Dictation Directions: Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks with the exact words you have heard. The automobile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, 1)_______________ not only economies but also cultures. It provides jobs for millions of people, 2 )_______________ billions of dollars in worldwide revenues, and provides the basis for a multitude of related service and support industries. Automobiles revolutionized 3)________________ in the 20th century, changing forever the way people live, travel, and do business. Between 1886 and 1898, about 300 automobiles were built, but there was no real 4)_______________ industry. A century later, with auto-makers and auto-buyers 5)_______________ globally, auto-making became the world’s largest manufacturing activity, with more than 53 million new vehicles built each year worldwide. Automobile 6)_______________ are among the largest companies in the world. These 7)_______________ are often multinational. These companies often 8)_______________ parts, or use parts made in foreign factories. The U.S. automobile industry 9)_______________16.8 million vehicles in 1999. The three major automobile manufacturers in the United States — General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and Daimler Chrysler AG — provide three-fourths of the industry’s total direct 10)_______________ in the US.