湖南省湘西自治州2024年高三壓軸卷英語試卷含解析

湖南省湘西自治州2024年高三壓軸卷英語試卷考生須知：1．全卷分選擇題和非選擇題兩部分，全部在答題紙上作答。選擇題必須用2B鉛筆填涂；非選擇題的答案必須用黑色字跡的鋼筆或答字筆寫在“答題紙”相應(yīng)位置上。2．請用黑色字跡的鋼筆或答字筆在“答題紙”上先填寫姓名和準(zhǔn)考證號。3．保持卡面清潔，不要折疊，不要弄破、弄皺，在草稿紙、試題卷上答題無效。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．—Doyoufeellikegoingtothecinematonight?—Sorry,I’msotired．I____anearlynight．A．have B．a(chǎn)mhaving C．havehad D．had2．—When______leaveforJapan?—When______leaveforJapaniskeptsecret.”A．theywill,willthey B．willthey,theywillC．theywill,theywill D．willthey,willthey3．—Davidisagreenhandatsuchthings.—ButIbelieveheisquite________tothetask.A．relevantB．a(chǎn)ccessibleC．equalD．unique4．Jackdecidedtochooseadifferent________andteachhistorythroughstorytelling.A．a(chǎn)nalysisB．a(chǎn)ngleC．a(chǎn)ttitudeD．a(chǎn)pproach5．IfI_____itwithmyowneyes,Iwouldn’thavebelievedit.A．didn’tsee B．weren’tseeingC．wouldn’tsee D．hadn’tseen6．---WhereismyChinesebook?IrememberIputithereyesterday.---You_________itinthewrongplace.A．mustput B．shouldhaveputC．mighthaveput D．mightput7．TheJapanesepeoplekeepupcheerfulspirits________theworldthattheycangetoverthecrisiscausedbytheterribletsunami（海嘯）.A．beingconvinced B．convinced C．toconvince D．havingconvinced8．________someteenagersdon’trealizeis________difficultlifecanbeaftertheygetaddictedtodrugs.A．That;how B．Which;whataC．What;what D．What;how9．—Sir,I’mlatebecausemycarbrokedownontheway.—________.I’vehadenoughofyourexcuses.A．Cutitout B．Suityourself C．Youcan’tbeserious D．Itmakessense10．Yet_______intheprocessofdevelopmentdidtheystoptoconsidertheimpactoftheir“progress”onnature.A．innotimeB．a(chǎn)tnopointC．a(chǎn)slikelyasnotD．moreoftenthannot11．Ifpeoplekeeppollutingtheocean,nocreaturetherewillsurvive______.A．a(chǎn)tallcost B．foralongwhileC．inthelongrun D．bynomeans12．Thesurveyshowsthatspeedatleast30percentofroadtrafficanddeaths.A．contributestoB．resultsfromC．liesinD．relieson13．Oneofourrulesisthateverystudent_______wearschooluniformwhileatschool.A．might B．couldC．shall D．will14．studentsEnglishwell,theteachertriestospeakEnglishinclassveryoften.A．TeachingB．TaughtC．ToteachD．Teach15．TheChinesepeoplearekindandcaring.Ifnot,I_____inChinainthepast30years.A．didn’tstay B．hadn’tstayedC．couldn’tstay D．couldn’thavestayed16．---I’veheardalotaboutyou.Yougotpromoted,right?______---Manythanks.A．GoodforyouB．YouaskedforitC．ThereyouareD．You’vegonetoofar17．WuLeiistheonlyChineseplayerhasmadeitontothelatestWorldSoccer500list.A．who B．whichC．whose D．whom18．InthevirtuallaboratoryenvironmentcreatedintheVRapp,studentscan________aparticularexperimentbeforedoingtheminareallab.A．revealB．reserveC．previewD．provide19．—WhyaretheWoodssellingtheirbelongings?—Theytoanothercity.A．hadmoved B．havemoved C．moved D．a(chǎn)removing20．Theemoticons_____whenwewanttostopaconversation,sparingustheembarrassment.A．comearoundB．comeinhandyC．comeaboutD．comeby第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21．（6分）Googleisconsistentlyratedthebestplacetowork.SoyouneedadegreefromHarvardtointhedoor,right?Notreally，accordingtoLaszloBock，Google'sHeadofPeopleOperations.Whenthecompanywassmall,GooglecaredalotaboutgettingkidsfromHarvard,Stanford,MITandmanyotherIvyLeagueschools.ButBocksaiditwasthe“wrong”hiringstrategy.Experiencehastaughthimthereareexceptionalkidsatmanyotherplaces,fromstateschoolsinCaliforniatoNewYork.