2023屆湖南省寧鄉(xiāng)市第一高三第四次模擬考試英語(yǔ)試卷含解析

2023高考英語(yǔ)模擬試卷注意事項(xiàng)：1．答卷前，考生務(wù)必將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)填寫(xiě)在答題卡上。2．回答選擇題時(shí)，選出每小題答案后，用鉛筆把答題卡上對(duì)應(yīng)題目的答案標(biāo)號(hào)涂黑，如需改動(dòng)，用橡皮擦干凈后，再選涂其它答案標(biāo)號(hào)?；卮鸱沁x擇題時(shí)，將答案寫(xiě)在答題卡上，寫(xiě)在本試卷上無(wú)效。3．考試結(jié)束后，將本試卷和答題卡一并交回。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．—Iheardtheywentskiinginthemountainslastwinter.—Ittruebecausetherewaslittlesnowthere.A．maybenot B．won’tbe C．couldn’tbe D．mustn’tbe2．Whilehisapproachwasacomplete________fromestablishedpractices,theresultwassatisfactory.A．separation B．prohibition C．departure D．judgment3．Anexhibitionwith885culturalrelicstobedisplayed________attheMeridianGateGallery.A．washeldB．wouldholdC．hasholdD．willbeheld4．TherewillbeanendlesspowerofyouthsupportingtheChinesenation’srejuvenation_______theyoungergenerationofthecountryhasideals,pursuitsandshoulders.A．a(chǎn)sfaras B．solongasC．evenif D．a(chǎn)sif5．He’squite_________,butIcan’timaginehimaspresidentofsuchalargelistedcompany.A．enthusiasticB．generousC．competentD．sympathetic6．Thelittlegirl________aforeignlanguagefairlyquickly.A．pickedup B．gotup C．steppedup D．madeup7．Theaffairsofeachcountryshouldbebyitsownpeople.A．electedB．settledC．developedD．contained8．_____annoystheteachermostisthatallthestudentsaretooquietinclass.A．WhatB．ThatC．WhenD．Who9．Totellthetruth,IwouldratherI________thepaininsteadofyou.Youdon’tknowhowworriedIwas.A．took B．hadtakenC．havetaken D．shouldhavetaken10．—Excuseme,canyoutellmewhereIcanfindasupermarket?—Ihappentoknow________nearby.Comeon,I’llshowyoutheway.A．one B．itC．that D．some11．Weclimbeduptothetopofahill,___________wegotagoodviewofthewholeforestpark.A．which B．whereC．when D．that12．Youhaveabigmouth,Tom.Youhavetoldeverybodythesecret.A．shouldn’t B．mustn’t C．can’t D．mightn’t13．Theeducationalreformisnowunderwaythroughoutthecountry,________thestudentsmoreopportunitiestodeveloptotheirgreatestpotential.A．tograntB．havinggrantedC．grantingD．granted14．Mikeislookingforanotherjobbecausehefeelsthatnothinghedoeshisboss.A．serves B．satisfiesC．promises D．supports15．HeletmewritedownhisinstructionssurethatIwouldknowwhatwasafterhewentaway.A．making;doingB．making;todoC．tomake;todoD．tomake;tobedone16．Ladiesandgentlemen,onbehalfofourgovernment,I'dliketo________asincerewelcomeandheartfeltgratitude.A．exploitB．exposeC．expandD．extend17．Allthestudentsarerequiredtochecktheyhavemadesomespellingerrorsintheircompositions.A．whetherB．whatC．thatD．which18．Thedoctorhadalmostlosthopeatonepoint,butthepatientfinally.A．pulledout B．pulledthrough C．pulledup D．pulledover19．Witheconomyincreasingsteadily,people______enjoyalifeofhigherquality.A．should B．can C．may D．must20．______tosuccesscan’tdefeatus.Instead,theycanonlymakeusstronger.A．Attempts B．BarriersC．Contributions D．Access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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21．（6分）SydneyOperaHouseToursWeofferthreedifferenttoursofthisiconicbuildings.TheEssentialTourbringstolifethestorybehindthedesignandconstructionofoneoftheworld’smostfamouslandmarks.Usinginteractiveaudiovisualtechnology,yourguidewilltakeyouonamemorablejourneyinsidetheyoungestbuildingevertobeWorldHeritagelisted.Afterwards,whynotstayaroundandeatattheStudioCafé,withitsmodernAustralianmenu?YoucanbothenjoythebestviewsinSydneyandclaima20%reductiononthetotalcostofyourmeal.