VOA慢速英语:Vietnam's Big Year for Coffee, Rice Exports

1. But this year Vietnam is expected to pass Thailand by about half a million tons.

be expected to 有望做某事；期许
例句：I can't be expected to perform miracles
不能期望我创造奇迹。

2. Vietnam became the top coffee exporter this year because of bad weather in Brazil.

because of 因为
例句：He had to wear sunglasses because of the glare of the sun. 
因为阳光耀眼,他只好戴墨镜。 

3. But in the second year after installing this system, productivity went up to fourteen hundred kilograms per hectare.

go up 上升
例句：This article is bound to go up in price. 
这种物品肯定会涨价的。 

4. People in Vietnam do not drink a lot of coffee.

a lot of 许多
例句：Considerate products don’t ask a lot of questions 
体贴的软件不问过多问题 

5.JOHN OWENS: "I had never heard about it until I came here.

hear about 听说
例句：I was sorry to hear about your illness. 
听说你病了，我很难过。