Questões de Língua Inglesa da Escola de Administração Fazendária (ESAF)

According to the text, last month the consumer price index

• A. rose by more than pundits had expected.
• B. increased by almost one percentage point.
• C. caused an unexpected drop in corporate earnings.
• D. guaranteed Federal Reserve bonds.
• E. startled the core rate into a severe jump.

In the last paragraph, the rising cost of consumer goods is attributed to

• A. an annual growth rate of 3 percent or more.
• B. a moderate fall in the inflation rate.
• C. the recent sharp increase in oil prices.
• D. several months of economic slowdown.
• E. the dire predictions of some economists.

According to the article,

• A. Mr Bush's treasury secretary was on the brink of being dismissed
• B. Mr Bush's economic team intends to do away with the tax code.
• C. the Social Security System has been remodeled and upgraded.
• D. the former American president established four economic aims.
• E. Mr Bush set an unachievable economic agenda in his first term.

In relation to the budget deficit, it is supposed to be halved, which means to be

• A. 100% cleared.
• B. reduced by 50%.
• C. settled in percentages.
• D. increased by 15%.
• E. cut by around 75%.

The text refers to the Treasury as

• A. lacking political power with the opposition.
• B. not having had enough staff with the administration.
• C. having the political clout with the administration.
• D. not aiming for economic influence with the administration.
• E. not having enough influence with the administration.

Read the text below, which is entitled "Time to Toss the Textbook", in order to answer questions 27 to 30.

The text is introduced by

• A. a figure.
• B. an answer.
• C. a query.
• D. an explanation.
• E. a forecast.

Before the annual budget was announced, Labour supporters had hoped it would

• A. redeem the chancellor's reputation.
• B. be free from grand economic gestures.
• C. bring new life to their election campaign.
• D. overcome the large budget deficit.
• E. contain only easily achievable proposals.

The author refers to the deficit built up over the last three years and its

• A. encouraging results.
• B. lack of repercussion.
• C. worrying causes.
• D. limiting effect.
• E. coming solution.

In relation to a tax rise after the general election, Mr Brown

• A. saw it as a political threat which was overcome.
• B. managed to persuade voters to support it.
• C. intended to lessen the voters' worries about it.
• D. succeeded in avoiding its negative impact on voters.
• E. is going to fail in his attempts to implement it.

Mr Brown's approach to his own economic achievements is marked by

• A. lack of vision.
• B. undeniable optimism.
• C. harmful modesty.
• D. undesirable pessimism.
• E. boundless self-confidence.