湖北省安陸市第一中學(xué)2025屆高考適應(yīng)性考試英語(yǔ)試卷含解析

湖北省安陸市第一中學(xué)2025屆高考適應(yīng)性考試英語(yǔ)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(xiě)在“答題紙”相應(yīng)位置上。2．請(qǐng)用黑色字跡的鋼筆或答字筆在“答題紙”上先填寫(xiě)姓名和準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)。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(wú)效。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Anyonewithaneyeontheemploymentsituationknewtheassessmentabouteconomicrecovery_______justaroundthecornerwascorrect.A．beingB．tobeC．wasD．havingbeen2．Whatisyourmainreasonforchoosingonerestaurantanother?A．overB．ofC．fromD．for3．Richardsaveduphismoney______hemightgoabroadforhissummerholiday.A．incaseB．nowthatC．a(chǎn)sifD．sothat4．Withthedevelopmentofeconomy，ourincomehasincreased________10%inlessthanayear.A．forB．byC．onD．a(chǎn)t5．—IntheUK，somepeopleequatelifeexperiencewiththenumberofstampsintheirpassports.—That’swhytheyallagreethatthey________the“travelbug”．A．catchB．caughtC．havecaughtD．a(chǎn)retocatch6．––Isthisteagoodcoldaswell?––______withice,thisteaisespeciallydelicious.A．ServedB．ServingC．HavingservedD．Tobeserved7．Inthismoviegoingseason,womenaredrivingticketsalestoadegree,ifever,seenbefore.A．really B．frequentlyC．rarely D．never8．Wehavestrong________forbelievingthatthenewly-inventedmaterialisnotonlypopularbutalsoamonumenttotheeco-friendlylifestyle.A．grounds B．reasons C．causes D．purposes9．WethesunshineinSanyanowifitwerenotforthedelayofourflight.A．wereenjoying B．wouldhaveenjoyedC．wouldbeenjoying D．willenjoy10．Youcanusethisroomforyourclubactivitiestomorrow______youkeepittidyandclean.A．forfearthat B．incaseC．onconditionthat D．evenif11．That’swhyIhelpbrightenpeople’sdays.Ifyou________,who’stosaythatanotherpersonwill?A．didn’t B．don’tC．weren’t D．haven’t12．Itwasn'teasyhavingmyfriendstalkabouttheirfreshmanyears________Iwasn'tapartof．A．whom B．when C．that D．what13．Tohisdelight,Tomquicklyearnedthetrustofhisbossandthenofhiscolleagues.A．one B．onesC．that D．those14．Sinceyouaremydaughter'sclassmate,we'dliketo______you_______tonight.A．put;down B．put;in C．put;off D．put;up15．Childrenwhoarenotactiveor_____dietishighinfatwillgainweightquickly.A．what B．whoseC．which D．that16．Uptillnow,therehasbeennoscientificevidenceabout________causedthedeathofdinosaurs.A．whatisitthat B．whatitwasthat C．itwaswhat D．whatisit17．LastyearIappliedtoPrincetonUniversity．I____theywouldsayyes—buttheydid,andnowhereIam．A．neverthink B．a(chǎn)mneverthinkingC．haveneverthought D．neverthought18．—WhatdoesNicky’sjobinvolveasapublicrelationsdirector?—______quitealotoftimewithotherpeople.A．SpendingB．HavingspentC．TospendD．Tohavespent19．Whyaresomebrandsmorepopularthanothers______theproductsareofsimilarquality?A．a(chǎn)sthough B．evenif C．sothat D．incase20．OurEnglishteacher,havingexplainedtoushowtodesignaproject,allowedusawholeweek’spreparationandthen______theclass.A．todismiss B．dismissedC．dismissing D．havingdismissed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）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）Withchildbehavior,thereisalmostmuchmorethanitmeetstheeye.Becauseitoccursatsomanydifferentlevels,childbehaviorthatseemssimpleatonelevelcanoftenbemuchmorecomplexandmeaningfulatanother.Forinstance,alittlechild’spatternofgettingintocupboards,drawersandclosedrooms,evenafterbeingtoldnotto,iseasilyconsideredasbadbehavior.Whenviewedatthatlevel,thepatternisunacceptableandcouldleadtopunishment.Butitcanbeviewedatamorecomplexandmeaningfullevel,namelychildexploration.Ifachildregularlyexperiencesanangryparentwhoseemsdeterminedtopreventanyexploratoryactivities,thechildwilldecidetocontinuetoachievefuturediscoveries.Whenparentsviewthisbehaviorasbornoutofnaturalcuriosityratherthansimpleopposition,theyaremorelikelytoacceptandappropriatelymonitorit.Althoughitmayleadtowarningresponsestoensurethechild’ssafety,itislesslikelytoleadtopunishment.Therearecountlessotherexamples.Holdingagoldfishoutsideitsbowlisfoolishatonelevelbutalsocanbeseenasayoungchild’sattempttoexpressphysicalaffectionforapet.Spendingtimewithfriendsratherthanfamilyisselfishatonelevelbutalsoindicatesateen’sneedforindependence.Thepointhereisthatchildbehaviorisoftenexhibitedinsimpleformsthatcanappeartobeoppositional,selfishorgenerallyunacceptableifviewedonlyatthatbasiclevel.However,whenviewedatamoremeaningfullevel,thesameapparentlysimplebehaviorcanbeseenassomethinglargerandpotentiallymoreadaptive.Thisdoesn’tmeanthebehaviorshouldbeignored,especiallyifitisinappropriate.Butlookingatthebiggerpictureofachild’sbehavior,adultsmightgainafullerunderstandingofwhatthey’redealingwith,whichcancreatemoreflexibilityinhowtheyrespond.1、AccordingtoParagraph1,wecanknowthatchildbehavior________.A．isverychangeable B．isinacceptableC．occursatdifferentlevels D．isfullyunderstoodbyadults2、TheexampleinParagraph2mainlyshowsthat________.A．parentsshouldproperlypunishchildbehaviorB．parentsshouldkeepchildren’ssafetyinmindC．children’sbehaviorshowstheirinterestsD．therearedifferentattitudestochildbehavior3、WhatdoestheunderlinedsentenceinParagraph2mostprobablymean?A．Thechildwillinsistondoingthingswithdetermination.B．Thechildwillhavetomakefrequentdecisions.C．Thechildwillmakenewdiscoveriesinthefuture.D．Thechildwilldevelopastrongsenseofachievement.4、ItcanbeinferredfromParagraph3that________.A．childbehaviorusuallyreflectsachild’sneedB．whatachilddoescanmeandifferentlywhenseenfromdifferentaspectsC．childrentendtodosomethingtoshowtheirdependencetotheirparentsD．childrenspendingtimewithfriendsshowtheirselfishness5、Whatdoesthewritersuggestparentsshoulddowithachild’sbehavior?A．Haveapositiveattitudetowardsit.B．Ignoretheimproperbehavior.C．Viewitatthebasiclevel.D．Watchoveritfromheadtofoot.23．（8分）Weallhavesomepeoplewhomwerespectverymuch,likeourfamilymembers,ourfriendsorourteachers.Respectoftenmeansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople.Thereareseveralaspectsthatmanypeoplecanagreeon,though.Forexample,atitsmostbasiclevel,respectmeansbeingkindandconsideratetoothers.Respectcantakemanyforms.Don’tmakefunofothers.Putyourselfinotherpeople’sshoesandthinkabouthowtheyfeel.RemembertheGoldenRule:treatothersthesamewayyou’dwanttobetreated.Respectisimportantbecauseitsetstheproperstageforallourhumaninteractions.Friendship,love,andevenbasiccommunicationmustallstartwithrespect.Everyonewantstoberespected.Togetrespect,though,youmustalsoshowrespectforothers.It’salwaysatwo-waystreet.Youcan’tbeimpolitetoothersandexpectrespectinreturn.It’seasytoshowrespect.Bepolite.Lookforthebestinpeopleratherthanconcentratingontheirmistakes.Showcompassiontoothersandtrytoputtheirinterestsbeforeyourown.Makeotherscomfortablewhenthey’reuneasy.Helpoutwheneveryoucan.Whenyoupayitforward,amazingthingscanhappen.Andberespectfultoeveryone.Theworldisanunbelievablyhugeplacefilledwithbillionsofpeople,eachoneofwhomisuniqueandspecial.Andtheyalldeserveyourrespect!Becareful,though.Noteveryonewillshowyourespectallthetime.Infact,you’llprobablyseeexamplesofimpolitebehavioureachandeveryday.Howyourespondtoimpolitebehaviour,though,canmakeahugedifference.Ifyouchoosetorespondtoimpolitebehaviourbyactingrudelyyourself,you’vegainednothing.You’veonlycontinuedthepatternofimpolitebehaviourandsetabadexample.Instead,actrespectfullyandsetagoodexample.Consistentlyactingrespectfullymightjusthelpotherslearnfromyourexample!1、AccordingtotheGoldenRule,__________.A．you’dbetterwalkinothers’shoesB．youcan’tplayjokesonotherpeopleC．youshouldpayattentiontoyourfeelingsD．thewayyouaretreateddependsonyourself2、Bysaying“It’salwaysatwo-waystreet”inParagraph4,thewriterprobablywantstotellus“______”.A．PeopleshouldrespecteachotherB．ItisalwayssafetowalkinthestreetC．SomeleaveandotherscomebackD．Thereisonlyonestreettogothrough3、Thefifthparagraphismainlywrittentotellus______.A．wheretofindrespectB．howtocorrectmistakesC．whentohelpothersintimeD．howtoshowrespectforothers4、Accordingtothepassage,whatshouldwedoifsomeoneisimpolitetous?A．Showhim/hertruerespect.B．Leavehim/heralone.C．Bekindtohim/hersometimes.D．