节选
SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST
Part A: Spot Dictation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage withblanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape.Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember youwill hear the passage ONLY ONCE.Now let us begin Part A with Spot Dictation.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing withthe global rules of trade between nations.
It has more than 130 members, accounting for over 90% of world trade. Over 30 othersare negotiating membership.
Decisions are made by the entire membership. This is typically by consensus. A majorityvote is also possible but it has never been used in the WTO, and was extremely rare under theWTO's predecessor, GATT. The WTO's agreements have been ratified in all members'parliaments.
The WTO's top level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference which meets atleast once every two years.
Below this is the General Council which meets several times a year in the Genevaheadquarters. The General Council also meets as the Trade Policy Review Body and theDispute Settlement Body.
At the next level, the Goods Council, Services Council and Intellectual Property Councilreport to the General Council.
Numerous specialized committees, working groups and working parties deal with theindividual agreements and other areas such as the environment, development, membershipapplications and regional trade agreements.
The WTO Secretariat, based in Geneva, has around 500 staff and is headed by a director-general. It does not have branch offices outside Geneva. Since decisions are taken by themembers themselves, the Secretariat does not have the decision-making role that otherinternational bureaucracies are given.
The Secretariat's main duties are to supply technical support for the various councils andcommittees and the ministerial conferences, to provide technical assistance for developingcountries, to analyze world trade, and to explain WTO affairs to the public and media. TheSecretariat also provides some forms of legal assistance in the dispute settlement process andadvises governments wishing to become members of the WTO. The annual budget is roughly117 million Swiss francs.