Free Practice Question
RC · Reading Comprehension
605-655
Short Passage - Humanities
Reading Passage
As the economic role of multinational, global corporations expands, the international economic environment will be shaped increasingly not by governments or international institutions, but by the interaction between governments and global corporations, especially in the United States, Europe, and Japan. A significant factor in this shifting world economy is the trend toward regional trading blocs of nations, which has a potentially large effect on the evolution of the world trading system. Two examples of this trend are the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Europe 1992, the move by the European Community (EC) to dismantle impediments to the free flow of goods, services, capital, and labor among member states by the end of 1992. However, although numerous political and economic factors were operative in launching the move to integrate the EC’s markets, concern about protectionism within the EC does not appear to have been a major consideration. This is in sharp contrast to the FTA; the overwhelming reason for that bilateral initiative was fear of increasing United States protectionism. Nonetheless, although markedly different in origin and nature, both regional developments are highly significant in that they will foster integration in the two largest and richest markets of the world, as well as provoke questions about the future direction of the world trading system.
The author discusses the FTA and Europe 1992 most likely in order to
Answer Choices
Correct answer marked belowA
point out the similarities between two seemingly disparate trading alliances
B
illustrate how different economic motivations produce different types of trading blocs
provide contrasting examples of a trend that is influencing the world economy
Correct
D
identify the most important characteristics of successful economic integration
E
trace the history of regional trading blocs
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What it tests
Your ability to understand a passage, its structure, and what the author is really saying. At the 605-655 level, accuracy and speed both matter.
Common trap
Answering from memory or outside knowledge instead of strictly from the passage.
Details
Difficulty
605-655
Type
RC
Category