The economy of Africa

The economy of Africa consists of the trade, industry, and resources of the peoples of Africa. Approximately 887 million people live in 54 different states. Africa is by far the world's poorest inhabited continent, and it is, on average, poorer than it was 25 years ago.

Africa's current poverty is rooted, in part, in its history. The transition from colonialism has been shaky and uncertain. Since mid-20th century the Cold War and increased corruption and despotism have contributed to Africa's poor economy. This poverty has widespread effects, including low life expectancy, violence, and instability, which in turn perpetuate the continent's poverty. Over the decades, attempts to improve the economy of Africa have been met with little success.

National GDP per capita ranges from wealthier states in the north and south to poorer states in the east. The poorest states are engaged in or just emerging from civil wars. These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Somalia. There is considerable internal variation within countries. Urban areas, especially capital cities, are generally wealthier than rural zones. Inequality is pronounced in most African countries; an upper class has a much higher income than the majority of the population.

Around sixty percent of African workers are employed by the agricultural sector. In Africa excess capacity is devoted to growing crops for export. Thus, when civil unrest or a bad harvest occurs, there is often very little food saved and many starve.

Africa's most valuable exports are minerals and petroleum. A few countries possess and export the vast majority of these resources. The southern nations have large reserves of gold, diamonds, and copper. Petroleum is concentrated in Nigeria, its neighbours, and Libya.

While mining and drilling are to produce most of Africa's revenues each year, these industries only employ about two million people, a tiny fraction of the continent's population. Profits can go either to large corporations or to the governments.

Africa is the least industrialized continent; only South Africa and North Africa have substantial manufacturing sectors. Despite readily available cheap labour, nearly all of the continent's natural resources are exported for secondary refining and manufacturing. Only about 15% of workers are employed in the industrial sector.

The multinational corporations that control most of the world's major industries and their financiers require political stability before erecting an expensive factory. An educated populace, good infrastructure and a stable source of electricity are needed to investments. These factors are rare in Africa. Other developing regions of the world such as India and China have been more attractive to companies looking to build a new factory or invest in a local enterprise.

Banking in Africa has long been problematic. Governments and industry can’t rely on local banks as they are often unstable and corrupt.

Encouraging foreign investment in Africa has been difficult. Even Africans are reluctant to invest locally; about forty percent of sub-Saharan African savings are invested in other markets. Foreign governments who invest may have ulterior motives not in the best interest of the African economies. The IMF and World Bank only lend money after imposing stringent conditions such as austerity policies.

Notes:

1. Sierra Leone – [si erəli oun] – Сьерра-Леоне

2. Burundi – [burundi] – Бурунди

3. Somalia – [sou ma:liə] – Сомали

4. Nigeria – [naidgiəriə] – Нигерия

5.Libya – [libiə] – Ливия

6. IMF – МВФ, Международный валютный фонд (ООН)

I. Прочитайте текст (без словаря).

II. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните в каждом из них глагол-сказуемое и определите его видо-временную форму и залог. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The economy of Africa consists of the trade, industry, and resources of the peoples of Africa.

2. Africa's current poverty is rooted, in part, in its history.

3. The poorest states are engaged in or just emerging from civil wars.

4. Both have been known to squander this money on luxuries for the elite or on megaprojects that return little value.

5. Even Africans are reluctant to invest locally; about forty percent of sub-Saharan African savings are invested in other markets.

III. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните Participle I и Participle II и установите функции каждого из них, т.е. укажите, является ли оно определением, обстоятельством или частью глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Since mid-20th century the Cold War and increased corruption and despotism have contributed to Africa's poor economy.

2. This poverty has widespread effects, including low life expectancy, violence, and instability.

3. These farms, normally operated by large corporations, cover tens of square kilometres and employ large numbers of labourers.

4. Other developing regions of the world such as India and China have been more attractive to companies looking to build a new factory or invest in a local enterprise.

5. Africa is the least industrialized continent; only South Africa and North Africa have substantial manufacturing sectors.

IV. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните в каждом из них модальный глагол или его эквивалент. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. While mining and drilling are to produce most of Africa's revenues each year, these industries only employ about two million people.

