山西省柳林縣聯(lián)盛中學2025屆高三第二次模擬考試英語試卷含解析

山西省柳林縣聯(lián)盛中學2025屆高三第二次模擬考試英語試卷請考生注意：1．請用2B鉛筆將選擇題答案涂填在答題紙相應位置上，請用0．5毫米及以上黑色字跡的鋼筆或簽字筆將主觀題的答案寫在答題紙相應的答題區(qū)內(nèi)。寫在試題卷、草稿紙上均無效。2．答題前，認真閱讀答題紙上的《注意事項》，按規(guī)定答題。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．“Drive-ins”havelargeparkinglots________customersareservedintheircarsbywaitresses.A．who B．when C．which D．where2．—Howabouthisdesign?—Well,totellthetruth,itis______butsatisfactory.Soyou’llhavetotryyourbesttobetterit.A．something B．a(chǎn)nythingC．everything D．nothing3．Onlyafterhewasbroughttothepolicestationdidtheboy________hehadstolensomepursesfromotherpassengers.A．participate B．a(chǎn)cknowledgeC．realize D．summarize4．Neverbefore________thefamousmuseumwasjustastone'sthroawayfromtheirschool,soout________.A．hadtheyknown;wentalltheyB．theyhadknown;wentalltheyC．hadtheyknown;theyallwentD．theyhadknown;theyallwent5．—Whydoyoulookveryupset?—Theelectricitywascutoffsuddenlyandmyessay________unfinishedsince.A．wasleft B．hasleftC．hadbeenleft D．hasbeenleft6．Childrenwhoarenotactiveor_____dietishighinfatwillgainweightquickly.A．what B．whoseC．which D．that7．Why________youchoosetoworkinaremotevillageschoolwhenyoucanownarespectablejobinacity?A．need B．shouldC．must D．will8．Thetoughestthingaboutsuccessis________youhavetokeeponbeingasuccess.A．why B．when C．what D．that9．Itisnotsurprisingthatshewaselected______monitor;sheis______verysmartgirlwhohastheabilitytoorganizetheclasswell.A．/;the B．/;aC．a(chǎn);a D．the;/10．----Whathappenedtotheyoungtreesweplantedlastweek？---Thetrees_____________well，butIdidn'twaterthem.A．mightgrow B．needn'thavegrownC．wouldgrow D．wouldhavegrown11．—Whatdidshewanttoknow,Tom?—ShewonderedwecouldcompletetheexperimentA．whenwasitthatB．itwaswhenthatC．itwaswhenD．whenitwasthat12．WhenIwassmall,mymom________readmestoriesatnight.A．could B．shouldC．might D．would13．---Thereareprobablyalienslivinghereonearth.---_____!Ican’tbelieveyousaidthat.A．Comeon B．ForgetitC．Goahead D．Allowme14．Amancanfailmanytimes,heisarealfailurewhenhebeginstoblamesomeoneelse.A．butB．orC．a(chǎn)ndD．so15．Takingonlinereadingintoconsideration,wecanchallengetheassumption____readingforpleasurecontinuestodecrease.A．whether B．that C．where D．when16．Theimportance______anationaldayandhowitiscelebratedareverydifferentfromcountrytocountry.A．connectedto B．givento C．meaningto D．a(chǎn)ttachedto17．—Joe,whataboutgoingtoBelgiumforourcomingholiday?—Sorry,honey,I_________onthenewlydiscovereddinosaursiteinArgentina．Thereareremainsofwhatisthoughttobethelargestcreatureevertowalktheearth.A．wasworking B．workC．willbeworking D．worked18．TheBritishgovernmentpublishedanofficialpolicydocument________itsplanstobringtheUKoutoftheEuropeanUnion.A．lettingoutB．puttingoutC．settingoutD．workingout19．Youhaveabigmouth,Tom.Youhavetoldeverybodythesecret.A．shouldn’t B．mustn’t C．can’t D．mightn’t20．AnewairportmaybeconstructedinNantong,____thepaceofeconomicgrowthwillbeaccelerated.A．inwhichcase B．inthatcase C．inwhatcase D．inwhosecase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）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.22．