“offset” (line 5) means compensate for.

“softening” (line 10) is the opposite of reduction.

“constrained” (line 22) and restrained are antonyms.

“spur” (line 24) could be replaced by discourage.

“boosted” (line 36) and hindered are synonyms.

I should say that the salaries make up very nearly two thirds of the budget.

If you should be fired, your health benefits will not be automatically cut off.

In such cases the officer should first give notice to those in the house.

Should he go back to the office and wait for you to telephone?

This year’s treasury deficit should be six billion dollars or more.

OPEC crude oil production is expected to grow steadily over the next two years.

the oil output of Mexico and Norway, among other countries, decreased last year.

non-OPEC countries’ daily production averaged six hundred thousand barrels of oil in 2007.

an upward trend in oil production of non-OPEC nations is expected in 2008-2009.

Angola, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq could not pump any oil in the first three quarters of 2007.

achieved a record-breaking increase in the world last year.

fell sharply in Europe in 2007 due to weather factors.

is likely to speed economic growth in a number of markets.

may increase in 2008-2009 at a higher rate than in 2007.

will certainly grow in OECD countries for the next 2 years.

announce that world oil production capacity will soon increase to 4 million barrels per day.

criticize both OPEC and non-OPEC countries for causing unexpected delays in production.

discuss the prospects for global oil supply and demand until the end of the year 2009.

predict increasing losses in the oil markets if the surplus production capacity remains unaltered.

report what will certainly happen in the international oil market over the next two years.