Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it. When you come to think seriously about it, you cannot but conclude that the only p...

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions on it.

When you come to think seriously about it, you cannot but conclude that the only permanent factor in international relations is national interest. This, at least among the advanced nations of the world, is very clear. A few instances would suffice.

Take the issue of political ideology. The world used to be, and is still to some degree, divided into distinguishable ideological camps. A nation is ruled either by a democratic or a dictatorial regime. From the way these two ideological camps launch verbal attacks on each other, one would assume they would never have anything to do in common. But there are numerous instances when a democratic regime had been drawn into the open embrace of a totalitarian regime. So it was during the two world wars when democratic and totalitarian regimes found themselves on the same side.

Consider also the factor of economic policies. We know today that capitalism and socialism, as economic policies, are poles apart. The two systems, at least in theory, cannot tolerate each other. But in actual fact, there has been cooperation between capitalist and socialist states when they learn they can be interdependent economically. Trading, after all, does not know one ideology from another, and money is used for the same purpose whether in China or in America.

From the foregoing, it would be correct to claim that there is no country in the world which is democratic in all respects, nor is there any which is exclusively dictatorial. Even more correct than this is the claim that there is no wholly capitalist state, nor is there a completely socialist nation. Therefore, definitions must be made cautiously, and recognition must be given to the fact that each capitalist state embraces a certain degree of socialism, and every socialist nation accommodates some degree of capitalism. So, why need we be rigid in our political and economic inclinations?

(a)What does the writer consider the most important factor in international relations?

(b) Identify the two political and the two economic systems mentioned in the passage.

(c) According to the passage, under what condition has there been cooperation between capitalist and socialist states?

(d) Why should we be flexible in our political and economic given to inclinations

(e) ...... they would never have anything to do in common.

(i) What is the grammatical name given to the above expression as used in the passage?

(ii) What is its function?

(f) For each of the following words, find another the above phrase that word or phrase at means the same and can replace it as used in the passage: (i) advanced; (ii) distinguishable (iii) numerous; (iv) ideology; (v) cautiously