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Earth's Next Superpower
The following countries have been sitting on hidden talents.And now they're about to fly.
NIGERIA (尼日利亚)
Nigeria says it pumps out as much oil as the other two oilproducing countries，Kuwait and Iraq.All this oil is cycling cash into the Nigerian economy and creating extremely rich businessmen.Analysts say that if Nigeria can improve its schools and technology, it could balloon into the world's 13th largest economy by 2050，right between Turkey and Italy.If that reason is not enough for optimism，Nigeria's president also has the sunniest name of any world leader: Goodluck Jonathan.
VIETNAM(越南)
As agriculture has given way to industry，unemployment in Vietnam has dropped.What's Vietnam's trick? It's ready to work.Other countries' laborers aren't as cheap as they used to be，which makes Vietnam a relative bargain for companies that need new factories abroad.However，the country has almost no railroads，its highways are in poor condition，and its largest city has just one airport，which was built before the Vietnam War.So what's the use of producing exportready goods if there's no convenient way to ship them? The good thing is that，however，officials are widening highways，building a new airport and so on.
CHILE (智利)
Pipes, computers, motors, and your microwave all have one thing in common: They're made with copper (铜)．Copper makes the world go round.And luckily for Chile, it's got about a third of the planet's copper supply.It just needs a way to dig it up and the government is pouring money into the country's mines.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了三个极有发展前景的国家：尼日利亚、越南和智利，以及它们的发展状况和未来的发展趋势。
1．Which country will Nigeria be expected to follow in respect of economy by 2050?
A．Kuwait. B．Iraq.
C．Turkey. D．Italy.
C [细节理解题。根据第一部分中的“Analysts say that if Nigeria can improve its schools and technology, it could balloon into the world's 13th largest economy by 2050，right between Turkey and Italy.”可知，到2050年尼日利亚在经济方面将紧随土耳其之后。故选C。]
2．What's the problem Vietnam is facing?
A．It doesn't have money to build new factories.
B．Its people don't have enough food to eat.
C．It is suffering from the Vietnam War.
D．Its transport system is very poor.
D [推理判断题。根据第二部分的“However，the country has almost no railroads, its highways are in poor condition, and its largest city has just one airport，which was built before the Vietnam War.”可知，越南目前的交通系统很糟糕。故选D。]
3．What will Chile depend on to get developed?
A．High technology.
B．The government's good administration.
C．Investments from other countries.
D．Natural resources.
D [根据第三部分中的“Copper makes the world go round ...it's got about a third of the planet's copper supply.It just needs a way to dig it up ...”可知，智利将依靠自然资源(铜)进行发展。故选D。]
