China was bound to 11 the US in terms of total energy consumption sooner or later, and according to IEA 12 , it happened in 2009.
One long-term factor behind this development is China's population – more than four times 13 of the US – with a growing appetite for consumer goods that need energy to use and to 14 .
The other key reason is China's rapid economic growth, an annual average of 10% 15 the last two decades, compared with a much slower 2.6% in the United States. Much of China's economic growth has been in industry and construction, which are big energy users.
The timing of China overtaking the US also reflects the global financial crisis, which 16 the American economy much harder and so had a bigger 17 on the country's energy use.
China's new 18 in energy consumption is yet another indicator of its growing influence in the global economy especially in international energy markets.
But while China's total energy consumption has, according to the IEA, overtaken the US, it's still far behind in terms of energy use per person, by a factor of more than three. Chinese officials have said the IEA's data are unreliable, and fail to 19 what they call their relentless efforts to cut energy use and emissions.
The response probably reflects China's sensitivity to criticism of its growing global influence. But the IEA's analysis is not a criticism. A senior official at the agency described China's growing energy consumption as legitimate, 20 its population.
11. A. overtake B. less C. much D. little
12. A. counts B. calculations C. multiplications D. outcomes
13. A. which B. as C. such D. that
14. A. turn down B. turn in C. manufacture D. fabricate
15. A. on B. beneath C. over D. under
16. A. hits B. hitting C. being hit D. hit
17. A. impact B. impacting C. effects D. effect
18. A. lead B. leader C. heading D. head
19. A. a time B. a stage C. an age D. a period
20. A. a presence B. an appearance C. an expression D. a disclosure