.