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Comentadas sobre interpretação de texto | reading comprehension em inglês
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THERE ARE 10 QUESTIONS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE IN YOUR TEST. EACH QUESTION HAS 4 ALTERNATIVES (A, B, C, AND D) FROM WHICH ONLY ONE IS CORRECT. CHECK THE CORRECT ONE.
The knowledge the speaker must have to compensate for breakdowns in communication due to limiting conditions in actual communication is labeled by Canale and Swain (1980) as
THERE ARE 10 QUESTIONS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE IN YOUR TEST. EACH QUESTION HAS 4 ALTERNATIVES (A, B, C, AND D) FROM WHICH ONLY ONE IS CORRECT. CHECK THE CORRECT ONE.
According to Oxford (1989, p. 172), “Background knowledge of the new culture often helps learners understand better what is heard or read in the new language.” Such knowledge is usually promoted by learning strategies referred by the author as
THERE ARE 10 QUESTIONS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE IN YOUR TEST. EACH QUESTION HAS 4 ALTERNATIVES (A, B, C, AND D) FROM WHICH ONLY ONE IS CORRECT. CHECK THE CORRECT ONE.
According to the text A Framework for Understanding Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings, human communication
Text II
How To Start A Career In The Oil And Gas Industry: What Employers Say
By Katie Weir
From Talent Acquisition Specialist, Campus
Talisman Energy
How to start your career, step by step
Fix up your resumé – take it to your career
centre at your university and they’ll help you.
Write a compelling cover letter that speaks to
your best qualities – save the pretentious language
5 for your English papers.
Join a professional association and attend
their events – if you feel uncomfortable attending
alone, try volunteering at them. By having a job to do,
it gives you an excuse to interact with the attendees,
10and an easy way to start up a conversation the next
time you see them.
Do your research – I can’t stress this enough. I
want students to apply to Talisman, not because we
have open jobs, but because they actually have an
15interest in what we’re doing, and want to be a part of it.
Be confident, but stay humble – it’s important
to communicate your abilities effectively, but it’s also
important to be conscious of the phrase: “sense of
entitlement.” This generation entering the workforce
20has already been branded with the word “entitlement,”
so students will need to fight against this bias from the
very beginning of any relationship with people in the
industry – be aware that you will need to roll up your
sleeves and work hard for the first couple years, and
25you will be rewarded in the end.
Retrieved and adapted from URL: <http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2010/11/29/how-to-start-a-career-in-the-oil-and-gas-industry-what-employers-say/>. Acess on: February 14, 2012.
The fragment that closes Text II, “be aware that you will need to roll up your sleeves and work hard for the first couple years, and you will be rewarded in the end.” (lines 23-25), implies that one must
Text II
How To Start A Career In The Oil And Gas Industry: What Employers Say
By Katie Weir
From Talent Acquisition Specialist, Campus
Talisman Energy
How to start your career, step by step
Fix up your resumé – take it to your career
centre at your university and they’ll help you.
Write a compelling cover letter that speaks to
your best qualities – save the pretentious language
5 for your English papers.
Join a professional association and attend
their events – if you feel uncomfortable attending
alone, try volunteering at them. By having a job to do,
it gives you an excuse to interact with the attendees,
10and an easy way to start up a conversation the next
time you see them.
Do your research – I can’t stress this enough. I
want students to apply to Talisman, not because we
have open jobs, but because they actually have an
15interest in what we’re doing, and want to be a part of it.
Be confident, but stay humble – it’s important
to communicate your abilities effectively, but it’s also
important to be conscious of the phrase: “sense of
entitlement.” This generation entering the workforce
20has already been branded with the word “entitlement,”
so students will need to fight against this bias from the
very beginning of any relationship with people in the
industry – be aware that you will need to roll up your
sleeves and work hard for the first couple years, and
25you will be rewarded in the end.
Retrieved and adapted from URL: <http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2010/11/29/how-to-start-a-career-in-the-oil-and-gas-industry-what-employers-say/>. Acess on: February 14, 2012.