“Whatwefindisthebestpeoplefromplaceslikethatarejustasgood，ifnotbetter，asanybodyyoucangetfromanyIvyLeagueschool，”saidBock，whojustauthoredabooktitled“WorkRules!”Everyyear，2millionpeopleapplytogetajobatGoogle.Bockhimselfhasseensome25,000résumés.SowhatelsedoesGooglenotcareabout:Grades:Google'sdatashowsthatgradespredictperformanceforthefirsttwoyearsofacareer，butdonotmatterafterthat.Brain-teasers:Goneareinterviewquestionssuchas:Whyaremanholecovers（井蓋)round?orHowmanygolfballscanfitinaschoolbus?“Ourresearchtellsusthosequestionsareawasteoftime,”Bocksaid“They’reareallycoachableskill.Themoreyoupractice,yougetbetteratit.”Here'swhatGoogledoescareabout:Problemsolvers:Yourcognitiveability(認(rèn)知能力),orhowwellyousolveproblems.Leaders:Theideaisnotwhetheryouwerepresidentofthestudentbodyorvicepresidentofthebank,butrather:“Whenyouseeaproblemdoyoustepin,helpsolveit,”andthencritically，“Areyouwillingtostepoutandletsomebodyelsetakeover，andmakeroomforsomebodyelse?Areyouwillingtogiveuppower?”Googleyness:That'swhatGooglecallsitsculturalfit.It'snot“Areyoulikeus?”Bocksaid.“Weactuallylookforpeoplewhoaredifferent，becausediversitygivesusgreatideas.”“What'smostimportantisthatpeopleareintellectuallyhumble,willingtoadmitwhenthey'rewrong,andcareabouttheenvironmentaroundthem...becausewewantpeoplewhothinklikeownersnotemployess,”Bocksaid.Theleastimportantthing?Knowinghowtodothejob.“Wefigureifyougetthefirstthreerightyou'llfigureitoutmostofthetime.”1、WhatdoesBockmeaninParagraph2?A．Peoplefromstateschoolscanbeasgood.B．GooglenolongerhirespeoplefromIvyLeagueschools.C．HiringisahardjobforGoogle.D．StateschoolsareworsethanIvyLeagueones.2、Whichquestionbelongstoabrain-teaser?A．Whatareyourgradeslike?B．Whatisthesignificanceoffiguringouttargetusers?C．HowwouldyouimproveaGoogleproduct?D．HowmuchtoiletpaperisneededtocoverTexas?3、WhoisaqualifiedleaderaccordingtoGoogle?A．Oneeagerforpower.B．Onecapableofworkingindependently.C．Onewillingtostepaside.D．Oneoperatinganorganization.4、WhatisGoogleyness?A．Beingunique.B．Beingadaptable.C．Beingqualified.D．Beingloyal.22．（8分）Manyanimalsrecognizetheirfoodbecausetheyseeit.Sodohumans.Whenyouseeanappleorapieceofchocolateyouknowthatthesearethingsyoucaneat.Youcanalsouseothersenseswhenyouchooseyourfood.Youmaylikeitbecauseitsmellsgoodorbecauseittastesgood.Youmaydislikesometypesoffoodbecausetheydonotlook,smellortasteverynice.Differentanimalsusedifferentsensestofindandchoosetheirfood.Afewanimalsdependononlyoneoftheirsenses,whilemostanimalsusemorethanonesense.Althoughtherearemanydifferenttypesoffood,someanimalsspendtheirliveseatingonlyonetype.Thegiantpanda（大熊貓）eatsonlyoneparticulartypeofbamboo（竹子）.Otheranimalseatonlyonetypeoffoodevenwhengiventhechoice.Akindofwhitebutterfly（蝴蝶）willstayontheleavesofacabbage,eventhoughthereareplentyofothervegetablesinthegarden.However,mostanimalshaveamorevarieddiet（多樣化飲食）.Thebeareatsfruitsandfish.Thefoxeatssmallanimals,birdsandfruits.Thedietoftheseanimalswillbedifferentdependingontheseason.Humanshaveaveryvarieddiet.Weofteneatfoodbecausewelikeitandnotbecauseitisgoodforus.IncountriessuchasFranceandBritain,peopleeatfoodswithtoomuchsugar.Thismakesthemoverweight,whichisbadfortheirhealth.Eatingtoomuchredmeatandanimalproducts,suchasbutter,canalsobebadforthehealth.Choosingtherightfood,therefore,hasbecomeanareaofstudyinmodernlife.1、Wecaninferfromthetextthathumansandanimals_________.A．dependononesenseinchoosingfoodB．a(chǎn)renotsatisfiedwiththeirfoodC．choosefoodinsimilarwaysD．eatentirelydifferentfood2、Whichofthefollowingeatsonlyonetypeoffood?A．Thewhitebutterfly.B．