1. AULA 04 - PROVA AFRFB 2009
Read the text below entitled “The long climb” so as to
answer questions 21 to 23:
The long climb
Source: www.economist.com
st Oct, 2009 (Adapted)
The world economy is fitfully getting back to normal,
but it will be a “new normal”. This phrase has caught
on, even if people disagree about what it means. In
the new
normal, as defined by Pimco´s CEO, Mohamed El-
Erian, growth will be subdued and unemployment will
remain high. “The banking system will be a shadow of
its former
self,” and the securitization markets, which buy and sell
marketable bundles of debt, will presumably be a
shadow of a shadow. Finance will be costlier and
investment weak, so the stock of physical capital, on
which prosperity depends, will erode.
The crisis invited a forceful government entry into
several of capitalism´s inner sanctums, such as
banking, American carmaking and the commercial-
paper market. Mr El-Erian worries that the state may
overstay its welcome. In addition, national exchequers
may start to feel some measure of the fiscal strain now
hobbling California. America´s Treasury, in particular,
must demonstrate that it is still a “responsible shepherd
of other countries´ savings.”

2. 21- In paragraph 1, growth in the new order is defined
as
a) both real and active.
b) absolutely extraordinary.
c) not very active or busy.
d) sustainable and rapid.
e) unpredictable.
22- In paragraph 1, finance is referred to as
a) remaining low throughout the crisis.
b) having been affected by the crisis.
c) having eroded throughout the process.
d) likely to be considered in a future analysis.
e) likely not to be hit by this scenario.
23- In paragraph 2, the author mentions “the fi scal
strain now hobbling California”. In other words, the
fiscal
a) policies which have been favouring California´s
growth.
b) pressure currently preventing California´s
development.
c) programmes successfully spoused by California.
d) measures which have steadily gained acceptance.
e) incentives recently promoted by the Californian
government.
Read the text below entitled “Taxation Trends in the
European Union” so as to answer questions 24 to 26:
Taxation Trends in the European Union
Source: www.ec.europa.eu

3. 2009 Edition (Adapted)
This year´s edition of the Taxation Trends in the
European Union appears at a time of upheaval. The
effects of the global economic and fi nancial crisis
have hit the European Union (EU) with increasing force
from the second half of 2008. Given that the last year
for which detailed data are available is 2007, this
year´s report cannot yet analyze the consequences of
the recession on tax revenues. Nevertheless, the report
takes stock of the
tax policy measures taken by EU governments in
response to the crisis up to spring 2009.
The European Union is, taken as a whole, a high tax
area. In 2007, the overall tax ratio, i.e. the sum of taxes
and social security contributions in the 27 Member
States amounted to 39.8% of GDP. This value is about
12 percentage points above those recorded in the
United States and Japan.
The high EU overall tax ratio is not new, dating back
essentially to the last third of the 20th century. In those
years, the role of the public sector became more
extensive, leading to a strong upward trend in the tax
ratio in the 1970s, and to a lesser extent also in the
1980s and early 1990s.
24- According to paragraph 1, the global economic
and
fi nancial crisis
a) has impacted on the EU.
b) may still hit the European Union.
c) has caused tax reductions in the EU.

4. d) could have affected the EU.
e) might bring about growth in the EU.
25- In relation to the EU´s overall tax ratio, it
a) must hit 39.8% of GDP.
b) is likely to reach 39.8% of GDP.
c) is soon to be defi ned.
d) exceeds half the GDP.
e) equals to 39.8% of GDP.
26- According to paragraph 3, the role played by the
public sector
a) widened.
b) lessened.
c) diminished.
d) faded.
e) decreased.
Read the interview below entitled “Reason with him”
so as to answer questions 27 to 30:
Reason with him
Source: www.newsweek.com
22nd Sep, 2009 (Adapted)
Question (Q) 1: Margolis: When you took offi ce, Brazil
was regarded as an underachiever, and the last
among the BRIC nations. Now Brazil is considered a
star among emerging countries. What´s happened?
Lula: No one respects anyone who doesn´t respect
themselves. And Brazil always behaved like a second-

5. class country. We always told ourselves we were the
country of the future. But we never transformed these
qualities into anything concrete. In a globalized world
you cannot sit still. You have to hit the road and sell
your country. So we decided to make strengthening
Mercosul (the South American trading bloc) a priority,
and deepened our relations with Latin America in
general. We prioritized trade with Africa and went into
the Middle East aggressively. Our trade balance today
is diversifi ed. This helped us cushion the blow of the
economic crisis.
Q2: Margolis: Has Brazil´s success in navigating the
economic crisis changed investors´views?
Lula: There was no miracle. We had a strong domestic
market. We had consumers who wanted to buy cars.
We reduced part of the sales tax and asked the
companies to offer consumers credit on affordable
items. It´s the same case with refrigerators, stoves,
washing, machines, and with computers and the
housing construction.
Q3: Margolis: What are the lessons for other countries?
Lula: The great lesson is that the state has an important
role to play, and has great responsibility. We don´t
want the state to manage business. But it can be an
inducer of growth and can work in harmony with
society.
27- In his answer to question 1, Brazil´s president refers
to “strengthening Mercosul as a priority.” In other
words, a measure he considered
a) risky.

6. b) unattainable.
c) pivotal.
d) unnecessary.
e) advisable.
28- In his answer to question 2, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
says that
a) the Brazilian domestic market was frail.
b) a miracle did come about in Brazil.
c) credit on affordable items was halved.
d) part of the sales tax was lowered.
e) consumers were not willing to spend.
29- Brazil´s president refers to the country´s diversifi ed
trade balance as having
a) contributed to worsen the global economic crisis.
b) resulted from trade with one sole strategic partner.
c) been prevented by internal regulations.
d) been considered as an unattainable goal.
e) minimized the adverse effects of the world crisis.
30- In his answer to question 3, Brazil´s president
a) emphasizes the role played by the private sector.
b) criticizes initiatives derived from private ownership.
c) sees the private sector as an inducer of growth.
d) affi rms the signifi cance of the state.
e) disregards duties attributed to the state.
Read the text below entitled “The long climb” so as to
answer questions 21 to 23:
Leia o texto abaixo intitulado “A longa escalada”
para responder àsquestões 21 a 23:

7. The long climb
A longa escalada
The world economy is fitfully getting back to normal,
but it will be a “new normal”. This phrase has caught
on, even if people disagree about what it means. In
the new normal, as defined by Pimco´s CEO,
Mohamed El-Erian, growth will be subdued and
unemployment will remain high. “The banking system
will be a shadow of its former self,” and the
securitization markets, which buy and sell marketable
bundles of debt, will presumably be a shadow of a
shadow. Finance will be costlier and investment weak,
so the stock of physical capital, on which prosperity
depends, will erode.
A economia global está irregularmente voltando ao
normal, mas será um “novo normal”. Esta frase
“pegou”, mesmo que as pessoas discordem sobre o
que isso significa. No novo normal, como definido
pelo CEO da Pimco, Mohamed El-Erian, o crescimento
será suave e o desemprego permanecerá alto. “O
sistema bancário será uma sombra do que já foi,” e os
mercados de títulos e seguros, os quais compram e
vendem pacotes negociáveis de dívida, serão
presumivelmente a sombra da sombra.
Financiamentos serão mais caros e investimentos
fracos, de modo que o estoque de capital físico, do
qual a prosperidade depende, será corroído.
The crisis invited a forceful government entry into
several of capitalism´s inner sanctums, such as
banking, American carmaking and the commercial-
paper market. Mr El-Erian worries that the state may
overstay its welcome. In addition, national exchequers

8. may start to feel some measure of the fiscal strain now
hobbling California. America´s Treasury, in particular,
must demonstrate that it is still a “responsible shepherd
of other countries´ savings.”
A crise convidou uma entrada forte do governo em
vários santuários do capitalismo, tais como o
bancário, o automobilístico americano e o mercado
de papel comercial (notas, ações). O Senhor El-Erian
se preocupa se o Estado ficará mais do que é bem-
vindo. Além disso, o Ministérios das Finanças (Fazenda)
pode começar a sentir alguma medida de pressão
fiscal agora impedindo o progresso da Califórnia. O
Tesouro Americano, em particular, deve demonstrar
que ainda é um “pastor responsável das poupanças
de outros países.”
21- In paragraph 1, growth in the new order is defined
as
No parágrafo 1, o crescimento na nova ordem é
definido como
a) both real and active.
real e ativo.
b) absolutely extraordinary.
absolutamente extraordinário.
c) not very active or busy.
não muito ativo ou ocupado.
d) sustainable and rapid.
sustentável e rápido.
e) unpredictable.
imprevisível.
22- In paragraph 1, finance is referred to as
No parágrafo 1, financiamento é referido como

9. a) remaining low throughout the crisis.
permanecendo baixo ao longo da crise.
b) having been affected by the crisis.
tendo sido afetado pela crise.
c) having eroded throughout the process.
tendo sido corroído durante o processo.
d) likely to be considered in a future analysis.
provável de ser considerado em uma análise futura.
e) likely not to be hit by this scenario.
provável de não ser atingido por este cenário.
23- In paragraph 2, the author mentions “the fiscal
strain
now hobbling California”. In other words, the fiscal
No parágrafo 2, o autor menciona “pressão fiscal
agora impedindo o
progresso da Califórnia”. Em outras palavras, a(s)
a) policies which have been favouring California´s
growth.
políticas fiscais que têm favorecido o crescimento da
Califórnia.
b) pressure currently preventing California´s
development.
pressão fiscal atualmente prevenindo o
desenvolvimento da Califórnia.
c) programmes successfully spoused by California.
programas fiscais propostos pela Califórnia.
d) measures which have steadily gained acceptance.
medidas fiscais que continuamente ganharam
aceitação.
e) incentives recently promoted by the Californian
government.
incentivos fiscais recentemente promovidos pelo
governo californiano.