The main purpose of Text II is to
Analise o texto a seguir:
The Internet has become such an integral part of our lives, with such powerful capabilities, that it is easy to forget that this technological marvel was created by the long, hard, dedicated efforts of human beings – folks who had a vision of what universal networking could become and worked to make it happen. The key people, projects, and organizations that helped create the Internet are described below, first in a top-level summary and then in sections in roughly chronological order.
(Extraído de: Internet History. http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii.htm)
Baseando-se no texto apresentado, é correto afirmar que
Considere o texto a seguir:
We should point out here that the focal point of any operating system is its ‘kernel’. Without going into great detail, the kernel is what tells the big chip that controls your computer to do what you want the program that you’re using to do. To use a metaphor, if you go to your favorite Italian restaurant and order ‘Spaghetti alla Bolognese’, this dish is like your operating system. There are a lot of things that go into making that dish like pasta, tomato sauce, meatballs and cheese. Well, the kernel is like the pasta. Without pasta, that dish doesn’t exist. You might as well find some bread and make a sandwich. A plate of just pasta is fairly unappetizing.
Without a kernel, an operating system doesn’t exist. Without programs, a kernel is useless.
(Extraído de: Beginners Level Course: What is Linux? linux.org.
http://www.linux.org/threads/what-is-linux.4076/)
Segundo o texto, pode-se interpretar que
O texto a seguir deve ser utilizado para responder às questões de números 21 a 23.
Historically, information security has been called a number of different things such as:
• Data security;
• IT Security;
• Computer security.
But these terms (except possibly data security) ignore the fact that the information that is held on the computers is almost always and most certainly worth many times more than the computers that it runs on. The correct term is ‘information security’ and typically information security comprises three component parts:
• Confidentiality. Assurance that information is shared only among authorised persons or organisations. Breaches of confidentiality can occur when data is not handled in a manner appropriate to safeguard the confidentiality of the information concerned. Such disclosure can take place by word of mouth, by printing, copying, e-mailing or creating documents and other data etc.;
• Integrity. Assurance that the information is authentic and complete. Ensuring that information can be relied upon to be sufficiently accurate for its purpose. The term ‘integrity’ is used frequently when considering information security as it represents one of the primary indicators of information security (or lack of it). The integrity of data is not only whether the data is ‘correct’, but whether it can be trusted and relied upon;
• Availability. Assurance that the systems responsible for delivering, storing and processing information are accessible when needed, by those who need them.
(Extraído de: “An Introduction to Information, Network and Internet Security.
What is ‘Information Security’?” The Security Practitioner
http://security.practitioner.com/introduction/infosec_2.htm)
Segundo o texto, quando os dados não são tratados de forma adequada para salvaguardar a confidencialidade da informação de interesse, pode ocorrer
O texto a seguir deve ser utilizado para responder às questões de números 21 a 23.
Historically, information security has been called a number of different things such as:
• Data security;
• IT Security;
• Computer security.
But these terms (except possibly data security) ignore the fact that the information that is held on the computers is almost always and most certainly worth many times more than the computers that it runs on. The correct term is ‘information security’ and typically information security comprises three component parts:
• Confidentiality. Assurance that information is shared only among authorised persons or organisations. Breaches of confidentiality can occur when data is not handled in a manner appropriate to safeguard the confidentiality of the information concerned. Such disclosure can take place by word of mouth, by printing, copying, e-mailing or creating documents and other data etc.;
• Integrity. Assurance that the information is authentic and complete. Ensuring that information can be relied upon to be sufficiently accurate for its purpose. The term ‘integrity’ is used frequently when considering information security as it represents one of the primary indicators of information security (or lack of it). The integrity of data is not only whether the data is ‘correct’, but whether it can be trusted and relied upon;
• Availability. Assurance that the systems responsible for delivering, storing and processing information are accessible when needed, by those who need them.
(Extraído de: “An Introduction to Information, Network and Internet Security.
What is ‘Information Security’?” The Security Practitioner
http://security.practitioner.com/introduction/infosec_2.htm)
A melhor tradução, dentro do contexto, para “information security comprises three component parts” é:
Nas questões de números 48 a 50, leia os textos e assinale a alternativa em que a tradução está adequada.
Along a typical distribution feeder there are different cables and configurations (cross-arm and underground, for instance). Therefore, there is no linear relation between the line impedance and the distance between the fault location and the substation.
