The index of nonoil primary commodity prices in nominal dollar terms declines for the third （consecutive） year， and the index in real terms hits an all-time low.（） 

单项选择题GrowingtiesbetweenChina’stradersandtheirpartnersinTaiwanandHongKongarecreatinganunofficialbut（formidable）“greaterChina”tradebloc.（）

A. formal 
B. powerful  
C. fundamental 
D. rational

单项选择题Thefollowingyear，ataxlawforjointventurewas（promulgated）.（）

A. announced 
B. prolonged  
C. transformed 
D. upgraded