Vietnam's economy expanded this year (2007) at the fastest pace since 1996, led by manufacturing and services, after the country (6) _____ the World Trade Organization.

Exercise 2: Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase.

Vietnam's economy expanded this year (2007) at the fastest pace since 1996, led by manufacturing and services, after the country (6) _____ the World Trade Organization.

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased 8.5 percent. Foreign direct (7) ____ jumped to more than $20 billion this year, from $12 billion in 2006. The government is quite (8) _____ to its economic reforms. Industry and construction account (9) _____ almost 42 percent of Vietnam's GDP. Manufacturing grew 12.8 percent, construction increased 12 percent, and the hotel and restaurant (10) _____ expanded 12.7 percent, according to today's release.

Going forward, Vietnam has a lot of (11) _____ for tourism, which expects Vietnam's economy to expand 8.5 percent in 2008. Vietnam's January (12) _____ to the World Trade Organization released it (13) _____, U.S. quotas on textile exports and detailed market access to be given to overseas companies, helping economic (14) _____. The government is targeting economic expansion of about 9 percent next year. Vietnam is an economy with much development potential and (15) _____ attractive destination for international investors.

• A. struggled
• B. organized
• C. held
• D. joined