Different kinds of tea differ in the _____ used to process leaves.
variety
procedure
development
instructions
mechanics
Death Valley in California received its name because of its _____ desert.
hot
dry
sandy
deadly
desolate
The survivor ______ for 3 days on seaweeds and water.
misled
wandered
subsisted
subscribed
subsided
In the Chinese culture, it is traditional to prepare _____ meals to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
lurid
luster
massive
lavish
infinite
The amount of open space has_____as more and more houses are built.
dominated
evaded
undergone
dwindled
demolished
The Indian government can legally _____ sites promoting hate speech, terrorism or pornography, but in reality, sites are rarely banned.
clog
track
block
skirt
pluck
Except for a few wrinkles and a head of silvery, cotton-ball hair, Bennett doesn’t look _____ old.
marvelously
particularly
notoriously
decisively
mysteriously
Beijing has limited foreign ownership of Chinese banks to 25%, and even that has left Mr. Hu _____ to criticism at home that he is giving away the family silver.
responsive
immune
sensitive
indifferent
vulnerable
I used to think of nonfiction books as a kind of economic indicator: in boom years, _____ books sell well, while pessimism rules the bookstore in recession.
historic
philosophic
optimistic
biologic
statistic
Before the war, he told me that he hoped Saddam’s fall would _____ a wave of democratic reforms in the region.
play down
touch off
count on
take in
put up
On the coast_____ picturesque fishing villages and manufacturing towns.
has
many
about
can observe
there are
The type of clothes people wear tells others a lot about ______.
who are they
who they are
are they who
they are who
they themselves
for a career in sports generally begins at an early age.
Training
If training
People train
When training
Birds head south to warmer climate when _____.
is cold weather
cold weather comes
cold weather will come
does cold weather come
comes cold weather
Prospectors rushed to San Francisco in 1800s _____ was discovered there.
after gold soon
they found gold
gold was soon after
soon after gold
when gold soon
A Singapore-based biotech company claims _____ human embryonic stem cells designed for clinical use.
has created
create
will create
to have created
creating
Before patients’ blood pressure is measured in a doctor’s office, _____+_and at rest for at least 10 minutes appears to give more reliable results.
have them sat
having them sat
to have them sat
having them seated
have them seated
Our research suggests that hoarding is a complex problem people have difficulty processing information to organize items and solve problems.
in that
in what
in which
in where
in it
The energy shortage is dividing Americans into two camps: those who are behaving as if the crisis were genuine _____
and who are not
and they are not
and those who are not
and who do not
and those who do not
What he says is not consistent with ______
things he does
that he does
which he does
what he does
what does he
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
hardly
correctly
nearly
really
safely
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
before
after
when
as
while
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
Too
Also
However
More
Therefore
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
making
getting
doing
being
working
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
friendly
perfectly
totally
carefully
honestly
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
fortunately
disappointingly
carelessly
unhappily
unevenly
My 32-yaer-old husband has been playing computer war games for more than two years now. He has also installed a TV in 21. every room. He started this behavior about six months 22. we got married, which made it very difficult to get his attention on wedding details. 23. , a few months after we were married, I found out I was pregnant. This seemed to increase his many hours watching TV and 24. online. After I had our son. I 25.
thought he would adjust his schedule to find time for his family. This, 26. , did not happen.
27. our son is 9 months old. When my husband comes home from work, he’ll hold the baby, but he either watches TV or plays on the computer while doing it.
