Question

EXERCISE
Try to complete the text with the verbs given in parenthesis with the correct verb tense.
CORONAVIRUS: EIGHT CHARTS ON HOW IT HAS SHAKEN ECONOMIES
Growth could stagnate
If the economy is 1. __________ (to grow), that generally means more wealth and more new jobs. It’s
measured by 2. __________ (to look) at the percentage change in gross domestic product, or the
value of goods and services produced, typically over three months or a year.
The think tank 3. __________ (to forecast) growth of just 2.4% in 2020, down from 2.9% in November.
It also said that a “longer lasting and more intensive” outbreak could halve growth to 1.5% in 2020 as
factories suspend their activity and workers stay at home to try to contain the virus.
Global shares take a hit
Investors 4. __________ (to be) worried about the impact of the coronavirus as it spreads outside of
China. Big shifts in stock markets, where shares in companies are bought and sold, can affect
investments in some types of pension or individual savings accounts (Isas).
The last week of February 5. __________ (to see) the worst performance for major stock markets since
the 2008 financial crisis.
Factories slowing down
China makes up a third of manufacturing globally, and is the world’s largest exporter of goods. But
activity 6. __________ (to decrease) in the so-called “workshop of the world” as factories pause their
operations to try to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Restrictions have affected the supply chains of big companies such as industrial equipment
manufacturer JCB and carmaker Nissan. Both rely on China’s production and its 300 million migrant
workers. Jaguar Land Rover even said it had flown car parts in suitcases as some factories run out of
parts for vehicles.
Customers buying less
Fear of the coronavirus outbreak means that some people 7. __________ (to choose) to avoid
activities that might expose them to the risk of infection, such as going out shopping.
Restaurants, car dealerships and shops have all reported a fall in customer demand.
Chinese car sales, for example, 8. __________ (to drop) by 92% during the first half of February. More
carmakers, like Tesla or Geely, are now selling cars online as customers stay away from showrooms.
Apple was one tech giant who said sales had been affected by low customer demand.
Travel among hardest hit
The number of cases diagnosed 9. __________ (to increase) around the world every day. Many
countries 10. __________ (to introduce) travel restrictions to try to contain the virus’s spread. For
example, the UK government advises against all travel to the Hubei province in China, where the virus
originated. It’s also issued special travel advice for Italy, which was the first European country to report
a major surge in cases.
The travel industry has been massively impacted, with airlines cutting flights and tourists cancelling
business trips and holidays.

Answer 1

Resposta:

1. growing

2. looking

3. forecasting

4. were

5. saw

6.decreased

7. choose

8. dropped

9. increased

10. introduced