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| What Gets the Money? / Распределение бюджета |
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You are the Budget Department of the new South American country of Amazonas, which has just been created from parts of southeastern Colombia and northwestern Brazil. Located in the heart of the Amazon jungle, Amazonas (pop.: 100,000; area: 125,000 sq. mi.) has abundant, undeveloped natural resources (iron, gold, diamonds, oil); however, most of the indigenous population experiences the negative effects of primitive living conditions.
The Prime Minister of Amazonas has just directed your department to decide how to spend this year’s $2 million budget. For which of the following items on the list do you recommend funding, and what percentage of the budget should each item you select receive?
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| Decide and Write
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PROGRAM 1: AGRICULTURE
Most Amazonians suffer from malnutrition, especially the children. In fact, over 70% of the children currently receive less than one-fourth of the calories necessary for a healthy life. Agricultural conditions are poor because most of the country is dense rain forest.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 2: TRANSPORTATION
Boat travel on the Amazon River and its tributaries is the main form of transportation in the country. There are few roads and no airports or railroads.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 3: POLICE AND NATIONAL GUARD
Amazonas has already begun to experience increasing crime from the influx of adventurers lured by the prospect of sudden riches. Moreover, the government fears that if Amazonas’ natural resources are developed, Amazonas’ large neighbors might not honor its independence.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 4: EDUCATION
Capana, the capital of Amazonas, has two high schools. There are also a few missionary (religious) schools scattered throughout the country. However, there are no universities, and over 90% of the country is illiterate.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 5: DEVELOP UTILITIES
Over 95% of the country still does not have electricity despite the tremendous potential for hydroelectric power. No people outside the capital have refrigerators, stoves, or even electric lights.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 6: DEVELOP NATURAL RESOURCES
Iron, gold, diamonds, oil: the money gained from developing these resources could make Amazonas a rich country benefitting all of its citizens. As yet, however, there are no mines or oil wells.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 7: SOCIAL SERVICES
There is only one doctor for every 5,000 citizens, and only one small clinic in the capital of Capana. There are no hospitals. The infant mortality rate is extremely high, and the average life expectancy in Amazonas is low (men: 39; women: 42).
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 8: COMMUNICATIONS
Amazonians have telephone service only in the capital. There is a primitive postal service. Telegraph and television are nonexistent.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 9: PUBLIC RELATIONS
Amazonas needs people and foreign investment. The Prime Minister feels that some means should be found to attract new settlers and investors from other countries to help develop Amazonas.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 10: PROTECTION OF INDIGENOUS POPULATION
The government strongly feels that the native people of Amazonas (particularly Indians) must be protected from the impending problems of development.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
PROGRAM 11: TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANPOWER
Amazonas simply does not have enough qualified people at present to run existing programs efficiently or to design new ones.
% of budget:__________ Reasons:__________
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1. There are many terms used for countries such as Amazonas: non-industrialized, underdeveloped, developing, Third World, technologically new. Which term do you prefer?
2. What is the main problem that faces most developing countries?
3. Do developed countries have a responsibility to help developing countries? If yes, why and how?
4. What are some reasons that developed countries might want to hinder Third World countries from developing?
5. List three positive and three negative effects of industrial development. Give examples.
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