ThesmallbirdC．Thebear.D．Thefox.3、Certainanimalschangetheirchoiceoffoodwhen___________.A．theseasonchangesB．thefoodcolorchangesC．theymovetodifferentplacesD．theyareattractedbydifferentsmells4、Wecaearnfromthelastparagraphthat__________.A．foodischosenforagoodreasonB．FrenchandBritishfoodisgoodC．somepeoplehavefewchoicesoffoodD．somepeoplecarelittleabouthealthydiet23．（8分）Attheageoftwenty-two,Iwasemployedbyoneofthelargestcommercialcompaniesintheworld,somyworkmainlyfocusedonadvertising,workingonproductionteamsforhundredsoftelevisioncommercials.Iwasfortunatetoexperiencesuchanamazingcareeratsuchayoungage,workingalloverthecountrywithsomeofthemostcreativepeopleintheworld.Ihaditall.Andthenonedayasuddenthoughtcamethroughmelikealightningbolt.“Thisisanindustrythatusesanorexic（厭食的）modelstoselldietfoodtoteenagegirls.”Mylifechanged.AndIquit.Atwelve-yearcareer.Rightthen.ThatnightIwenthomeandwasweakinmyknees.Ididnotwanttobepartofthemembersmakingthisproblem;Iwantedtobepartofthepeoplewhohadsolution.ButIhadnoideawhatthesolutionlookedlike.Mygrandfatherusedtosay,"Startwithwhatyouknow,andmorewillberevealed."Iknewthefilm,televisionandadvertisingindustriesandalmosteverythingaboutthem.SoIstartedgoingintojuniorhighschools.Ihelduppicturesofthemodelstoshowwhattheylookedlikeatfiveo'clockinthemorning,andthenheldupanotherpictureshowingwhattheylookedlikeafterthreehoursofprofessionalmake-up,thirty-fivelightingtechnicians,andprofessionalphotographerswhocanmakeanyonelookbeautifulandsexy...Nottomentiontheeffortsofpost-production,wheretheyairbrushnearlyalloftheimperfectionpartsrightoutofthepicture.Withdigitaltechnology,theycanevenstretchthemodelstomakethemappeartallerandthinner.Italkedtoyounggirlsandsaid,"Thisisamulti-billiondollarindustrythatspendsmillionsofdollarsayearprovingtoyouthatthereissomethingwrongwithyousothattheycansellyousomethingtofixit.SoIamheretotellyouthatyourteetharewhiteenough...Andyourbreathisfreshenough...andyourthighsarethinenough.Youareenough."Youareenough,nomatterwhatotherssayandwhathappens.1、Whydidtheauthorquitworkinginthecommercialcompany?A．Hewasfedupwithhisworkinadvertisingindustry.B．Herealizedhisworkwasmisleadingteenagegirls.C．Hefoundithardtoworkwiththeteam.D．Hedecidedtotakeupacareerineducation.2、Theauthorshowedtwosetsofpicturesofmodelstoyounggirlsto.A．showthemagicpowerofmake-upskillsB．stressthegreateffortsmodelsmadeintheirworkC．a(chǎn)dvocatedevelopingdigitaltechnologyD．exposetherealtruthbehindtheamazingbeautyofmodels3、Whatmessagedoesthewritermainlywanttopasstoteenagegirls?A．Youmightaswellchangeyourlifewhenanopportunityarises.B．Youcan'tbetoocautiouswhenfacinglifechoices.C．Itiswhoyouareratherthanwhatyoulooklikethatcounts.D．Itisworthwhiletoexperiencesomethinginterestingandcreative.24．（8分）MandyHarveyisa29-year-oldsingerfromtheAmericanstateofFlorida.Shesuffersfromconnectivetissuedisorder.Shelostmostofherabilitytohearwhenshewas18.Asachildandduringherteenageyears,Harveywasasinger.Butshestoppedsingingforatimeaftershewentdeaf.Butshedecidedtostartsingingagainaftershelearnedhowtofeelasong’sbeatthroughthewoodenfloorofastageortheater.Sheusesvisualaidstomakesurehermusicalinstrumentsaretunedcorrectlyandsheissinginginthecorrectpitch(音高).Harveyisnowaprofessionalsinger.ButuntilTuesdaynight,notmanypeopleintheUnitedStateshadheardofher.Ofcoursethatchangedwhensheappearedonthetelevisionshow“America’sGotTalent.”Theshowhasfourjudgeswhowatchpeopleperformanddecideiftheyshouldcontinueinthecompetition.MandyHarveyappearedonstagewithasmallinstrument:aukulele.Asignlanguageinterpreterstoodnexttothejudges.Oneofthejudges,SimonCowell,askedHarveyabouttheconditionthatcausedhertogodeaf.Thenshegotreadytoperform.Shesangapieceshewrote,called“Try.”Harveysaid:“AfterIlostmyhearing,Igaveup.ButIwanttodomorewithmylifethanjustgiveup.”Cowellsaid:“Goodforyou,”andclappedhishandsloudly.Asshewassinging，onecameracutawaytocaptureimagesofpeopleinthetheater.Manywereseencrying.Atonepoint,everyonestoodupandcheered.ByWednesdayafternoon,avideoofHarvey’sperformancehadbeenplayed46milliontimes.Shortlyaftershefinishedsinging,Cowellsmiled,andsaid“Mandy,Idon’tthinkyou’regoingtoneedatranslatorforthis.”Andhereachedoverandhitabuttonthatreleasedgoldenconfetti(五彩紙屑)intotheair.ThatmeantHarveyautomaticallymovedontothefinalpartofthetalentcompetition.1、HowdoesMandyHarveysingwithhermusicalinstrumentsasadeafperson?A．Bysensesoftouch.B．Byherinstrument.C．Byexperience.D．Bysight.2、Whatdoestheunderlinedword“that”inParagraph3referto?A．Harveyisnotwell-known.B．Harveyisaprofessionalsinger.C．HarveyispopularwithAmericans.D．Harveyisluckywithherchildhood.3、Whatdoyouknowabouttopicofhersong“Try”？A．Showingherhardsituation.B．Expressingherperseverance.C．Askingforsympathyfromothers.D．Provinghersuccessinhercareer.4、WhatwastheresultofMandy’sperformance?A．Shegotthefirstplace.B．Shemovedthethreejudges.C．Shesucceededinenteringthefinals.D．Shedidn’tsatisfythewholeaudience.25．（10分）InspiringArchaeologicalStudyToursacrosstheWorldin2017…AnArchaeologicalToursgetawayisanarchaeologylover’svacationlikenoother.Wehaveanexcitingselectionoftoursdepartingin2017withunsurpassedservice.Here’sasmallselectionofwhatwehavetooffer.Alsoacodeforyou:Neverallow(Jogstorunfree-lytheretokeeptheplantsandanimalsliveinpeaceandgetridofrubbishproperly.Becarefultoburyyourtoiletwasteandkeeptothedesignedtracks.Guatemala&BelizeCoonthetrailofMesoamericancivilizationsinthelushforests,ruggedfoothills（丘陵地帶）,andmoderncitiesofthesefascinatingsitesincentralAmerica.January6-20,2017l$6,495Ghana,Togo&BeninWitnessthemeetingofthrivingtraditions,ancientpast,andforward-lookingpresentinincomparableWestAfrica.February7-22,20171$7,495AncientEgyptFromthepyramidsofGizatotheValleysoftheKingsandQueens,discovertheglorioussplendorsofancientEgypt.February&November2017l$5,995CentralMexicoFollowtheancientcivilizationsoftheToltec,Aztec,Zapotec,OlmecandMixtecacrossthecentreofmagnificentMexicoinNorthAmerica.March11-24,2017l$5,795IranDiscoverthebeautyandmajestyofIran’slong-passedempires,earlymodemdynasties,andtimelessscenery.April,September&October2017l$7,995Malta,Sardinia&CorsicaExplorethecharacteristicgeologicalenvironmentsanduniqueculturalandpoliticalhistoriesofthesethreeislandsinSouthEurope.April19-May4,20171$7,49569、Accordingtothetravelleaflet,visitorsshouldtour________.A．withcalmnessandcuriosityB．withself-defenceandhonourC．withconventionandreligionD．withself-disciplineandprotection1、TomiskeenonearlymoderndynastywhilehiswifeenjoysAfricatraditions.Whichplacesaretheirbestchoices?A．AncientEgyptandCentralMexico.B．Guatemala,BelizeandIran.C．Ghana,Benin,TogaandIran.D．Malta,SardiniaandCorsica.第三部分語言知識運用（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分30分）閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C和D四個選項中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項．26．