IV. Read the following passages and answer the following questions in English:(18%)

A clearly confident China has rolled up a large section of its bamboo curtain, declared itself “open to the outside world” and hung signs on nearly all its cities inviting foreign investors to come and do serious business.

For foreign investors, the prospect of having access to a market of 1.3 billion consumers no longer seems like a pipedream. The Chinese－in particular the rural population－are getting richer and now want visible improvements to their standard of living: they aspire to own colour TV sets, refrigerators, trucks, washing machines and better radios, bicycles and clothing. Even local factories are taking note of the vast potential sales in their own domestic market.

36.   Please paraphrase “has rolled up a large section of its bamboo curtain” in Line 1.

37.   What is implied by using the word “better”? Does it refer merely to the quality of goods here or something more?

38.   What do “having access to” and “sales” mean?

America wants Japan to meet import targets for some American goods. An unwilling Japan has decided to draw the line.

Once, when Japan faced pressure from abroad, it would either give in reluctantly or keep quiet and hope that the fuss would die down. No longer, it seems. The Clinton administration strongly believes in exerting such pressure. Its policy is to open some Japanese markets (which it deems to be closed) by setting import targets－an approach to trade policy that supporters call “result-oriented”. This ugly term foreshadows uncertain consequences. Far from capitulating to this new thrust of American trade policy, Japan is taking a stand that could lead to a trans-Pacific confrontation.

39.   Please give a synonym to the expression “give in” and explain the meaning of “draw the line”.

40.   What would Japan do in the past when foreign countries put pressure on its international trade policy?

41. Please paraphrase the underlined sentence “No longer, it seems”.

V. Read the following two passages and decide whether the statements are true or false. Mark T for true and F for false in the brackets given: (20%)

China is now reaching for the next rung on the economic ladder. Last fall Beijing agreed to open its markets to more U.S. goods, including everything from Polaroid film to automobiles. In return, Washington would support China’s membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Membership in this club, which includes all the world’s leading economies, could provide a huge boost for a low-wage export economy. Already 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.”

Statements:

42. China’s trade surplus, mainly from exports of toys, textiles and consumer electronics, decreased last year.           

43. The strategy of opening markets to more U.S. goods is adopted by Chinese leaders in the hope of obtaining Washington’s support in winning back China’s membership in GATT.  

44. China became the country which held the largest trade surplus with the U.S. last year.     

45. In the past, the trade imbalance was regarded as the more important source of U.S. opposition to preferred status for China than human rights.       

46. Officials in Beijing attach much importance to the trade surplus.