Nas questões de números 48 a 50, leia os textos e assinale a alternativa em que a tradução está adequada.
Accurate location of faults on Power distribution and transmission systems can reduce maintenance costs, improve reliability and increase the profits of the electric utility industry.
O texto a seguir é referência para as questões 27 a 31.
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) – Brazil’s hugely popular television soap-operas usually deal with tear-filled romance. But the violence engulfing the country has upstaged the melodrama and taken one “telenovela” to the top of the ratings.
“Vidas Opostas” (Opposite Lives) is a hit with residents of Rio de Janeiro, where it is set, and around the country, despite complaints that people are weary of the real-life bloodshed and gory newscasts.
“We are showing things as they are in Rio – slums, drug traffickers, corrupt cops, rotten politicians, and common people caught in the middle of all that”, director Alexandre Avancini said.
The prime-time telenovela on the Rede Record network, shot partly in a real slum, has beat leading network Globo in the ratings several times when pitted against big league soccer games – an undeniable sign of popularity in Brazil.
A love-story is not missing. “Vidas Opostas” is the story of a young millionaire heir who loves a girl who lives in a slum, or favela. The favela is controlled by a drug gang that is in the middle of a turf with a rival group, which has the backing of a corrupt cop, a typical scenario in many of Rio’s 600-plus shanty towns.
(http://www.gulf-times.com)
Consider the following statements about Opposite Lives:
1. It shows violence as it is in a big city.
2. It includes a love-story.
3. It ignores real-life murders, killing and violence.
4. It is the first time Record network has Avancini as a director.
5. It has as a scenario Rio’s more than 600 favelas.
According to the text, the reasons Opposite Lives is a hit are:
O texto a seguir é referência para as questões 27 a 31.
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) – Brazil’s hugely popular television soap-operas usually deal with tear-filled romance. But the violence engulfing the country has upstaged the melodrama and taken one “telenovela” to the top of the ratings.
“Vidas Opostas” (Opposite Lives) is a hit with residents of Rio de Janeiro, where it is set, and around the country, despite complaints that people are weary of the real-life bloodshed and gory newscasts.
“We are showing things as they are in Rio – slums, drug traffickers, corrupt cops, rotten politicians, and common people caught in the middle of all that”, director Alexandre Avancini said.
The prime-time telenovela on the Rede Record network, shot partly in a real slum, has beat leading network Globo in the ratings several times when pitted against big league soccer games – an undeniable sign of popularity in Brazil.
A love-story is not missing. “Vidas Opostas” is the story of a young millionaire heir who loves a girl who lives in a slum, or favela. The favela is controlled by a drug gang that is in the middle of a turf with a rival group, which has the backing of a corrupt cop, a typical scenario in many of Rio’s 600-plus shanty towns.
(http://www.gulf-times.com)
According to the text, an undeniable sign of popularity in Brazil is:
O texto a seguir é referência para as questões 27 a 31.
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) – Brazil’s hugely popular television soap-operas usually deal with tear-filled romance. But the violence engulfing the country has upstaged the melodrama and taken one “telenovela” to the top of the ratings.
“Vidas Opostas” (Opposite Lives) is a hit with residents of Rio de Janeiro, where it is set, and around the country, despite complaints that people are weary of the real-life bloodshed and gory newscasts.
“We are showing things as they are in Rio – slums, drug traffickers, corrupt cops, rotten politicians, and common people caught in the middle of all that”, director Alexandre Avancini said.
The prime-time telenovela on the Rede Record network, shot partly in a real slum, has beat leading network Globo in the ratings several times when pitted against big league soccer games – an undeniable sign of popularity in Brazil.
A love-story is not missing. “Vidas Opostas” is the story of a young millionaire heir who loves a girl who lives in a slum, or favela. The favela is controlled by a drug gang that is in the middle of a turf with a rival group, which has the backing of a corrupt cop, a typical scenario in many of Rio’s 600-plus shanty towns.