(Don’tforgettoshowyourticketinordertoclaimyourdiscount.)Language:English,French,GermanTakesplace:Dailybetween9amand5pmPrices:Adult$35/Online$29.75Concessions:Australianseniorsandpensioners;studentsandchildrenof16andunder$24.50Priorbookingsarenotessential.——————————————————————TheBackstageTourgivesyoubackstageaccesstotheSydneyOperaHouse.Itisauniqueopportunitytoexperiencethereal-lifedramasbehindthestage!Youmightevengettostandontheconcerthallstage,takeupaconductor’sbatonintheorchestrapitandimagineyouareleadingtheperformance.Youwillalsogettoseeinsidethestars’dressingrooms.ThetourconcludeswithacomplimentarybreakfastintheGreenRoom,theprivatediningareaofperformerspastandpresent.Takesplace:Dailyat7amPrices:$155.Noconcessions.Topurchase:Bookingsareessential.Limitedto8peoplepertour.Onlinesalesexpireat4:30pmtwodaysprior.Notes:Thetourincludesupto300steps.Flat,rubber-soledshoesmustbeworn.Forsafetyreasons,childrenof12yearsoldandunderarenotpermitted.——————————————————————OperaHighTeaconsistsofatourwhereyouwillwalkinthefootstepsofworld-classsingers,dancersandmusicians,followedbyfinefoodandmusicinthespectacularsurroundingsoftheBennelongDiningRoom.Whatcouldbebetterthanatreatofdeliciouslightsnacksandsoftdrinksfollowedbyaliverecital(獨(dú)唱會(huì))byaleadingAustraliansinger?Anunforgettabletreatforyoungandold!Takesplace:EverysecondWed.,2pmDuration:1.5hoursPrices:$145perpersonBookonlineorvisittheGuidedToursDesk201、Atravelerwillenjoyaperformanceifhechooses________.A．theEssentialTour B．theBackstageTourC．OperaHighTea D．a(chǎn)nyofthetours1、JoiningtheBackstageTour,atraveler________.A．isallowedtowearsneakerswhenstandingonthestageB．willhaveanopportunitytobetheconductoroftheorchestraC．cantakehisbigfamilyof8memberstofreebreakfastD．canbuythediscountticketthedaybeforethetour2、Ifacouplewhotravelledwiththeir17-year-oldsonjoinedtheEssentialTourandhadamealof$150there,whatwouldthelowestcostbeifpaidincash?A．$2.25. B．$214.5.C．$225. D．239.25.22．（8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.23．（8分）WhenemergencyworkersarriveatanoldfirehouseinNewYorkCity,thewaytheygreeteachotherisnotwhatyoumightexpect.Thesefirstresponderssay,"NiHao!""NiHao"means"hello"inMandarinChinese.Firstrespondersarethefirstemergencyworkerstoarriveatafire,trafficaccidentorotheremergency.Somefirstrespondersarefirefighters,whileotherscanbeEmergencyMedicalTechnicians.InBrooklyn,NewYork,over20firstrespondersarestudyingMandarinChineseforabouttwohoursaweek.Theclassisthefirstofitskind.ItisofferedbytheNewYorkCityFireDepartmentFoundation.TheU.S.CensusBureaurecentlyreportedthatsomeNewYorkneighborhoodsaremadeupmostlyofimmigrants.SomepeoplehavepredictedthattheChinesecommunityislikelytobecomeNewYork'slargestimmigrantgroup.TheythinkthecitywillhavethelargestChinesecommunityoutsideofAsia.TheCensusBureaualsofoundthatalmost200languagesarespokeninthecity.So,knowingdifferentlanguagesisimportant,especiallyifyouareafirstresponder.Lieutenant(中尉,少尉)SteveLeeispresidentoftheFireDepartment'sPhoenixSociety.Hesaysthatfirstrespondersmustbeabletocommunicatequicklyandeffectivelywhenanemergencyhappens.Heexplainsthatfirstrespondersenterneighborhoodsandcommunitiestoassistregardlessofwheretheyarefrom.Manytimesfirstrespondersdonotspeakthesamelanguageasthepeopletheyarecalledtohelp.Headdsthatitisvital,orveryimportant,thatfirstrespondersareabletocommunicatewiththepeoplecallingforhelp.Withouthelpfromhomeownersandothers,Leeadds,discoveringexactlywhereafireisburningcanbearealproblem.Firstrespondersneedtoaskquestionssuchas"Whatbuilding?Whataddress?Whatapartment?"Andthemostimportantquestion,"Isthereanybodyleftinthebuildingandwhere?"1、WhoarefirstrespondersaccordingtoParagraph2?A．Peoplefirstlearningthedisaster. B．Personsleadingtheemergencyrescue.C．Rescuersfirstreachingthedisaster D．Peoplefirstfindthedisaster.2、WhyarethefirstrespondersinNewYorkstudyingtheChineselanguage?A．ToshowrespecttotheChineseimmigrants.B．TolearnaboutChineseculturesmuchbetter.C．TomeettherapidgrowthofChinesepopulation.D．TofindabetterjobinChinesecommunity.3、Whatdofirstrespondersconcernmost?A．Theplacewherethefireoccurs. B．Thepeopletrappedinthefire.C．Thelanguagetocommunicate. D．Thedistancecoveredtothefire.4、Whatcanbeasuitabletitleforthetext?A．MandarinBeingaMustforEmergencyWorkersB．NewYork'sEmergencyCrewsLearningMandarinC．LanguageProblemDisturbingFirstResponders'WorkD．ImportanceofLanguagesUsedinEmergencyRescue24．（8分）Alittleboydiscoveredwhatlookedlikeamaptoanunknownplace.Hesoonrealizeditwasthebeginningofanexcitingtreasurehunt.Hefoundtwopiecesofpaperalongwiththemysteriousmap.Onewaswrittenwiththeinstructions,“FINDTHEWORDS.”Theotherpieceofpaperhadseveralstrangesymbolsscatteredalloverit.Dad,fortunately,wastheretohelphissonfigureoutthemystery.Hefoldedupthepaperwiththesymbolsonit,andtogethertheyformedamessage,whichhadanothersetofinstructions,“UNDERSTEPS.”Thesmartlittleboyknewexactlywhattodosohewenttolookunderthestepsofhishouse.Withouttoomucheffort,hefoundaboxbelowthestaircase.Itdidn’ttakehimlongtofigureoutwhattodonext:openitup!Insidetheboxweresomeveryinterestingobjects,includinganotherpieceofatreasuremapandtwobrokenpiecesofpaper.Thesewerethemostinterestingfindsbecausetheycontainedwhatappearedtobeacollectionoflettersonthem.Finally,theyknewwherethetreasurewasfromtheletters:INTHEBUSHUNDERYOURYARD．Aftersearchingallovertheyard,followingseveralcluesandwonderingwhereeverythingwouldlead,thepairfinallyfoundwhattheyhadbeenlookingfor.Anditwasexactlywhatyouwouldwantaftersuchanadventure:atreasurebox!Thepairpulleditoutofthegroundandcleanedawayallthedirt.Thedadputtheboxinfrontofhisson,andthelittleboycouldn’tcontainhisexcitement.Soheopeneditupandfinallyfoundoutwhatwasinside.Insidewasmoretreasurethananylittleboycouldeverwant.Therewerehundredsofcoinsandallsortsofpiratetreasure,includingwhatlookslikeapearlnecklaceandsomesilverdishes.1、Whatledthelittleboytostarthistreasurehunt?A．Hisfather’sencouragementB．Apossibletreasuremap.C．Hisnatureofcuriosity.D．Attractionoftreasure.2、Howdidthelittleboyandhisfatherfinallydeterminetheexacttreasureplace?A．Byfollowingthesymbolsonthepaper.B．Byfoldingupthemap.C．Bysearchingtheiryard.D．Bylistingthelettersonthepaper.3、Wheredidthelittleboyfindthetreasure?A．Inthebush.B．Underthesteps.C．Undertheground.D．Inaboxbelowthestaircase.4、Howdidthelittleboyfeelabouthisfinding?A．Overjoyed.B．Disappointed.C．Grateful.D．Unworthy.25．（10分）APortland,Oregonman,ColinO’Brady,hasbecomethefirstpersontotravelacrossAntarcticabyhimselfwithreceivinganyassistance.O’Bradycompletedthe1,500-kilometertriponWednesday.Hecrossedthecontinentin54days.Friends,familyandotherpeoplefollowedhisprogressthroughmessagesandpicturesheleftonsocialmedia.The33-year–oldO’BradydocumentedthetriponthesocialnetworkingserviceInstagram.HewroteWednesdaythathetraveledthelast129kilometersinonebig,finalpushtothefinishline.Thedistancetookoveronedaytocomplete.O’Bradywrote,“Whilethelast32hoursweresomeofthemostchallenginghoursofmylife,theyhavequitehonestlybeensomeofthebestmomentsIhaveeverexperienced.”Thedaybefore,hewrotethathewas“inthezone”andthoughthecouldmakeittotheendwithoutstopping.