As
Hence
Now
So
Lately
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
one
all
none
both
some
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
is located
was located
located
to locate
locating
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
overlook
overlooks
overlooked
overlooking
was overlooking
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
that
which
and
but
where
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
or
not
but
for
as well as
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
It
That
Which
What
Something
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
has
had
has had
should have
must have
I was not born and raised to be a geisha; I was meant for one in my teenage years. My mother and grandmother were both beauties, but 28. in my family heritage had anything to do with geisha. Our house 29. in an inconspicuous, tranquil little village 30. the vast sea, 31. some people barely earned their livelihood by fishing. The only connection with our family tradition was fishing 32. the stinking smell from it. My sister and I would go to help our father drag in the daily catch from the fishing boat. 33. came as no surprise that we smelled of stinking fish. We were accustomed to the practice of the long-standing occupation. We were poor, but we relished the life pattern. My family 34. gone on with this happy-go-lucky life. But 35. happened that disrupted the atmosphere and split up my family.
it
this
that
what
something
John B. Calhoun did a classic series of experiments to determine the effects of overpopulation on communities of rats in the 1960s. In each of these experiments, an equal number of male and female adult rats were placed in an enclosure and given an adequate supply of food, water and other necessities. He allowed the rat populations to increase to approximately twice the number that could live in the enclosure without experiencing stress due to overcrowding. He then carefully observed and recorded behavior in these overpopulations communities. At the end of these experiments, Calhoun was able to conclude that overcrowding caused a breakdown in the normal social relationships among rats.
The females, the most seriously affected by the high population density, showed deviant, pathological maternal behavior: they did not behave as mother rats normally do. For example, mothers sometimes abandoned their pops, and, without their mothers’ care, the pops died. Under normal conditions, a mother rat would not leave her pops alone to die. The dominant male, the least affected by overpopulation, claimed an area of the enclosure as his own. Therefore, these individuals did not experience the overcrowding in the same way as the other rats did. They did behave pathologically at times. Their antisocial behavior consisted of attacks on weaker male, female, and immature rats. Nondominant males in the experiments also exhibited deviant social behavior. Some withdrew completely; they moved very little and ate and drank at times when the other rats were sleeping in order to avoid contact with them. Other nondominant males were hyperactive, chasing other rats and fighting each other. This segment of the rat population, like all the other parts, was affected by the overpopulation.
What is the main idea of this passage?
Overpopulation results in deviant behavior in rats.
Calhoun’s experiments have influenced many people.
The social behavior of rats is seriously affected by overcrowding.
Overall crowding, along with other factors, causes social pathology.
Female rats are more easily affected by overcrowding than the male rats.
John B. Calhoun did a classic series of experiments to determine the effects of overpopulation on communities of rats in the 1960s. In each of these experiments, an equal number of male and female adult rats were placed in an enclosure and given an adequate supply of food, water and other necessities. He allowed the rat populations to increase to approximately twice the number that could live in the enclosure without experiencing stress due to overcrowding. He then carefully observed and recorded behavior in these overpopulations communities. At the end of these experiments, Calhoun was able to conclude that overcrowding caused a breakdown in the normal social relationships among rats.
The females, the most seriously affected by the high population density, showed deviant, pathological maternal behavior: they did not behave as mother rats normally do. For example, mothers sometimes abandoned their pops, and, without their mothers’ care, the pops died. Under normal conditions, a mother rat would not leave her pops alone to die. The dominant male, the least affected by overpopulation, claimed an area of the enclosure as his own. Therefore, these individuals did not experience the overcrowding in the same way as the other rats did. They did behave pathologically at times. Their antisocial behavior consisted of attacks on weaker male, female, and immature rats. Nondominant males in the experiments also exhibited deviant social behavior. Some withdrew completely; they moved very little and ate and drank at times when the other rats were sleeping in order to avoid contact with them. Other nondominant males were hyperactive, chasing other rats and fighting each other. This segment of the rat population, like all the other parts, was affected by the overpopulation.
Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
Mother rats usually take care of the pops.
Calhoun had experimented with rats before.
Stress does not occur in rat community unless there is overcrowding.
The rats in the experiments have deviant behavior because they fought for necessities of life.
Calhoun manipulated the experiment so that the only factor that caused stress is overpopulation.