(http://www.gulf-times.com)
Consider the following information:
1. The city where “Vidas Opostas” takes place.
2. The title of the melodrama which is a success on Globo network.
3. The name of the actor who plays a corrupt cop.
4. Examples of professions which are present in “Vidas Opostas”.
5. The place where the main female character of the story lives.
The pieces of information present in the text are:
O texto a seguir é referência para as questões 27 a 31.
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) – Brazil’s hugely popular television soap-operas usually deal with tear-filled romance. But the violence engulfing the country has upstaged the melodrama and taken one “telenovela” to the top of the ratings.
“Vidas Opostas” (Opposite Lives) is a hit with residents of Rio de Janeiro, where it is set, and around the country, despite complaints that people are weary of the real-life bloodshed and gory newscasts.
“We are showing things as they are in Rio – slums, drug traffickers, corrupt cops, rotten politicians, and common people caught in the middle of all that”, director Alexandre Avancini said.
The prime-time telenovela on the Rede Record network, shot partly in a real slum, has beat leading network Globo in the ratings several times when pitted against big league soccer games – an undeniable sign of popularity in Brazil.
A love-story is not missing. “Vidas Opostas” is the story of a young millionaire heir who loves a girl who lives in a slum, or favela. The favela is controlled by a drug gang that is in the middle of a turf with a rival group, which has the backing of a corrupt cop, a typical scenario in many of Rio’s 600-plus shanty towns.
(http://www.gulf-times.com)
According to the text:
Instruções: Considere o texto a seguir para responder às questões de números 37 a 44.
After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country – failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart's problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success – low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise – did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Some of Wal-Mart's problems stem from being a uniquely powerful American enterprise trying to impose its values around the world. At Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., however, the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear.
Among other things, Wal-Mart now cares (37) whether its foreign stores carry the name derived from its founder, Sam Walton, as the German Wal-Marts do. Seventy percent of WalMart's international sales come from outlets with names like Asda in Britain, Seiyu in Japan or Bompreço in Brazil. Far from being chastened by its setbacks, Wal-Mart is forging ahead with an aggressive program of foreign acquisitions. In a single week last fall, Wal-Mart completed the purchase of the Sonae chain in Brazil, bought a controlling stake in Seiyu of Japan, and became a partner in the Carcho chain in Central America.
Starting from scratch 14 years ago, Wal-Mart International [TO GROW] into a $63 billion business. It is the fastest-growing part of Wal-Mart, with nearly 30 percent sales growth in June, compared with the same month last year. Even subtracting one-time gains from acquisitions, it grew at nearly 12 percent, about double the rate of Wal-Mart's American stores.
Sustaining that pace is critical for Wal-Mart, because high fuel prices have helped sap the buying power of Americans. In June, store traffic in its home market declined. Wal-Mart estimated that its sales in the United States in stores open at least one year would increase only 1 percent to 3 percent in July.
Another problem that has afflicted Wal-Mart in several countries is its inability to compete with established discounters. The obvious lesson is to try to bulk up. In Brazil, Wal-Mart opened only 25 stores in its first decade there and struggled to compete against bigger local rivals. Then, in 2004, it bought Bompreço, giving it a presence in the country's poor, but fastgrowing, northeast.
Wal-Mart did not change the names of the stores, which range from neighborhood grocers to large American-style hypermarkets. But with 295 stores in Brazil, Wal-Mart now ranks third in the market, after Carrefour of France and the market leader, Companhia Brasileira de Distribução.
(Adapted from an article by Mark Landler and Michael Barbaro published in the New York Times, August 2, 2006)
The best title for the above text is
Instruções: Considere o texto a seguir para responder às questões de números 37 a 44.
After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country – failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart's problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success – low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise – did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Some of Wal-Mart's problems stem from being a uniquely powerful American enterprise trying to impose its values around the world. At Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., however, the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear.
Among other things, Wal-Mart now cares (37) whether its foreign stores carry the name derived from its founder, Sam Walton, as the German Wal-Marts do. Seventy percent of WalMart's international sales come from outlets with names like Asda in Britain, Seiyu in Japan or Bompreço in Brazil. Far from being chastened by its setbacks, Wal-Mart is forging ahead with an aggressive program of foreign acquisitions. In a single week last fall, Wal-Mart completed the purchase of the Sonae chain in Brazil, bought a controlling stake in Seiyu of Japan, and became a partner in the Carcho chain in Central America.