“I’mlisteningtomybodyandtakingcareofthedetailstokeepmyselfsafe,”hewrote“Icalledhomeandtalkedtomymom,sisterandwife—IpromisedthemIwillstopwhenIneedto.”O(jiān)therpeoplehavetraveledacrossAntarctica,buttheyallhadsomeformofassistance.Theyeitherhadbetter,moreplentifulsuppliesorequipmentthathelpedmovethemforward.In2016,BritishexplorerHenryWorsley’sdiedinhisattempttotravelaloneacrossAntarcticaunassisted.Worsley’sfriendLouisRudd,alsofromBritain,isnowattemptinganunaidedsolo(單獨(dú)的)journeyinhonorofWorsley.HewascompetingagainstO’Bradytobethefirsttodoit.O’BradyplanstostayonAntarcticauntilRuddfinisheshistrip.1、WhatdoweknowaboutColinO’Brady?A．HewasthefirsttotravelacrossAntarctica.B．HesucceededincrossingAntarcticaunaided.C．Hecoveredonly129kilometersin54days.D．Hemademanyfriendswhiletakingthetrip.2、WhatdoesO’Bradythinkofhislastdaybeforereachingthefinishline?A．Tiringbutpeaceful. B．Boringandunlucky.C．Challengingbutgreat. D．Worryinganddull.3、Whatcanbeinferredinthelastparagraph?A．SomepeoplehavemanagedtotravelacrossAntarctica.B．WorsleysucceededintravelingaloneacrossAntarctica.C．LouisRuddisnowundertakingthejourneywithWorsley.D．O’BradywillhaveafiercecompetitionwithLouisRudd.4、Whichofthefollowingcouldbethebesttitleforthetext?A．TheAntarcticContinent. B．TheImpossibleFirst.C．TravelingInAntarctica. D．AnIncompleteJourney.第三部分語(yǔ)言知識(shí)運(yùn)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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)．26．（30分）Yearsago,Ihadtheopportunitytoconductaseminar.Thiswasamotivationalonebasicallydesignedto1peopleinchangingtheirlives,2theirpersonalbarriersinlife.Itwasalways3tomeettheseminarattendees.Someofthemcouldn’twaittogetstarted,otherswere4aboutwhattheywouldgetfortheirmoney,andothersattended5oftenbeingforcedbypressure.Thislastgroupwasalwaysthemost6toworkwith.Theysittherewith7crossed,rarelyparticipatinginanyofthespecificexercisesmeanttohelpthembuildpositivebehaviorsto8oldhabitsandthoughts.Intheend,Istartedtolookthroughtheevaluationspayingparticularattentiontofindtheformsubmittedbyoneoftheattendeeswhohadseemingly9lessattentiveness.Tomydisappointment,inthis10,therewasnoform.IleftthatdaythinkingthatIhad11thisperson.AsI12mypreparationforthenextseminarafterwards,onedayIreceivedaphonecall—itwasthe13attendeewhohadnotsubmittedtheevaluationform!Myimmediate14wastoprepareforarequestforatotalrefund(退款).Itwasnotthecase,15Hetookhistimetotellmehowmuchtheseminarhadalreadyhelpedhimchangehisways,andhowmuchmorecomfortablehewaswithhimselfnowthatheknewhowtoovercomehisownpersonalbarriers16successbothpersonallyandprofessionally.Iwassurprisedandgladtobe17tohim.Actuallyweallhavepowertoaffectthe18ofothers,butthispowercanalsobenegativeifyouuseitwronglyorimproperly.Power—youallhaveit—useit19becauseyouneverknowwhatimpactyouhaveonotherpeopleevenwhenyouthink201、A．rescue B．a(chǎn)ssist C．sponsor D．treat2、A．breakingdown B．workingagainst C．breakingthrough D．workingout3、A．fascinating B．frightening C．incredible D．mysterious4、A．conscious B．explicit C．roundabout D．skeptical5、A．willingly B．reluctantly C．voluntarily D．naturally6、A．inspiring B．daring C．challenging D．shocking7、A．hands B．wrinkles C．smiles D．