（30分）SomeyearsagowhenIwasinmyfirstyearincollege,IheardSalomeBeysingforthefirsttime.Themomentwasexciting.Salome’s1filledtheroomandbroughtthetheatertolife.Iwasso2thatIdecidedtowriteanarticleabouther.I3SalomeBey,tellingherIwasfromEssencemagazine,andthatIwantedtomeethertotalkabouthercareer.She4andtoldmetocometoherstudionextTuesday.WhenIhungup,Iwasscaredoutofmymind.I5Iwaslying.Iwasnotawriteratallandhadn’tevenwrittenagrocerylist.IinterviewedSalomeBeythenextTuesday.Isatthere6,takingnotesandaskingquestionsthatallbeganwith,“Canyoutellme…”Isoonrealizedthat7SalomeBeywasonething,butwritingastoryforanationalmagazinewasjustimpossible.The8wasalmostunbearable.Istruggledfordays9draftafterdraft.FinallyIputmymanuscript(手稿)intoalargeenvelopeanddroppeditintoamailbox.Itdidn’ttakelong.Mymanuscript10Howstupidofme!Ithought.HowcouldI11inaworldofprofessionalwriters?KnowingIcouldn’t12therejectionletter,Ithrewtheunopenedenvelopeintoadrawer.Fiveyearslater,IwasmovingtoCalifornia.While13myapartment,Icameacrosstheunopenedenvelope.ThistimeIopeneditandreadtheeditor’sletterin14:Ms.Profit,YourstoryonSalomeBeyisfantastic.Yetweneedsomemorerelevantmaterials.Please15thoseandreturnthearticleimmediately.Wewouldliketo16yourstorysoon.Shocked,ittookmealongtimeto17Fearofrejectioncostmedearly.Ilostatleastfivehundreddollarsandthechanceofhavingmyarticleappearinamajormagazine.Moreimportantly,Ilostyearsof18writing.Today,Ihavebecomeafull-timewriter.19thisexperience,I’velearnedaveryimportantlesson:Youcan’t20todoubtyourself.1、A．voiceB．joyC．smileD．speech2、A．proudB．movedC．satisfiedD．a(chǎn)ctive3、A．visitedB．emailedC．interviewedD．phoned4、A．refusedB．a(chǎn)greedC．hesitatedD．paused5、A．explainedB．discoveredC．knewD．replied6、A．seriouslyB．nervouslyC．patientlyD．quietly7、A．foolingB．blamingC．invitingD．urging8、A．hardshipB．failureC．commentD．pressure9、A．onB．byC．withD．in10、A．disappearedB．improvedC．spreadD．returned11、A．compareB．surviveC．competeD．struggle12、A．faceB．deliverC．ignoreD．receive13、A．decoratingB．repairingC．leavingD．cleaning14、A．a(chǎn)nxietyB．disbeliefC．horrorD．trouble15、A．increaseB．replaceC．a(chǎn)ddD．mix16、A．broadcastB．createC．a(chǎn)ssessD．publish17、A．concentrateB．prepareC．escapeD．recover18、A．energeticB．enjoyableC．typicalD．endless19、A．HoldingontoB．DatingbacktoC．LookingbackonD．Droppinginon20、A．a(chǎn)ffordB．a(chǎn)ttemptC．expectD．pretend第二節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分15分）閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入1個適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）MandarinChineseandEnglisharethetwo1．(wide)spokenlanguagesonthisplanet.WhilemostChinesepeopleneverbother2．(learn)asecondlanguageandthequalityofEnglisheducationinChinaissteadilyimproving,thereareonlyhandfulofChinesepeoplewho3．(be)abletouseEnglishatnativeornear-nativespeakerlevel.IcametoChinain2000tolearnChinese,butlittle4．IrealizethateveryonearoundmewantedtospeakEnglish!Itwasduringthistimes5．Istartedhearingcuriousphraseslike"horsehorsetigertiger"and"peoplemountainpeoplesea".6．Iwent,everyoneItalkedto,nomatterhowlongtheyhadbeenstudyingEnglish,allseemedtospeakitwith"Chinese7．(character)”.OnapersonallevelIfound8．funandfunny;asaneducator,Iwantedtodosomethingaboutit.SowhathappenswhenyoucombineChineseandEnglish?Theresultisaconfusingbuthumorousbyproductcalled"Chinglish"，9．ontheonehand,Ithinkisimportanttobeabletolaughatbutit'salsotolearnfromourmistakesandstrivetoward10．(express)ourselvesinamore"native"manner.第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯（滿分10分）28．