(UNIMONTES - 2016)Brazil country profile[1] Brazil

(UNIMONTES - 2016)

Brazil country profile

[1] Brazil is South America’s most influential country, an emerging economic power, and one of the world’s largest democracies.

Over the past few years it has made major strides in its efforts to raise millions out of poverty.

The discovery of major offshore oil reserves could propel the country into the top league of oil [5] exporting nations.

The exploitation of the Amazon rainforest, much of which is in Brazil, has been a major international worry, since the wilderness is a vital regulator of the climate. It is also an important reservoir of plant and animal life.

A drive to move settlers to the Amazon region [10] during military rule in the 1970s caused considerable damage to vast areas of rainforest.

Deforestation by loggers and cattle ranchers remains controversial, but government-sponsored migration programmes have been halted.

[15] In 2005 the government reported that one fifth of the Amazon forests had been cleared by deforestation

Deforestation has been slowed down by extra policing and pressure from environmental and [20] consumer groups. The government has fined illegal cattle ranchers and loggers, while the food industries have banned products from illegally deforested areas, such as soya beans and beef.

At a glance

• Economy: Brazil has Latin America’s largest economy; there has been steady growth.

• International: Brazil wants a permanent seat at the UN Security Council; relations with Bolivia [25]   suffered in 2006 over access to Bolivian gas.

Officials estimate that deforestation in 2010 fell to 5,000 sq km for the year, down from 7,000 sq km the year before and a peak of 27,000 sq km in 2004.

Brazil’s natural resources, particularly iron ore, are highly prized by major manufacturing nations, including China. Thanks to the development of offshore fields, the nation has become self-sufficient in oil, [30] ending decades of dependence on foreign producers. [...]

Disponível em: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19359112. Acesso em: 10 set. 2016. Adaptado.

*os números entre colchetes indicam o número das linhas do texto original.

No trecho “The government has fined illegal cattle ranchers and loggers, while the food industries have banned products from illegally deforested areas, such as soya beans and beef.” (linhas 20-21), podemos afirmar que o tempo verbal utilizado é: