Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it.
The food and oil crises demonstrate the extent of our interdependence. Many developing nations need the food surplus of the developed nations. And many industrialized nations need the oil production of a few developing nations.
Energy is required to produce food, and food to produce energy – and both to provide a decent life for everyone. The problems of food and energy can be resolved on the basis of cooperation — or can, I should say, be made unmanageable on the basis of confrontation. Runaway inflation, propelled by food and oil price increases, is an early warning signal. Let us not delude. ourselves. Failure to cooperate on oil, food and inflation could spell disaster for every nation.
The United Nations must not, and need not allow this to occur. A global strategy for food and energy is urgently required. It is my belief that four principles should guide a global approach.
Firstly, all nations must substantially increase production. Just to maintain the present standards of living, the world_ must almost double its output of food and energy to match the expected increase in the world population by the end of the century. To meet aspirations for a better life, production will have to expand at a significantly faster rate than t population growth. Second, all nations must seek to achieve a level of Prices which not only provide an incentive to producers but which consumers can also afford. It should now be clear that the developed nations are not the only countries which demand and receive adequate returns for their goods. But it should also be clear that by confronting consumers with production restrictions, artificial pricing and the prospect of ultimate bankruptcy, producers will eventually become victims of their own actions. Third, all nations must avoid the abuse of man’s fundamental needs for sake of narrow material or bloc advantage. The attempt by any country to use one commodity for political purposes will inevitably tempt other countries to use their commodities for their own purposes. Fourth, the nations of the world must ensure that the poorest among us are not overwhelmed by rising prices of the imports necessary for their survival. The traditional aid donors and the increasingly wealthy oil producers must join hands in this effort
(a) Summarize in one sentence, how the developed and developing nations are interdependent in their needs.
(b) In one sentence, show what the inevitable result of confrontation among nations will be.
(c) In four sentences, one for each, summarize the writer’s suggestions for effecting smooth global interdependence.
Explanation
(a) The developed nations need oil from the developing ones and the developing nations need food from the developed ones.
(b) Confrontation on the problem of food and energy will result in unmanageable crisis for the nations involved.
(c) (i) There must be substantial increase in production.
(ii) The nations must ensure that the prices which provide incentive to producers are affordable to consumers.
(iii) The nations must not abuse fundamental needs of man.
(iv) The nation must make sure that rising prices of imports do not overwhelm the poorest members.