John B. Calhoun did a classic series of experiments to determine the effects of overpopulation on communities of rats in the 1960s. In each of these experiments, an equal number of male and female adult rats were placed in an enclosure and given an adequate supply of food, water and other necessities. He allowed the rat populations to increase to approximately twice the number that could live in the enclosure without experiencing stress due to overcrowding. He then carefully observed and recorded behavior in these overpopulations communities. At the end of these experiments, Calhoun was able to conclude that overcrowding caused a breakdown in the normal social relationships among rats.
The females, the most seriously affected by the high population density, showed deviant, pathological maternal behavior: they did not behave as mother rats normally do. For example, mothers sometimes abandoned their pops, and, without their mothers’ care, the pops died. Under normal conditions, a mother rat would not leave her pops alone to die. The dominant male, the least affected by overpopulation, claimed an area of the enclosure as his own. Therefore, these individuals did not experience the overcrowding in the same way as the other rats did. They did behave pathologically at times. Their antisocial behavior consisted of attacks on weaker male, female, and immature rats. Nondominant males in the experiments also exhibited deviant social behavior. Some withdrew completely; they moved very little and ate and drank at times when the other rats were sleeping in order to avoid contact with them. Other nondominant males were hyperactive, chasing other rats and fighting each other. This segment of the rat population, like all the other parts, was affected by the overpopulation.
Which of the following statements is true based on the reading?
Overpopulation causes pathological behavior in rat population.
Female rats are more seriously affected than the nondominant males.
The dominant males are less seriously affected than the nondominant males.
The dominant males are less affected because they had more adequate space.
Overpopulation exerts different influences on different personalities of male rats.
John B. Calhoun did a classic series of experiments to determine the effects of overpopulation on communities of rats in the 1960s. In each of these experiments, an equal number of male and female adult rats were placed in an enclosure and given an adequate supply of food, water and other necessities. He allowed the rat populations to increase to approximately twice the number that could live in the enclosure without experiencing stress due to overcrowding. He then carefully observed and recorded behavior in these overpopulations communities. At the end of these experiments, Calhoun was able to conclude that overcrowding caused a breakdown in the normal social relationships among rats.
The females, the most seriously affected by the high population density, showed deviant, pathological maternal behavior: they did not behave as mother rats normally do. For example, mothers sometimes abandoned their pops, and, without their mothers’ care, the pops died. Under normal conditions, a mother rat would not leave her pops alone to die. The dominant male, the least affected by overpopulation, claimed an area of the enclosure as his own. Therefore, these individuals did not experience the overcrowding in the same way as the other rats did. They did behave pathologically at times. Their antisocial behavior consisted of attacks on weaker male, female, and immature rats. Nondominant males in the experiments also exhibited deviant social behavior. Some withdrew completely; they moved very little and ate and drank at times when the other rats were sleeping in order to avoid contact with them. Other nondominant males were hyperactive, chasing other rats and fighting each other. This segment of the rat population, like all the other parts, was affected by the overpopulation.
The nondominant males behave pathologically by which of the following behavior?
eating less
withdrawing
Being inactive
avoiding other rats
Being hyperactive
John B. Calhoun did a classic series of experiments to determine the effects of overpopulation on communities of rats in the 1960s. In each of these experiments, an equal number of male and female adult rats were placed in an enclosure and given an adequate supply of food, water and other necessities. He allowed the rat populations to increase to approximately twice the number that could live in the enclosure without experiencing stress due to overcrowding. He then carefully observed and recorded behavior in these overpopulations communities. At the end of these experiments, Calhoun was able to conclude that overcrowding caused a breakdown in the normal social relationships among rats.
The females, the most seriously affected by the high population density, showed deviant, pathological maternal behavior: they did not behave as mother rats normally do. For example, mothers sometimes abandoned their pops, and, without their mothers’ care, the pops died. Under normal conditions, a mother rat would not leave her pops alone to die. The dominant male, the least affected by overpopulation, claimed an area of the enclosure as his own. Therefore, these individuals did not experience the overcrowding in the same way as the other rats did. They did behave pathologically at times. Their antisocial behavior consisted of attacks on weaker male, female, and immature rats. Nondominant males in the experiments also exhibited deviant social behavior. Some withdrew completely; they moved very little and ate and drank at times when the other rats were sleeping in order to avoid contact with them. Other nondominant males were hyperactive, chasing other rats and fighting each other. This segment of the rat population, like all the other parts, was affected by the overpopulation.
