Price Ceilings and Price Supports

II. Преобразуйте предложения в страдательный залог.

1. They build many houses in our city every year.

2. I translated the article into Russian.

3. Can we discuss the question tomorrow morning?

4.They have told me not to come at three.

5. Jack was writing his annual report when the rain started.

6. They are discussing Mike’s behavior at the moment.

III. Поставьте глагол в скобках в правильную форму страдательного залога.

1. The reply (to write) yesterday from 5 to 6 p.m.

2. If you don’t come in time, you (not to be) admitted to the lecture.

3. The work (to do) already?

4. Your resume (to discuss) now.

5. The story (to forget) a long time ago.

6. He knew that he (to follow).

7. We (to take) to our work by the bus every morning.

IV. Передайте следующие предложения в косвенной речи.

1. “Explain to me how to solve this problem”, said my boss to me.

2. “I have just received an offer from England”, said a manager.

3. “I can give you our banking details”, said the secretary.

4. “We have bought the equipment”, said an import manager.

5. “The delegation is staying at the Grand Europe Hotel”, he said to me.

6. “They are leaving next Monday”, she said.

V. Раскрой те скобки, употребляя глаголы в требующейся форме.

1. If you (not to buy) coffee, we shall drink tea.

2. If he is free tomorrow, he certainly (to come) to our party.

3. If you spoke English every day, you (to improve) your language skills.

4. If you (to ring) me up, I shall tell you additional information.

5. If only you had let me know, I (to go) there immediately.

6. If I were a rich man, I (to open) a new bank.

VI. Переведите предложения, содержащие конструкцию Complex Object. Подчеркните этот оборот в каждом предложении.

1. They expect us to give them 5% discount on the price.

2. I have often heard the manager say that the model should be improved.

3. Would you like the cable to be sent today?

4. Did the President want them to go on business to Kiev?

5. The secretary watched the manager make an appointment with the representatives of the British firm.

VII. Переведите предложения, содержащие конструкцию Complex Subject. Подчеркните этот оборот в каждом предложении.

1. Many contracts are known to be signed by our company.

2. You are supposed to go to business trip in two weeks.

3. He was said to be one of the most promising economists.

4. Money just doesn’t happen to interest me.

5. The equipment seemed to be in excellent condition.

VIII. Прочитайте текст и переведите его письменно.

Price Ceilings and Price Supports

During national emergencies (чрезвычайные обстоятельства), the government sometimes imposes limits on prices, not allowing them to reach their equilibrium level. For example, during World War II, the government did not allow the prices of foodstuffs to rise to their equilibrium levels, as they felt that it would be unfair (несправедливый) and highly unpopular. As a result, the quantity demanded exceeded the quantity supplied. In other words, there was shortage.

As the price system is not allowed to do the rationing (нормирование продукта), some formal systems of rationing or allocating the available supply of the product may be needed. Thus, in World War II, families received ration coupons which determined how much they could buy of every commodity. Such rather rationing scheme may work well in emergencies (over short periods of time), but they can result eventually in serious problems, as prices are not allowed to regulate production and consumption.

Consider, for example, the rent ceilings that have been imposed on some apartments in New York City. First, the purpose of these ceilings was to prevent rents from rocketing up to during World War II. It has resulted in a shortage of housing in New York City. Because they have pushed the price of housing below the equilibrium price, less housing has been supplied than has been demanded.

Governments may also impose price floors – or price support, as they are often called. The assumption is that they allow producers of the goods in question to maintain their revenues at a higher level. For example, the federal government has imposed price supports on a lot of agricultural commodities that might increase farm incomes. The result is that the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded at the floor price.

IX. Ответьте на следующие вопросы к тексту.

1. When do governments usually impose limits on prices?
2. What examples of government regulations of prices are given in the text?
3. What were the results of government regulations?
4. Is government regulation of prices desirable?
5. Why do governments also impose price floors or price support?