Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news.
As recently as last year, many states and major cities seemed ready to adopt complete indoor smoking bans. [23]But the movement to kick all smokers outdoors has stalled as the recession worsens and lawmakers fear hurting business at bars, restaurants and casinos. In Colorado, lawmakers are considering easing the rules after they banned smoking in most bars, restaurants and casinos.
Opponents of indoor bans insist they are not just blowing smoke about the economy. "To say that people want to roll back smoking laws because of the economy, it's absurd," said Karen Blumenfeld, who runs the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution. "We might as well repeal child-labor laws to make factories more profitable. It makes no sense."
[24]Health advocates are also citing the economy to argue their side, too. With state budgets burdened by rising health care costs, banning smoking saves the government money in the long run, they say.
Keys: 23. [C] 24. [D]
Questions 25 to 27 are based on the following news.
China overtook the US to become the leading investor in renewable energy technologies, according to a new analysis. Researchers calculate that China invested $34.6bn in clean energy over the year, almost double the US figure. [25]The UK emerges in third place among G20 nations, followed by Spain and Brazil. [26]The most spectacular growth has come in South Korea, which saw installed capacity rise by 250% in five years. Globally, investment has more than doubled in the last five years, with the recent economic turmoil generating only a slight dip. [27]Investing in clean energy can renew manufacturing bases, and create export opportunities, jobs and businesses.
Keys: 25. [B] 26. [A] 27. [C]