10. Read the text below entitled “Taxation Trends in the
European Union” so as to answer questions 24 to 26:
Leia o texto abaixo intitulado “Tendências Tributárias
na União Europeia” para responder às questões 24 a
26:
Taxation Trends in the European Union
Tendências Tributárias na União Europeia
This year´s edition of the Taxation Trends in the
European Union appears at a time of upheaval. The
effects of the global economic and financial crisis
have hit the European Union (EU) with increasing force
from the second half of 2008. Given that the last year
for
which detailed data are available is 2007, this year´s
report cannot yet analyze the consequences of the
recession on tax revenues. Nevertheless, the report
takes stock of the tax policy measures taken by EU
governments in response to the crisis up to spring 2009.
A edição das Tendências Tributárias na União
Europeia deste ano aparece em um momento de
turbulência. Os efeitos da crise econômica e
financeira mundial têm atingido a União Europeia (UE)
com uma crescente força desde a segunda metade
de 2008. Tendo em vista que o último ano para o qual
há dados detalhados disponíveis é de 2007, o relatório
deste ano ainda não pode analisar as consequências
da recessão sobre as receitas tributárias. No entanto,
o relatório faz um balanço das medidas de política
fiscal tomadas pelos governos da UE em resposta à
crise até a primavera de 2009.

11. The European Union is, taken as a whole, a high tax
area. In 2007, the overall tax ratio, i.e. the sum of taxes
and social security contributions in the 27 Member
States amounted to 39.8% of GDP. This value is about
12 percentage points above those recorded in the
United States and Japan.
A União Europeia, como um todo é tomada uma
área de altos impostos. Em 2007, a taxa geral de
tributos, ou seja, a soma dos impostos e contribuições
para a seguridade social em 27 Estados- Membros
totalizou 39,8% do PIB. Este valor é cerca de 12 pontos
percentuais acima daqueles registrados nos Estados
Unidos e Japão.
The high EU overall tax ratio is not new, dating back
essentially to the last third of the 20th century. In those
years, the role of the public sector became more
extensive, leading to a strong upward trend in the tax
ratio in the 1970s, and to a lesser extent also in the
1980s and early 1990s.
A elevada taxa geral de impostos da UE não é nova,
remonta essencialmente ao último terço do século 20.
Naqueles anos, o papel do setor público tornou-se
mais amplo, levando a uma forte tendência de
crescimento da taxa de impostos nos anos 1970, e em
menor medida também nos anos 1980 e início dos
anos 1990.
24- According to paragraph 1, the global economic
and financial crisis
De acordo com o parágrafo 1, a global crise
econômica e financeira
a) has impacted on the EU.
teve um impacto sobre a UE.

12. b) may still hit the European Union.
pode ainda atingir a União Europeia.
c) has caused tax reductions in the EU.
causou reduções de impostos na UE.
d) could have affected the EU.
poderia ter afetado a UE.
e) might bring about growth in the EU.
pode gerar crescimento na UE.
25- In relation to the EU´s overall tax ratio, it
Em relação à taxa geral de impostos da UE, ela
a) must hit 39.8% of GDP.
deve atingir 39,8% do PIB. (obrigação)
b) is likely to reach 39.8% of GDP.
é provável de alcançar 39,8% do PIB.
c) is soon to be defined.
será em breve definida.
d) exceeds half the GDP.
excede metade do PIB.
e) equals to 39.8% of GDP.
é igual a 39,8% do PIB.
26- According to paragraph 3, the role played by the
public sector
De acordo com o parágrafo 3, o papel
desempenhado pelo setor público
a) widened.
ampliou.
b) lessened.
diminuiu.
c) diminished.
diminuiu.
d) faded.

13. desvaneceu, enfraqueceu.
e) decreased.
diminuiu.
Read the interview below entitled “Reason with him”
so as to answer questions 27 to 30:
Leia a entrevista abaixo intitulada “Argumente com
ele” para responder às questões 27 a 30.
Reason with him
Argumente com ele
Question (Q) 1: Margolis: When you took office, Brazil
was regarded as an underachiever, and the last
among the BRIC nations. Now Brazil is considered a
star among emerging countries. What´s happened?
Questão (Q) 1: Margolis: Quando você tomou posse,
o Brasil era considerado um fracassado, e a última
entre as nações do BRIC. Agora o Brasil é considerado
a estrela entre os países emergentes. O que
aconteceu?
Lula: No one respects anyone who doesn´t respect
themselves. And Brazil always behaved like a second-
class country. We always told ourselves we were the
country of the future. But we never transformed these
qualities into anything concrete. In a globalized world
you cannot sit still. You have to hit the road and sell
your country. So we decided to make strengthening
Mercosul (the South American trading bloc) a priority,
and deepened our relations with Latin America in
general. We prioritized trade with Africa and went into
the Middle East aggressively. Our trade balance today
is diversified. This helped us cushion the blow of the
economic crisis.

14. Ninguém respeita alguém que não se respeita. E o
Brasil sempre se comportou como um país de
segunda classe. Nós sempre dissemos para nós
mesmos que éramos o país do futuro. Mas nós nunca
transformamos essas qualidades em algo concreto.
Em um mundo globalizado você não pode ficar
parado. Você tem que pegar a estrada e vender o
seu país. Então nós decidimos fortalecer o Mercosul (o
bloco comercial da América do Sul) uma prioridade,
e aprofundamos nossas relações com a América
Latina em geral. Nós priorizamos o comércio com a
África e entramos no Oriente Médio agressivamente.
Nossa balança comercial hoje é diversificada. Isso nos
ajudou a amortecer o impacto da crise econômica.
Q2: Margolis: Has Brazil´s success in navigating the
economic crisis changed investors´ views?
Q2: Margolis: O sucesso brasileiro em navegar pela
crise econômica mudou a visão dos investidores?
Lula: There was no miracle. We had a strong domestic
market. We had consumers who wanted to buy cars.
We reduced part of the sales tax and asked the
companies to offer consumers credit on affordable
items. It’s the same case with refrigerators, stoves,
washing machines, and with computers and the
housing construction.
Lula: Não houve milagre. Nós tivemos um mercado
interno forte. Nós tínhamos consumidores que queriam
comprar carros. Nós reduzimos parte dos impostos
sobre vendas e pedimos às empresas que
oferecessem crédito aos consumidores em itens
acessíveis. É o mesmo caso com refrigeradores, fornos,
máquinas de lavar, e com computadores e a
construção civil.

15. Q3: Margolis: What are the lessons for other countries?
Q3: Margolis: Quais são as lições para outros países?
Lula: The great lesson is that the state has an important
role to play, and has great responsibility. We don´t
want the state to manage business. But it can be an
inducer of growth and can work in harmony with
society.
Lula: A maior lição é que o Estado tem um importante
papel a desempenhar, e tem grande
responsabilidade. Nós não queremos que o Estado
administre negócios (empresas). Mas isso pode ser um
indutor do crescimento e pode funcionar em
harmonia com a sociedade.
27- In his answer to question 1, Brazil´s president refers
to “strengthening Mercosul as a priority.” In other
words, a measure he considered
Em sua resposta à pergunta 1, o presidente do Brasil
refere-se ao “fortalecimento do Mercosul como uma
prioridade”. Em outras palavras, uma medida que ele
considera
a) risky.
arriscada.
b) unattainable.
inatingível.
c) pivotal.
fundamental.
d) unnecessary.
desnecessária.
e) advisable.
aconselhável.

16. 28- In his answer to question 2, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
says that
Em sua resposta à pergunta 2, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
diz que
a) the Brazilian domestic market was frail.
o mercado doméstico brasileiro era frágil.
b) a miracle did come about in Brazil.
um milagre ocorreu no Brasil.
c) credit on affordable items was halved.
crédito para produtos acessíveis foi reduzido à
metade.
d) part of the sales tax was lowered.
parte dos impostos sobre vendas foi reduzido.
e) consumers were not willing to spend.
consumidores não estavam dispostos a gastar.
29- Brazil´s president refers to the country´s diversified
trade balance as having
O presidente do Brasil refere-se à balança comercial
diversificada do país como tendo
a) contributed to worsen the global economic crisis.
contribuído para a piora da crise econômica global.
b) resulted from trade with one sole strategic partner.
resultado do comércio com apenas um parceiro
estratégico.
c) been prevented by internal regulations.
sido prevenida por regulações internas.
d) been considered as an unattainable goal.
sido considerada uma meta inatingível.
e) minimized the adverse effects of the world crisis.
minimizado os efeitos adversos da crise mundial.
30- In his answer to question 3, Brazil´s president

17. Em sua resposta à questão 3, o presidente do Brasil
a) emphasizes the role played by the private sector.
enfatiza o papel desempenhado pelo setor privado.
b) criticizes initiatives derived from private ownership.
critica iniciativas derivadas da propriedade privada.
c) sees the private sector as an inducer of growth.
vê o setor privado com um indutor do crescimento.
d) affirms the significance of the state.
afirma a importância do Estado.
e) disregards duties attributed to the state.
desconsidera deveres atribuídos ao Estado.