Passage 2

Income Gap: In fulfilling those hopes, however, Korea faces some potentially disruptive problems. Some are social. For all the progress, (deep pockets) of poverty exist throughout the country. In Seoul, glistening high-rise apartment houses jostle with warrens of slum housing; in remote rural communities people are still eking out subsistence livings. As a result, conspicuous consumption by a nouveau riche elite has become a real source of friction. In contrast to Japan, which has managed to spread its postwar wealth relatively evenly, Korea is beset by a widening income gap between rich and poor.

39、What is the usually meaning of the expression “a deep pocket”?

40、What does “deep pockets” mean here?

41、The expression “deep pockets” is used here ironically, what does it indicate?

It is no coincidence that government departments in the various emirates ore welcoming bids from consultants that arc new to the area. Easily lured away from the recession-hit West by the notion that the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are paved with gold, these companies arc tending to submit very low offers to gain a foothold in the area. While there undoubtedly is work about and the outlook for the UAE is bright, the ever increasing competition among consultants and contractors means that margins are being squeezed. In the opinion of one major local consultant, the only way forward is to diversify: “Diversification into project management in the oil and gas sector is the only way to secure continuity of work and revenues and keep international calibre consultants on the ground.”

Enforcing clean gasoline regulations will further improve the air quality in New Jersey.

The state officials are unwilling to control fuel quality because they don’t have money.

The tumbling gasoline prices in New York have no affect on the oil prices in London.

Passage 2

Oil companies act to save refining margins

London, Jan. 27 (Reuter)—major oil companies flexed their muscles to salvage profit margins from oil refining this week, supporting oil product prices and depressing crude oil.By limiting the amount of crude oil running through their refineries, oil companies are hoping to eat away at burgeoning (迅速增长的) stocks of unused heating fuel and at the same time boost demand and prices for crude oil.A broker in London said that throughout reduction at European refineries was ultimately a bearish signal for all oil prices, products and crude.“There may well be less output from refineries, but if demand is weak, that’s still bearish for prices,” he said.Brokers cited tumbling gasoline prices in New York as another negative influence.Traders on New York’s futures trading pits sold gasoline futures heavily on news that New Jersey may not enforce the use of a new cleaner grade of gasoline in its sales at the pump.Stale officials in New Jersey argued that they have almost attained their pollution targets and are unwilling to enforce expensive winter regulations controlling fuel quality.“We feel we’ve done a lot to improve our air quality, if we’re not in attainment, we’ve very close,” said Amy Collings of the New Jersey department of environment protection.Traders said that if New Jersey does not enforce clean gasoline regulations, demand for the grade will fall.

To stimulate demand and prices for crude oil, oil companies try to reduce the amount of crude oil at their refineries and the stocks of unused heating fad.

A bearish signal usually means price decreasing in the market.

Quotas and “voluntary” export restraints are non-tariff barriers.

The Eastern European countries have their competitive advantages in low wages.

Hungary will be further benefited from the EC and EFTA agreements.

Antidumping duties are levied on goods sold abroad at a price below that charged in the domestic market.