（10分）假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯誤，每句中最多有兩處。每處錯誤僅涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線，并在該同下面寫出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯誤及其修改均僅限一詞；2、只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。Today,Ivisitmyoldhouse、Ilivedthereoneandahalfyearago、WhenIamatschool,Ioftenthinkmyoldhousebecauseitmademehappyinthepast、Myoldhouse,thathasonlytworooms,isverytidyandbright、Itliesbetweentwohighhouses,lookverysmallandlovely、I’vedecidedtocelebratemyfifteenbirthdayinitthisyearbecausetheoldhouseismymostfavoriteplace、IfIstillliveinitornot,I’llkeepitselfinmyheartandIcanalwaysgetlotsofenergy、Neverforgettingthegoodolddays、第二節(jié)書面表達（滿分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李華，你的美國筆友Tom打算來你所在的學(xué)校學(xué)習(xí)，想提前了解一些你校學(xué)習(xí)和生活中的事情，青給他寫封回信并介紹相關(guān)的情況。主要內(nèi)容：1.天氣和氣候，交通情況，飲食習(xí)慣。2.學(xué)習(xí)的課程。注意：1.詞數(shù)100左右，2.可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫。3.開頭和結(jié)尾已寫好，不計入詞數(shù)。DearTom,Howareyourecently？_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yours,LiHua

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、B2、B3、C4、D5、D6、C7、C8、D9、A10、B11、C12、A13、C14、C15、D16、A17、A18、C19、D20、B第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21、1、A2、D3、C4、A22、1、C2、A3、A4、D23、1、B2、D3、C24、1、D2、A3、B4、C25、America’sbusinessesaregettingolderandfatter,whilemanynewbusinessesaredyingininfancy.AstudylastmonthbytheBrookingsInstitutionfoundthattheproportionofolderfirmshasgrownsteadilyoverseveraldecades,whilethesurvivalrateofnewcompanieshasfallen.Inaddition,youngpeoplearestartingcompaniesatasharplylowerratethaninthepast.AnewreportfromtheNationalAssociationofManufacturersshowsamajorcause:Thecostofobeyinggovernmentregulationshasrisentomorethan$2trillion(12.26trillionyuan)annually,or12percentoftheGDP,andthiscostfallsdisproportionatelyonsmaller,newerbusinesses.It’srisky,difficultandexpensivetostartabusiness,andgettingmoreso.Governmentsareimposingvariousnewrulesonaseeminglydailybasis:healthinsurance,minimumwageincreasesand,mostrecentlyinCalifornia,compulsorypaidsickdaysforevenhourlyemployees.Theseregulationsshifthugesocialwelfarecostsdirectlyontooften-strugglingsmallbusinesses,whilebeingproportionallymuchlesscostlyforlargercompanies.Thisispartlyanunintendedissueofresources—establishedcompaniescancopewithnewcostsmoreeasily—butit’salsodeliberate.Forinstance,biginsurancecompaniesgotaseatatthetabletohelpwriteObamacare,butlesspoliticallypowerfulfirms—likemedicaldevicemanufacturers—gotsqueezed.Mature,successfulcorporationscanemployex-lawmakerswithconnections,distributecampaigncontributionsandevenwriteregulationsforthemselves.Theyarealsomorelikelytowanttoprotectsteadyrevenuestreamsthanrevolutionizetheirindustry.Majorcompaniesthathavebeensoill-managedtheywouldotherwisecollapse—airlines,carcompaniesandbanks—stagger(蹣跚)onbecausepoliticiansridetotherescuewithbagsoftaxpayermoney.Thegeniusofouruniquesystemofgovernmentisthedeterminationtoprotectanddefendtherightsoftheindividualovertherightsofthenation.Assuch,theriseofawell-connectedoligarchy(寡頭政治)thatprotectsbigbusinessattheexpenseofsmallbusiness,andtheestablishedoverthenew,isoppositetoAmericanideals.Incomeinequality—whichisdirectlycausedbyfaultygovernmentpolicy—isbeingpromotedasthereasontoimposemoreofthatbadpolicy.Butlet’sbeperfectlyclear,wedonothaveafreemarketbutonewheregovernmentpickswinnersandlosers