（8分）Weoftenseekfoodafterfocusedmentalactivity，likepreparingforanexam.Researchersguessthattoomuchthinkingconsumesalotofenergyfromthebrain.Sothebrain，sensingthatitmaysoonrequiremorecaloriestokeepgoing，apparentlyleadstobodilyhunger，andeventhoughtherehasbeenlittlephysicalmovement，weeat.Theresearchersnotethattiringactivitybothincreasestheamountofbloodsugarandlactate(乳酸鹽)circulatinginthebloodandincreasesbloodflowtothehead.Becausethebrainusessugarandlactateasfuel，researcherswonderediftheincreasedflowoffuel—richbloodduringexercisecouldfeedaworn—outbrainandreducetheurgetoovereat.Thirty—eighthealthycollegestudentswereinvitedtodeterminetheirfitnessandmetabolic(新陳代謝)ratesandtoreportwhattheirfavoritepizzawas.Afterward，theysatquietlyfor35minutesbeforebeinggivenasmuchoftheirfavoritepizzaastheywanted.Atalaterdate，thevolunteersreturnedandspent20minutesmakingselectionsfromcollegeandgraduate-schoolentranceexams.Next，halfthestudentssatquietlyfor15minutes，beforebeinggivenpizza.Therestofthevolunteersspentthose15minutesdoingintervalsonatreadmill(跑步機)twominutesofhardrunningfollowedbyaboutoneminuteofwalking，repeatedfivetimes.Thesestudentswerethenallowedtogorgeonpizza，too.Butbyandlarge，theydidnotovereat.Whentheresearchersfactoredin(將……作為因素考慮)thecaloriesburntonrunning，theydeterminedthatthosestudentsactuallyconsumed200fewertotalcaloriesaftertheirbrainworkoutsthantherestingstudents.Theresearchersdonotknowiftherunnersconsumedextracaloriesatdinner.Theyalsocannottellwhetherothertypesofexercisewouldhavethesameeffectasrunning，althoughtheresearcherssaytheysuspectthatifanactivitycausessomeonetobreakintoasweat，itshouldalsoincreasebloodsugarandlactate，feedingthebrainandweakeninghungerscall.1、Whatdowelearnfromthefirstparagraph?A．Weeatformorephysicalmovements.B．Abusybraincanmakeonehungry.C．Energyfromthebraincan’tbeusedup.D．Anexamresultsincaloricconsumptionmost.2、Whatcanaphysicalmovementdo?A．Increasebloodflow. B．Increasetheamountofbloodsugar.C．Urgeonetoeatmore. D．Makethebraintied.3、Whatdoestheunderlinedphrase“gorgeon”inparagraph5mean?A．Eat. B．Purchase. C．Taste. D．Obtain.4、Whatdotheresearcherswanttoknowfromthestudy?A．Whetherbrainusessugarandlactateasfuel.B．Whetherbraincanbetiredduringexercise.C．Whetherexercisecanreduceeatingdesire.D．Whetherexerciseincreasesbloodsugar.23．（8分）AndrewJacksonhasbeensittingprettyonthe$20billfor87years.Isittimetobringsomenewbloodtothebanknote?Thenon-profitorganizationcalledWomenon20siscampaigningtoputawoman’sfaceonAmericanmoney.BarbaraOrtizHoward,thecompany’sfounder,wouldliketoseeawomanonthe$20billby2020.Thatyearmarksthe100-yearanniversaryofthe19thAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution,whichgavewomentherighttovote.Howardgottheideawhensherealizedthatherdaughterhadnoeverydayremindersoffamouswomeninhistory.SheaskedherfriendSusanAdesStone,ajournalist,tojoinhercause.“Partoftheaimistoeducateasmanypeopleaspossibleaboutasmanywomenaspossible,”Adessays.“Wewanttoseehowmanypeoplewecanreach.”Americanmoneyvaluesthesuccessesofformerpresidentsandfoundingfathers.Currently,thereareonlytwowomenonmoney:SusanB．Anthonyisthefaceoftheraredollarcoin,andSacagaweacanbeseenonthegolddollarcoin.Therearenowomenonpaperbills.Withhelpfromwritersandhistorians,HowardandStonecameupwithavotinglistfeaturing15importantwomen.Adessaysthereisastandardforchoosingcandidates.Theylookatthewomen’scontributionstoourworld,andatwhatchallengestheyfaced.Morethan72,000peoplehavevotedsofarinthepoll.Adessaysthecompetitionhasnarrowedtoa“verycloserace”,butwon’tsaywho’sinthelead.Aftertworoundsofvoting,Womenon20swillsendtheircampaigntotheWhiteHouseforconsideration.ThefinaldecisionisuptotheTreasurySecretary,JackLew.Lewisunlikelytomakeachangewithoutthepresident’sapproval.Butlastyear,whenalittlegirlaskedthepresidentwhytherearen’tanywomenonUScurrency,hesaidthataddingawomanisa“prettygoodidea”.1、WhendidAmericanwomenbegintoenjoyvotingrights?A．