World oil prices have dropped by about 30 percent since June. That has helped many economies around the world. When people spend less on fuel, they can spend more on other goods. But lower oil prices also mean reduced profits for national oil companies. Privately-owned oil producers and companies that provide services to the oil industry are also affected. Increased American oil production is one reason for the drop in world oil prices. Hydraulic fracturing technology developed in the U.S. has made that increase possible. 

Mr. Krane says slowing economies in China and Germany have also reduced the demand for oil.

“If you are a small company thinking about investing in putting in some new oil production, well, you might think twice if prices are down at $75...”

U.S. companies are not alone in feeling pressure from falling prices. In places like Houston, Texas, the oil industry is a major employer and economic driver. Economist Patrick Jankowski says lower oil prices have a clear dollar cost.

“If you look at the production that we get in the state of Texas, we are producing 4.5 million more barrels a month than we were doing this time last year. Yet the value of our production in Texas has dropped by over a billion dollars a month.”

However, Mr. Jankowski believes the over-supply will slowly disappear.“By 2016, we will probably see production drop again, definitely by 2017. By then we will see prices go back up again.”He says decreasing prices may make energy company leaders nervous, but most are prepared for it.

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1.The first paragraph mainly tells us that_________.

A World oil prices have dropped a lot since June.

B Lower oil prices can help many economies around the world.

C Hydraulic fracturing technology is one reason for the drop of oil prices.

D People can spend more money on other goods because of the lower oil prices.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第一段第一句“World oil prices have dropped by about 30 percent since June”可知，它是本段的中心句，B, C, D 三个选项均为油价下降的后果。

2.Which country is not mentioned in this passage?

A Germany

B China

C USA

D Japan

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第一段第六句“American oil production is one reason for the drop in world oil prices.”以及第二段“Mr. Krane says slowing economies in China and Germany have also reduced the demand for oil.”的内容可知，日本并未被提及，所以答案为D。

3.What does the underlined word barrels mean in Chinese?

A 桶

B 炸药

C 饰品

D 载物量

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。根据句子we are producing 4.5 million more barrels a month可知，barrels 在此表示数量单位，所以意思是桶。

4.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A Mr Jankowski believes the oil prices will go back up by 2017.

B Lower oil prices make the energy company leaders nervous.

C The Texas oil company has dropped by over a billion dollars a month.

D Germany has a lot of need of oil because of its slowing economy.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章第二段的“Mr. Krane says slowing economies in China and Germany have also reduced the demand for oil..” 可知。

5.What’s the best title of the passage?

A Falling Oil Prices Affect Nations Differently

B Why do oil drop in the world?

C The economy around the world

D New technology in USA

解析：选A。A 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文介绍了低油价对各个国家的影响。