2. Profits can go either to large corporations or to the governments.

3. Governments and industry can’t rely on local banks as they are often unstable and corrupt.

4. An educated populace, good infrastructure and a stable source of electricity are needed to investments.

5. Foreign governments who invest may have ulterior motives not in the best interest of the African economies.

V. Прочитайте, перепишите и письменно переведите текст.

VI. Прочитайте текст и ответьте на вопросы:

1. What does the economy of Africa comprise?

2. Where does the main cause of the Africa’s poverty lie?

3. What are the Africa’ most valuable exports?

4. In what economic sector is the most part of the population engaged?

5. What is the reason of difficult and problematic banking and foreign investment in Africa?

Вариант 5

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area (or 29.4% of its land area) and, with almost 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population.

Chiefly in the eastern and northern hemispheres, Asia can be defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia, lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas. It is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by the Indian Ocean, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean.

Due its size and diversity, Asia is more a cultural concept incorporating a number of regions and peoples.

In geography, there are two schools of thought. One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis. The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region, and the term "region" should be used to describe Asia in terms of physiography.

Asia has the 3rd largest nominal GDP of all continents, after North America and Europe. The largest national economy within Asia, in terms of gross domestic product, is the economy of China, which is followed by the economy of India and Japan. They also may rank as follows: Japan, China, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Indonesia. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the economies of China and India have been growing rapidly, both with an average annual growth rate of more than 8%. Other recent very high growth nations in Asia include Pakistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and mineral rich nations such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. Historically, Japan has had the largest economy in Asia and second-largest of any single nation in the world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Japan's GDP was almost as large (current exchange rate method) as economy of the rest of Asia combined. In 1995, Japan's economy nearly equalled economy of the USA to tie as the largest economy in the world for a day, after the Japanese currency was able to reach a record high of 79 yen. Economic growth in Asia since World War II to the 1990s had been concentrated in quite a few countries of the Pacific Rim. (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea)

It is expected that China will surpass Japan to have the largest nominal GDP in Asia within a decade. India may overtake Japan by 2030.

Asia is the largest continent in the world by a considerable margin, and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum and forests.

Manufacturing in Asia has traditionally been strongest in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Japan and South Korea dominate in the area of multinational corporations, but China, Taiwan, and India are making significant inroads. Many companies from Europe, North America, and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure.

Asia has three main financial centres: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. They are to become major employers in India and the Philippines due to the availability of a large pool of highly-skilled, English-speaking workers. The increased use of outsourcing has assisted the rise of India and China as financial centres.

Notes:

1. Brunei – [bru: nei] – Бруней

2. United Arab Emirates – [junaitid ærəbe miərits] – Объединенные арабские эмираты

3. Qatar – [kotə] – Катар

4. Kuwait – [ku weit] – Кувейт

5. Saudi Arabia – [saudiə reibjə] – Саудовская Аравия

6. Bahrain – [bə rein] – Бахрейн

7. Oman – [ou ma:n] – Оман

8. Eurasia – Евразия (материк)

9. physiography – физическая география; физиография

I. Прочитайте текст (без словаря).

II. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните в каждом из них глагол-сказуемое и определите его видо-временную форму и залог. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Asia is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean, to the south by the Indian Ocean, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean.

2. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the economies of China and India have been growing rapidly.

3. Economic growth in Asia since World War II to the 1990s had been concentrated in quite a few countries of the Pacific Rim.

4. China will surpass Japan to have the largest nominal GDP in Asia within a decade.

5. Japan and South Korea dominate in the area of multinational corporations, but China, Taiwan, and India are making significant inroads.

III. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните Participle I и Participle II и установите функции каждого из них, т.е. укажите, является ли оно определением, обстоятельством или частью глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Due its size and diversity, Asia is more a cultural concept incorporating a number of regions and peoples.

2. One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.

3. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Japan's GDP was almost as large as that of the rest of Asia combined.

4. The increased use of outsourcing has assisted the rise of India and China as financial centres.

5. Many companies have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure.

IV. Перепишите следующие предложения; подчеркните в каждом из них модальный глагол или его эквивалент. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Asia can be defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia.

2. The term "region" should be used to describe Asia in terms of physiography.

3. In 1995 the Japanese currency was able to reach a record high of 79 yen.

4. India may overtake Japan by 2030.

5. Three main financial centres of Asia are to become major employers in India and the Philippines.

V. Прочитайте, перепишите и письменно переведите текст.

VI. Прочитайте текст и ответьте на вопросы:

1. Why is Asia the world’s largest and most populous continent?

2. What country has the largest national economy within Asia? Why?

3. What natural resources is Asia rich in?

4. Why do many companies from Europe and America have operations in Asia's developing countries?

5. What promoted the rise of India and China as financial centres?