？Read the article below about the solid growth of Mexico's economy.？Choose the best word t

？Read the article below about the solid growth of Mexico's economy.

？Choose the best word to fill each gap from A, B, C or D on the opposite page.

？For each question 21-30, mark one letter (A, B, C or D ) on your Answer Sheet.

After three years of sluggish or no growth, Mexico's economy is set to expand by 3% to 3.5% in 2004. The US turnaround will be (21) to Mexico's outlook, since the US buys almost 88% of Mexican export.

Progress can be seen in Mexico's industrial (22) Production began growing again in October and is now showing its best performance in nearly four years. A 20% depreciation of the peso against the US dollar over the past two years has helped exporters' competitiveness. The economy has also (23) from lower interest rates, a byproduct of the drop in inflation, which (24) just 3.98% in 2003.

Falling rates have bolstered consumer borrowing. While hank lending to companies has (25) , consumer credit has grown some 30% in the past two to three years, and nonbank mortgage lending has also expanded significantly. Easy credit has (26) retail, auto, and home sales, though unemployment is at its highest rate since 1997.

The 2004 (27) will come none too soon for President Vicente Fox, who took office in 2000 promising that Mexico would enjoy 7% annual growth by the end of his six-year term. But he still faces obstacles to reach that long-term goal. First, the Mexican congress has failed to (28) badly needed fiscal, labor, and energy reforms. That has left the federal government with a tight budget and few resources to generate more (29) growth.

Second, while a limited package of energy reforms may win approval this year, more significant structural overhauls, which could add some stimulus, are unlikely. The sticking point is 11 key gubernatorial elections set for this year. Campaign rhetoric, not serious reform, will (30) Mexico's agenda this year.

(21)

A．crucial

B．critical

C．significant

D．related