Starting from scratch 14 years ago, Wal-Mart International [TO GROW] into a $63 billion business. It is the fastest-growing part of Wal-Mart, with nearly 30 percent sales growth in June, compared with the same month last year. Even subtracting one-time gains from acquisitions, it grew at nearly 12 percent, about double the rate of Wal-Mart's American stores.
Sustaining that pace is critical for Wal-Mart, because high fuel prices have helped sap the buying power of Americans. In June, store traffic in its home market declined. Wal-Mart estimated that its sales in the United States in stores open at least one year would increase only 1 percent to 3 percent in July.
Another problem that has afflicted Wal-Mart in several countries is its inability to compete with established discounters. The obvious lesson is to try to bulk up. In Brazil, Wal-Mart opened only 25 stores in its first decade there and struggled to compete against bigger local rivals. Then, in 2004, it bought Bompreço, giving it a presence in the country's poor, but fastgrowing, northeast.
Wal-Mart did not change the names of the stores, which range from neighborhood grocers to large American-style hypermarkets. But with 295 stores in Brazil, Wal-Mart now ranks third in the market, after Carrefour of France and the market leader, Companhia Brasileira de Distribução.
(Adapted from an article by Mark Landler and Michael Barbaro published in the New York Times, August 2, 2006)
Segundo o texto,
Instruções: Considere o texto a seguir para responder às questões de números 37 a 44.
After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country – failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart's problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success – low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise – did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Some of Wal-Mart's problems stem from being a uniquely powerful American enterprise trying to impose its values around the world. At Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., however, the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear.
Among other things, Wal-Mart now cares (37) whether its foreign stores carry the name derived from its founder, Sam Walton, as the German Wal-Marts do. Seventy percent of WalMart's international sales come from outlets with names like Asda in Britain, Seiyu in Japan or Bompreço in Brazil. Far from being chastened by its setbacks, Wal-Mart is forging ahead with an aggressive program of foreign acquisitions. In a single week last fall, Wal-Mart completed the purchase of the Sonae chain in Brazil, bought a controlling stake in Seiyu of Japan, and became a partner in the Carcho chain in Central America.
Starting from scratch 14 years ago, Wal-Mart International [TO GROW] into a $63 billion business. It is the fastest-growing part of Wal-Mart, with nearly 30 percent sales growth in June, compared with the same month last year. Even subtracting one-time gains from acquisitions, it grew at nearly 12 percent, about double the rate of Wal-Mart's American stores.
Sustaining that pace is critical for Wal-Mart, because high fuel prices have helped sap the buying power of Americans. In June, store traffic in its home market declined. Wal-Mart estimated that its sales in the United States in stores open at least one year would increase only 1 percent to 3 percent in July.
Another problem that has afflicted Wal-Mart in several countries is its inability to compete with established discounters. The obvious lesson is to try to bulk up. In Brazil, Wal-Mart opened only 25 stores in its first decade there and struggled to compete against bigger local rivals. Then, in 2004, it bought Bompreço, giving it a presence in the country's poor, but fastgrowing, northeast.
Wal-Mart did not change the names of the stores, which range from neighborhood grocers to large American-style hypermarkets. But with 295 stores in Brazil, Wal-Mart now ranks third in the market, after Carrefour of France and the market leader, Companhia Brasileira de Distribução.
(Adapted from an article by Mark Landler and Michael Barbaro published in the New York Times, August 2, 2006)
É INCORRETO afirmar que a Wal-Mart
Instruções: Considere o texto a seguir para responder às questões de números 37 a 44.
After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country – failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart's problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success – low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise – did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Some of Wal-Mart's problems stem from being a uniquely powerful American enterprise trying to impose its values around the world. At Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., however, the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear.
Among other things, Wal-Mart now cares (37) whether its foreign stores carry the name derived from its founder, Sam Walton, as the German Wal-Marts do. Seventy percent of WalMart's international sales come from outlets with names like Asda in Britain, Seiyu in Japan or Bompreço in Brazil. Far from being chastened by its setbacks, Wal-Mart is forging ahead with an aggressive program of foreign acquisitions. In a single week last fall, Wal-Mart completed the purchase of the Sonae chain in Brazil, bought a controlling stake in Seiyu of Japan, and became a partner in the Carcho chain in Central America.