Inthe1920s.B．Inthe19thcentury.C．Fewerthan20yearsago.D．Morethan200yearsago.2、Wecanknowfromthetextthat________.A．HowardandStonedecidedthevotinglistontheirownB．Howard’sideahassomethingtodowithherdaughterC．sofarnoAmericanwomenhaveappearedoncoinsD．formerpresidentsruleAmericanmoney3、Whatcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?A．Adeshasannouncedthevictorofthevoting.B．It’simpossibleforJackLewtomakeachange.C．Thepresidentwillprobablysupportsuchachange.D．Thefinaldecisionisduetobemadebythepresident.4、Whatcanbethebesttitleofthetext?A．ThefuturefacesofmoneyB．DifferentfaceschosenonmoneyC．ConstantchangesinmoneyfacesD．Acampaignforwomen’sfacesonmoney24．（8分）Children’sliveshavechangedgreatlyoverthelast50years.ButdotheyhaveahappierchildhoodthanyouorIdid?It’sdifficulttolookbackonone’sownchildhoodwithoutsomeelementofnostalgia(懷舊的).Ihavefourbrothersandsisters,andmymemoriesareallaboutbeingwiththem.Playingboardgamesonthelivingroomfloor,orspendingdaysinthestreetwiththeotherneighborhoodchildren,racingupanddownonourbikes,orexploringthenearbywoods.Myparentsscarcelyappearinthesememories,exceptasproviderseitherofmealsorofsevereblameaftersomeparticularlyriskyadventure.Thesedays,intheUKatleast,thenatureofchildhoodhaschangeddramatically.Firstly,familiesaresmaller,andtherearefarmoreonlychildren.Itiscommonforbothparentstoworkoutsidethehomeandthereisthefeelingthattherejustisn’ttimetobringupalargefamily,orthatnoonecouldpossiblyaffordtohavemorethanonechild.Asaresult,today’sboysandgirlsspendmuchoftheirtimealone.Anothermajorchangeisthatyoungsterstodaytendtospendahugeamountoftheirfreetimeathome,inside.Morethananythingthisisduetothefactthatparentsworryfarmorethantheyusedtoaboutrealorimagineddangers,sotheywouldn’tdreamoflettingtheirchildrenplayoutsidebythemselves.Finally,thekindoftoyschildrenhaveandthewaytheyplayistotallydifferent.Computerandvideogameshavereplacedtheboardgamesandmoreinterestingactivitiesofmychildhood.Theirony(令人啼笑皆非的事情)isthatsomanywaysofplayinggamesarecalled“interactive”.Thefactthatyoucanplayelectronicgamesonyourownfurtherincreasesthesenseoflonelinessfeltbymanyyoungpeopletoday.DothesechangesmeanthatchildrentodayhavealessrelaxingchildhoodthanIhad?Ipersonallybelievethattheydo,butperhapseverygenerationfeelsexactlythesame.1、Whatisthepurposeofthedirectquestiongiveninthefirstparagraph?A．Togetpeople’sattentionandleadinthetopicB．Togatherpeople’sopinionsonchildhoodC．ToshowwhothepassageiswrittenforD．Tocomparethechildhoodlivesoftwogenerations2、WhichisNOTareasonforthechanges?A．FamiliesaresmallertodayB．ParentsworriedtoomuchabouttheirchildrenC．ToyscanbeplayedbychildrenaloneathomeD．It’stoodangeroustoplayoutside3、Whathasthewriterfocusedoninthefourthparagraph?A．Youngpeopletodayshouldn’tplayelectronicgamesB．Somegamesthatyoungpeopleplaytodayaren’treallygoodC．ComputerandvideogameshavereplacedtheboardgamesD．Boardgamesaremuchmoreinterestingthancomputergames4、Thewriter’sattitudetowardsthechildhoodchangingis.A．a(chǎn)pproving B．unconcernedC．objective D．optimistic25．