现代大学英语精读4lesson8知识点.docVIP

Language points Lesson 8 Globalization’s Dual Power 新闻链接：德国反全球化示威发生冲突百余名警察受伤 G8 (Group of Eight) Summit 1.? More and more people now believe that the world is becoming more and more integrated. Actually, the world is becoming a small global village. Globalization is not just an irresistible trend; instead, it is already a fact. In its broadest sense, globalization started a long time ago. One could trace it to the early caravans（商队） across the Sahara Desert and along the Silk Road, the trade around the Mediterranean or across the Atlantic after Columbus discovered America. The process reached its first peak around the end of the 19th century, and although it was temporarily suspended by widespread protectionism which led to the two world wars in the first half of the 20th century, the tide returned in the latter half with more peaceful international relations supported by the United Nations, GATT (today the WTO). The pace of international economic integration accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, esp. after the cold war ended. Many political barriers that hindered international trade were reduced or removed, and great technological development facilitated easy transportation and communication. China’s opening-up is an example of globalization. Definition: Globalization can be defined as the process of an increased relationship between national economies // through international trade, foreign direct investments by multinational firms, and international financial investments //(Pugel, 2004). As trade increases between nations, // the allocation of these resources will redistribute goods and pricing // in a process to find equilibrium in the marketplace. // During this process, countries can experience transitional pains,// such as, unemployment, lower prices for natural resources, and lower standard of living.// Other countries can experience an increased demand for employment, inflation, and an increased standard of living.// There will be gains and losses percei