What would be an appropriate title of this passage?
Enclosure of rats
Rats’ social disease
The deviant behavior of rats
Overpopulation and social behavior
The effect of overcrowding on rats
When most people think of Latin American oil, their thoughts turn to Venezuela and Mexico. But production by Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, and Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, remains largely domestic and their output stagnant or falling. Brazil cannot compete with Venezuela or Mexico in terms of reserves, but Petrobras may soon surpass PdVSA to become the second-largest company behind Pemex in production. Petrobras, which remains 55.7 percent state-owned, is investing its rush of profit to bolster output to 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2010, up from an average of 1.9 million this year. Its production last year led to net sales of $45.22 billion and a net profit of $10.02 billion, a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.69 billion in 2004. That puts it on a much stronger financial footing than both PdVSA and Pemex, which lost money last year.
The rapid production gains reflect Petrobras’s success in developing new deep-sea drilling techniques, enabling it to pump farther from shore than other producers and increase its output more quickly than any other company in Latin America. The techniques, similar to those later developed by giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, enabled Petrobras to pump oil from depths once thought inaccessible and helped Brazil to attain long-sought self-sufficiency in oil production early this year. In the 1980’s, foreign activities by Petrobras were once aimed at negotiating imports, as the company traded machinery and agricultural products for oil from the Middle East. But now, the company is focused on developing deepwater fields abroad.
Why will Petrobras be able to reach the production of 2.5 million barrels a day by 2010?
Because it is investing its profit to prop up production.
Because its daily production is 1.9 million barrels this year.
Because it is mostly government-owned.
Because it is partly privately owned.
Because it is using its production gains to raise output.
When most people think of Latin American oil, their thoughts turn to Venezuela and Mexico. But production by Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, and Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, remains largely domestic and their output stagnant or falling. Brazil cannot compete with Venezuela or Mexico in terms of reserves, but Petrobras may soon surpass PdVSA to become the second-largest company behind Pemex in production. Petrobras, which remains 55.7 percent state-owned, is investing its rush of profit to bolster output to 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2010, up from an average of 1.9 million this year. Its production last year led to net sales of $45.22 billion and a net profit of $10.02 billion, a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.69 billion in 2004. That puts it on a much stronger financial footing than both PdVSA and Pemex, which lost money last year.
The rapid production gains reflect Petrobras’s success in developing new deep-sea drilling techniques, enabling it to pump farther from shore than other producers and increase its output more quickly than any other company in Latin America. The techniques, similar to those later developed by giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, enabled Petrobras to pump oil from depths once thought inaccessible and helped Brazil to attain long-sought self-sufficiency in oil production early this year. In the 1980’s, foreign activities by Petrobras were once aimed at negotiating imports, as the company traded machinery and agricultural products for oil from the Middle East. But now, the company is focused on developing deepwater fields abroad.
In terms of financial condition, which of the following statements is true?
Petrobras’s net gains last year amounted to 43.22 billion.
Petrobras has better financial condition than PdVSA and Pemax.
Both PdVSA and Pemex were in the red last year.
Pemex lost more money than PdVSA last year.
PdVSA lost more money than Pemex.
When most people think of Latin American oil, their thoughts turn to Venezuela and Mexico. But production by Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, and Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, remains largely domestic and their output stagnant or falling. Brazil cannot compete with Venezuela or Mexico in terms of reserves, but Petrobras may soon surpass PdVSA to become the second-largest company behind Pemex in production. Petrobras, which remains 55.7 percent state-owned, is investing its rush of profit to bolster output to 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2010, up from an average of 1.9 million this year. Its production last year led to net sales of $45.22 billion and a net profit of $10.02 billion, a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.69 billion in 2004. That puts it on a much stronger financial footing than both PdVSA and Pemex, which lost money last year.