（10分）Haveyoueverpressedthepedestrianbuttonatacrosswalkandwonderedifitreallyworked?They’recalled“placebo(安慰劑）buttons”一buttonsthatmechanicallysoundandcanbepushed，butprovidenofunctionality.InNewYorkCity,onlyabout100ofthe1,000crosswalkbuttonsactuallyfunction.Crosswalksignalsweregenerallyinstalledbeforetrafficjamhadreachedtoday’slevels.Butwhiletheirfunctionwastakenoverbymoreadvancedsystems—suchasautomatedlightsortrafficsensors—thephysicalbuttonswereoftenkept,ratherthanbeingreplacedatfurtherexpense.Othercities，suchasBoston，DallasandSeattle，havegonethroughasimilarprocess,leavingthemwiththeirownplacebopedestrianbuttons.InLondon,whichhas6,000trafficsignals,pressingthepedestrianbuttonresultsinareliable“Wait”light.Butthatdoesn’tnecessarilymeanthatthe“greenman”—or“pedestrianstage”intrafficsignaldesignprofession—willappearanysooner.“Wedohavesomecrossingswherethegreenlightcomesonautomatically,butwestillaskpeopletopressthebuttonbecausethatenablesaccessiblefeatures,’’saidGlynnBarton,directorofnetworkmanagementatTransportforLondon.Thesefeatures,suchasblindtracksandhearabletrafficsignals,helppeoplewithvisualdisordercrosstheroadandonlyfunctionwhenthebuttonispressed.Asforthelights,agrowingnumberofthemarenowcombinedandbecomeapartofanelectronicsystemthatdetectstrafficandadjuststimefrequencyaccordingly(givingprioritytobusesifthey’rerunninglate,forexample),whichmeansthatpressingthebuttonhasnoeffect.AccordingtoLanger,aHarvardpsychologist,placebobuttonsgiveustheillusion(錯覺)ofcontrol—andsomethingtodoinsituationswherethealternativewouldbedoingnothing.Inthecaseofpedestriancrossings,theymayevenmakeussaferbyforcingustopayattentiontooursurroundings.“Theyserveapsychologicalpurposeattheveryleast,”sheadded.1、Whyarethephysicalbuttonsstillkeptinsomecities?A．Becauseitmaycostmoneytoreplacethem.B．Becausetheyremainasmemoriesofacity.C．Becausedohaverealfunctionsintraffic.D．Becausetheycanresultinreliablelights.2、Whichofthefollowingwordcanreplacetheunderlineword“features”inParagraph4?A．Functions. B．Uses.C．Equipment. D．Facilities.3、Ifyoupresseda“placebobutton”inLondon,whatwouldhappen?A．Alltrafficwouldbeaffected. B．Somekindofsoundmightappear.C．Pedestrianscamefirsttocrosstheroad. D．“Greenman”wereboundtoshowupearlier.4、Whatcanweknowabout“placebobuttons”fromLanger’swords?A．Theycanreallycontroltraffic. B．Theyservelittlefunctions.C．Theymayworkmentally. D．Theycanhelptheblind.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）Onedaymanyyearsago,afriendsurprisedmebyusingSpanish—“Comoestas”—insteadoftheEnglish“Howareyou?”Shetoldme1thatshewaslearningSpanishatUniversityofHawaii.ItwasthefirsttimeIhad2theSeniorCitizenVisitorProgram(SCVP),whichwasfreetothose3.Immediately,IrushedbackhomeandfoundouteverythingabouttheSCVPonline.Thenextday,I4theSCVPofficeatUH.My5coursewastheLife-longStudyforHawaiiSeniorResidents.However,he6me:Ihadtobeatleast60yearsoldto7.Atthatmoment,Ireallyhatedtobeso8!Butnochoice—soIstarted9togetolder.Attheendof2017,aftermy60thbirthday,IcalledtheSCVPofficeagain.Inthespring10of2018,Ibecamethe11studentappearinginthesetwoclasses:BallroomDanceandIntroductiontoInterpretation.NomatterhowoldIwas,oncebothmybodyandspirit12intheclassroom,sittingamongyoungpeople,listeningtoandwritingdownwhatthe13taughtmademeforgetmyage.Ofcourse,Iusedthemto14thatthemovingofthebrainmayget15butit’sstillenoughtolearn16.Second,foragedpeople,returningtoschoolhelpsthemtoseemingly17theirrealage,especiallywhentheygetthesame18asyoungerclassmatesdo.Andthird,weagedpeopleareusefuloneswhohaverich19,includingknowingwhy,whatandhowtokeep201、A．satisfiedlyB．excitedlyC．worriedlyD．a(chǎn)stonishedly2、A．readaboutB．enteredforC．heardaboutD．takenup3、A．suitableB．regularC．a(chǎn)vailableD．ready4、A．thankedB．locatedC．informedD．telephoned5、A．reasonableB．a(chǎn)mbitiousC．favoriteD．curious6、A．persuadedB．remindedC．encouragedD．requested7、A．takepartB．goonC．giveupD．breakup8、A．weakB．lazyC．sickD．young9、A．demandingB．strugglingC．waitingD．preparing10、A．vacationB．termC．seasonD．months11、A．strangestB．busiestC．hardestD．oldest12、A．recoveredB．separatedC．settledD．talked13、A．reportersB．professorsC．colleaguesD．translators14、A．proveB．decideC．defendD．repeat15、A．practicalB．calmC．slowD．quick16、A．speciallyB．instantlyC．patientlyD．normally17、A．reduceB．a(chǎn)pproachC．memorizeD．doubt18、A．respectB．gradesC．a(chǎn)ttentionD．supports19、A．imaginationB．knowledgeC．fortunesD．experiences20、A．learningB．fightingC．thinkingD．suffering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?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）Thetaskofbeingacceptedinauniversitybeginsearlyforsomestudents.Longbeforetheygraduate1．highschool,thesestudentstakespecialcoursestopreparefor2．(advance)study.Theymayalsotakeoneormore3．(examine)thattesthowwellpreparedtheyarefortheuniversity.Inthefinalyearofhighschool,theycompleteapplicationsandsendthemtotheuniversities4．interestthemmost.Somehighschoolstudentsmayberequiredtohave5．interviewwithpeoplefromtheuniversity.6．(neat)dressedandalittlebitfrightened,theyaredeterminedtoshowthattheyhaveagoodattitudeandtheabilitytosucceed.Ifthenewstudents7．(accept),manyuniversitieswillofferaninstructionprogramforthem8．(get)toknowtheproceduresforstudents’advising,universityrules,theuseofthelibraryandalltheothermajorservicesoftheuniversity.Beginninganewlifeinanewplacecanbevery9．(puzzle).Themoreknowledgestudentshaveabouttheschool,the10．(easy)itwillbeforthemtoadapttothenewenvironment.However,ittakestimetogetusedtocollegelife.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，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯誤及其修改均限一詞。2、只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。ThefirsttimeIdecidetoleavehomewaswhenIwasupongraduationinhighschool、Iwashavingtroublegetalongwithmyparents、Ihadaboutfiftydollarinmypockets,andIthoughtaboutleavinghome、IttookmeonlytwoweeksawayfromhomewhileIstartedtofeelhomesick、Livingonmyownisatotaldifferentexperienceforthreemainreasons:beingmoreresponsible,moredecisiveandmorecreative、BecauseofI’monmyown,Igettodealwithmydutieswithoutbeingtold、Ihavetobemorecarefulbecausemyparentsarenotheretogivemetheiradvices、Intheotherhand,Icanmakemyownfutureplan、Ihavemaderulesformetofollow、第二節(jié)書面表達（滿分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李華，你校將在暑假期間開辦一個留學生京劇訓練營(PekingOperaTrainingCamp)。請給你班的美國交換生Peter寫封郵件，告訴他相關(guān)信息。內(nèi)容包括:1.介紹訓練營的相關(guān)安排;2.說明訓練營的目的;3.表達希望對方參加的愿望。注意:1.詞數(shù)100左右;2.可以適當增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫。____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yours,ZhangXin

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、D2、B3、B4、C5、D6、B7、C8、D9、B10、D11、D12、D13、A14、A15、B16、D17、C18、C19、A20、A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、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,wedonothaveafreemarketbutonewheregovernmentpickswinnersandlosersthroughregulationsandfinancialaids.Politicsis,andalwayshasb