a(chǎn)rms8、A．impress B．conquer C．twist D．spin9、A．displayed B．paid C．clarified D．requested10、A．court B．case C．guilt D．generation11、A．succeeded B．managed C．a(chǎn)nticipated D．failed12、A．wentabout B．turnedover C．putaway D．setoff13、A．a(chǎn)rbitrary B．bored C．very D．suspected14、A．reaction B．feeling C．effort D．mind15、A．but B．a(chǎn)lthough C．though D．while16、A．to B．beyond C．opposite D．a(chǎn)gainst17、A．hopeful B．helpful C．handy D．holy18、A．gestures B．functions C．emotions D．behaviors19、A．wisely B．foolishly C．regularly D．regularly20、A．a(chǎn)dditionally B．a(chǎn)like C．otherwise D．overall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(gè)適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）StartingthisSeptember,freshmenatTsinghuaUniversitywillhavetotakeswimmingcourses.Theywon'treceivetheirdegreesuntiltheypassthetest1．(success).Exceptionswillbeallowedforstudentswithcertainphysicalormentalconditions,if2．(prove)bymedicalstaff.Actually,viewingtheability3．(swim)asamustforstudentsisnotsomethingnewtothisuniversity.Itwasa4．(require)intheearly20thcentury.Laterit5．(drop)duetoarisingnumberofstudentsandalackoffacilities（設(shè)施）.Asfor6．newrule,opinionsvarygreatly.Somestudentswelcomeit,sayingit'sanecessaryskill7．cansavelives,whileothersarguethatit’snotreasonabletolinkdegrees8．swimmingability.Inresponsetothenegativereviews,LiuBo,headoftheDivisionofSportsScience,gavethefollowingexplanation.9．a(chǎn)watersport,swimmingdoeslessharmtojoints（關(guān)節(jié)）andmusclesandishelpfulinimprovingstudents'endurance.10．(consequence)it'sbeneficialtostudentsinthelongrun.第四部分寫(xiě)作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯(cuò)（滿分10分）28．（10分）假定英語(yǔ)課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫(xiě)的以下作文。文中共有10處語(yǔ)言錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。每處錯(cuò)誤僅涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)（∧），并在其下面寫(xiě)出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（＼）劃掉。修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫(xiě)出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯(cuò)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(jì)分。WehadanEnglishstory—tellingcompetitiondaybeforeyesterday、Itisrequiredthatalltheentriesbeoriginalandinteresting,andbepresentinginEnglishwithinfiveminutes、Allmyclassmatestookanactivelypartintheactivity、TwoforeignEnglishteacherswereinvitedtoactlikejudges、Intheend,LiPinghadgotthefirstplace、Alltheparticipantssaidtheactivitybenefitedusalotinmanyways、NotonlydiditimprovedtheirspokenEnglish,anditalsobroughtthemmuchfun、Weallhopethatsuchkindsofactivitycanbeheldagain、第二節(jié)書(shū)面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假設(shè)你是李華。你的兩位朋友Tom與Peter幾天前產(chǎn)生了誤會(huì)。Peter的生日即將來(lái)臨，Tom想送他一個(gè)禮物來(lái)緩和關(guān)系，修復(fù)友情，特地發(fā)來(lái)郵件尋求你的建議。請(qǐng)你根據(jù)以下要點(diǎn)給Tom回一封郵件：1、禮物選擇；2、你的理由；3、其他建議。注意：1.詞數(shù)100左右；2.開(kāi)頭和結(jié)尾已為你寫(xiě)好，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。DearTom,I’mgladtohearthatyouareconsideringmakingupwithPeter.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________BestwishesYours,LiHua

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、C2、C3、D4、B5、C6、A7、B8、A9、B10、A11、B12、A13、C14、B15、D16、D17、A18、B19、B20、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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21、201、C1、A2、C22、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—isbeing