Part I: Words and expressions

1.on the edge: close to the point at which sth different, esp. sth bad, will happen

(1)Their economy is on the edge of collapse.

(2)She is on the edge of despair.

(3)But from where we stand, they appear to be teetering on the edge of financial—and societal—disaster.

2.on both/several/all counts

(1)I’m afraid I do not agree with you on all counts.

(2)I find this unconvincing on several counts.

3.be prone to: to be likely to do sth or suffer from sth, esp. sth bad or harmful

(1)Workers who are forced to work long hours are prone to accidents.

(2)Some plants are very prone to disease.

(3)Kids are all prone to eat junk food.

4.balance of payment: the difference between a country’s imports and exports

balance of payments surplus 国际收支顺差/赢余

balance of payments deficit 国际收支逆差/亏损

5.current-account

(in the text) an account of credits, debits, receipts, and expenditures between two countries

6.surge

(1)The taxi surged forward.

(2)She could feel anger surging inside her.

(3) How can we expect a surge in his financial status in a short span of 5 years?

7.a surge of

(1)There is a surge of excitement in his press conference.

(2)Whenever there is dispute between the two countries over the

(3)border area, a surge of refugees can be predicted.

Part II: Grammar

Learn about that-clause and wh-clause used as predicative after be.

The kind of noun that is generally used as subject in such sentences refers to a fact, an idea or equivalents. Words that can be followed by an appositive clause can generally be used with be predicative clause.

(1)A daunting question of the 21st century is whether nations will control this great upheaval or whether it will come to control them. (para. 2)

(2)The answer is that two problems could neutralize its potential benefits. (para. 18)

(3)A plausible presumption is that practical politicians would try to protect their constituents from global gluts.(para. 33)