Starting from scratch 14 years ago, Wal-Mart International [TO GROW] into a $63 billion business. It is the fastest-growing part of Wal-Mart, with nearly 30 percent sales growth in June, compared with the same month last year. Even subtracting one-time gains from acquisitions, it grew at nearly 12 percent, about double the rate of Wal-Mart's American stores.
Sustaining that pace is critical for Wal-Mart, because high fuel prices have helped sap the buying power of Americans. In June, store traffic in its home market declined. Wal-Mart estimated that its sales in the United States in stores open at least one year would increase only 1 percent to 3 percent in July.
Another problem that has afflicted Wal-Mart in several countries is its inability to compete with established discounters. The obvious lesson is to try to bulk up. In Brazil, Wal-Mart opened only 25 stores in its first decade there and struggled to compete against bigger local rivals. Then, in 2004, it bought Bompreço, giving it a presence in the country's poor, but fastgrowing, northeast.
Wal-Mart did not change the names of the stores, which range from neighborhood grocers to large American-style hypermarkets. But with 295 stores in Brazil, Wal-Mart now ranks third in the market, after Carrefour of France and the market leader, Companhia Brasileira de Distribução.
(Adapted from an article by Mark Landler and Michael Barbaro published in the New York Times, August 2, 2006)
Do trecho the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear, no 2º parágrafo, infere-se que a Wal-Mart
Instruções: Considere o texto a seguir para responder às questões de números 37 a 44.
After nearly a decade of trying, Wal-Mart never cracked the country – failing to become the all-in-one shopping destination for Germans that it is for so many millions of Americans. Wal-Mart's problems are not limited to Germany. The retail giant has struggled in countries like South Korea and Japan as it discovered that its formula for success – low prices, zealous inventory control and a large array of merchandise – did not translate to markets with their own discount chains and shoppers with different habits.
Some of Wal-Mart's problems stem from being a uniquely powerful American enterprise trying to impose its values around the world. At Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., however, the message from these missteps is now registering loud and clear.
Among other things, Wal-Mart now cares (37) whether its foreign stores carry the name derived from its founder, Sam Walton, as the German Wal-Marts do. Seventy percent of WalMart's international sales come from outlets with names like Asda in Britain, Seiyu in Japan or Bompreço in Brazil. Far from being chastened by its setbacks, Wal-Mart is forging ahead with an aggressive program of foreign acquisitions. In a single week last fall, Wal-Mart completed the purchase of the Sonae chain in Brazil, bought a controlling stake in Seiyu of Japan, and became a partner in the Carcho chain in Central America.
Starting from scratch 14 years ago, Wal-Mart International [TO GROW] into a $63 billion business. It is the fastest-growing part of Wal-Mart, with nearly 30 percent sales growth in June, compared with the same month last year. Even subtracting one-time gains from acquisitions, it grew at nearly 12 percent, about double the rate of Wal-Mart's American stores.
Sustaining that pace is critical for Wal-Mart, because high fuel prices have helped sap the buying power of Americans. In June, store traffic in its home market declined. Wal-Mart estimated that its sales in the United States in stores open at least one year would increase only 1 percent to 3 percent in July.
Another problem that has afflicted Wal-Mart in several countries is its inability to compete with established discounters. The obvious lesson is to try to bulk up. In Brazil, Wal-Mart opened only 25 stores in its first decade there and struggled to compete against bigger local rivals. Then, in 2004, it bought Bompreço, giving it a presence in the country's poor, but fastgrowing, northeast.
Wal-Mart did not change the names of the stores, which range from neighborhood grocers to large American-style hypermarkets. But with 295 stores in Brazil, Wal-Mart now ranks third in the market, after Carrefour of France and the market leader, Companhia Brasileira de Distribução.
(Adapted from an article by Mark Landler and Michael Barbaro published in the New York Times, August 2, 2006)
No 1º parágrafo, a palavra country, sublinhada no texto, refere-se