The rapid production gains reflect Petrobras’s success in developing new deep-sea drilling techniques, enabling it to pump farther from shore than other producers and increase its output more quickly than any other company in Latin America. The techniques, similar to those later developed by giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, enabled Petrobras to pump oil from depths once thought inaccessible and helped Brazil to attain long-sought self-sufficiency in oil production early this year. In the 1980’s, foreign activities by Petrobras were once aimed at negotiating imports, as the company traded machinery and agricultural products for oil from the Middle East. But now, the company is focused on developing deepwater fields abroad.
What makes it possible for Petrobras to have rapid output profit?
It has a strong financial footing.
It has a successful deep-sea drilling techniques.
It has an average of 1.9 million barrels a day this year.
It managed to exploit more offshore oil reserves.
Last year it saw a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.6 billion in 2004.
When most people think of Latin American oil, their thoughts turn to Venezuela and Mexico. But production by Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, and Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, remains largely domestic and their output stagnant or falling. Brazil cannot compete with Venezuela or Mexico in terms of reserves, but Petrobras may soon surpass PdVSA to become the second-largest company behind Pemex in production. Petrobras, which remains 55.7 percent state-owned, is investing its rush of profit to bolster output to 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2010, up from an average of 1.9 million this year. Its production last year led to net sales of $45.22 billion and a net profit of $10.02 billion, a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.69 billion in 2004. That puts it on a much stronger financial footing than both PdVSA and Pemex, which lost money last year.
The rapid production gains reflect Petrobras’s success in developing new deep-sea drilling techniques, enabling it to pump farther from shore than other producers and increase its output more quickly than any other company in Latin America. The techniques, similar to those later developed by giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, enabled Petrobras to pump oil from depths once thought inaccessible and helped Brazil to attain long-sought self-sufficiency in oil production early this year. In the 1980’s, foreign activities by Petrobras were once aimed at negotiating imports, as the company traded machinery and agricultural products for oil from the Middle East. But now, the company is focused on developing deepwater fields abroad.
Which of the following statements is true?
Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron developed deep-sea drilling techniques after Petrobras did.
Petrobras exported much oil in the 1980’s.
Petrobras used to manufacture machinery and agricultural products.
Petrobras modeled its deep-sea drilling techniques after those of Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron.
Not until early this year could Brazil provide itself sufficiently with oil it produced.
When most people think of Latin American oil, their thoughts turn to Venezuela and Mexico. But production by Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, and Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, remains largely domestic and their output stagnant or falling. Brazil cannot compete with Venezuela or Mexico in terms of reserves, but Petrobras may soon surpass PdVSA to become the second-largest company behind Pemex in production. Petrobras, which remains 55.7 percent state-owned, is investing its rush of profit to bolster output to 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2010, up from an average of 1.9 million this year. Its production last year led to net sales of $45.22 billion and a net profit of $10.02 billion, a 50 percent increase from net profit of $6.69 billion in 2004. That puts it on a much stronger financial footing than both PdVSA and Pemex, which lost money last year.
The rapid production gains reflect Petrobras’s success in developing new deep-sea drilling techniques, enabling it to pump farther from shore than other producers and increase its output more quickly than any other company in Latin America. The techniques, similar to those later developed by giants like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, enabled Petrobras to pump oil from depths once thought inaccessible and helped Brazil to attain long-sought self-sufficiency in oil production early this year. In the 1980’s, foreign activities by Petrobras were once aimed at negotiating imports, as the company traded machinery and agricultural products for oil from the Middle East. But now, the company is focused on developing deepwater fields abroad.
What operational strategy does Petrobras adopt?
It still aims at negotiating with the Middle East to import more oil.
It makes good use of its deepwater drilling techniques to pump oil in foreign countries.
It no longer gives priority to ensuring that Brazil imports enough oil.
It tries to pump more oil from depths once thought inaccessible onshore.
It cooperates closely with both Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron.
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