Setaspecialexampletoothers.24．（8分）5SecretsofWebTravelSitesBookingatriponanonlinetravelsiteisconvenient,butcomeswithitsownsetofproblems.1.Theyknowwho’sonaMacandwho’sonaPCandwho’sgoingtospendmore.Lastyear,UStravelresearchcompanyOrbitztrackedpeople’sonlineactivitiestotestoutwhetherMacusersspendmoreontravelthanPCusers.Onaverage,MacuserslayoutUS$20-30morepernightonhotelsandgoformorestars,accordingtotheWallStreetJournal.Asaresult,onlinetravelsitesshowtheseusersmoreexpensivetraveloptionsfirst.Toavoidinadvertentlypayingmore,sortresultsbyprice.2.Theirsoftwaredoesn’talwayshookuptothehotel’ssystem.Aguaranteedreservationisalmostimpossibletocomebyanywhere–buttheriskofyourflightorhotelbeingoverbookedincreaseswiththird-partyproviders.Themiddle-man’ssoftwareisn’timmunetosystemerrors,soalwayscallthehotelorairlinetomakesureyourbookingwasprocessed.3.Don’tbefooledbypackages:Often,they’relow-enditemsgroupedtogether.Evernoticehowtravelsitesrecommendahotel,arentalcar,andtourpackageallinoneclick?Thesedealsusuallyfeaturetravelthatnoonewants,likeflightswithmultiplelayovers.Checkthefineprint.4.Youcouldmissoutonloyaltypoints.Third-partyproviderscangetbetweenyouandfrequentflyermilesorpoints.Manyhotelloyaltyprogrammesdon’trecognizeexternalsites,othersawardonlyminimumpointsandexcludespecialoffers,likedoublepointsonhotelstays.5.Onceyourtripispurchased,you’reonyourown.Anonlinetravelagencycan’tprovideassistancethesamewayanagentcanifaflightiscancelledoraroomissubstandard.Basically,whenyouarriveattheairportorhotel,you’rejustanotherclientwhobookedatthelowestrate.1、WhichofthefollowingisTRUE?A．Third-partyproviderscanensureyourreservation.B．MacusersarelikelytospendmoremoneythanPCusers.C．Anonlinetravelagencyfunctionsthesameasanagent.D．Packagesusuallyprovidetravelerswithsatisfactoryprogrammes.2、What’sthepurposeofthepassage?A．Toencouragereaderstobookatriponanonlinetravelsite.B．Tomakeanadvertisementaboutseveraltravelsitesonline.C．Toconvincereadersnottobookatriponanonlinetravelsite.D．Towarnreadersofsomeproblemswithbookingtripsonline.25．（10分）“Howdoyouaccountforyourremarkableachievementsinlife?”QueenVictoriaoftheUKaskedHelenKeller.“Howdoyouexplainthefactthateventhoughyouwerebothblindanddeaf,youwereabletoachievesomuch?”Ms.Keller'sanswerisatribute（致敬）toherkindteacher.“IfithadnotbeenforAnneSullivan,thenameofHelenKellerwouldhaveremainedunknown.”AccordingtospeakerZigZiglar,AnnieSullivanwasnostrangertohardship.Shewasalmostsightlessherselfandwas,atonetime,diagnosedashopelessly“insane”byhercaregivers.Shewaslockedinthebasementofamentalinstitution.Occasionally,Anniewouldviolentlyattackanyonewhocamenear.Mostofthetimeshegenerallyignoredeveryoneinherpresence.Anelderlynursebelievedtherewashope,however,andshemadeitherworktoshowlovetothechild.EverydayshevisitedAnnie,andsheleftcookiesforherandspokewordsofloveandencouragement.ShebelievedAnniecouldrecover,ifonlyshewereshownlove.Eventually,doctorsnoticedthechangeinthegirl.Wheretheyoncewitnessedangerandhate,theynawnotedagentlenessandlove.Theymovedherupstairswhereshecontinuedtoimprove.Thenthedayfinallycamewhenthisseemingly“hopeless”childwasreleased.AnneSullivangrewintoayoungwomanwithadesiretohelpothersasshe,herself,washelpedbythekindnurse.ItwasshewhosawthegreatpotentialinHelenKeller.Shelovedher,disciplined（約束）her,playedwithher,pushedherandworkedwithheruntiltheflickeringcandlethatwasherlifebecameabeacon（燈塔）oflighttotheworld.AnneSullivanworkedwondersinHelen'slife;butinwasalovingnursewhofirstbelievedinLittleAnnieandlovinglytransformedanuncommunicativechildintoakindteacher.“IfithadnotbeenforAnneSullivan,thenameofHelenKellerwouldhaveremainedunknown.”Butifithadnotbeenforakindanddedicatednurse,thenameofAnneSullivanwouldhaveremainedunknown.1、Whatdoestheunderlinedpart“accountfor”probablymean?A．showB．proveC．explainD．present.2、WhatdoweknowfromtheThirdparagraph?A．Sullivanhadverynormalbehavior.B．Sullivanwasignoredbyeveryone.C．Sullivanwaskeptawayfromherparents.D．Sullivanwasbelievedlohaveamentalproblem.3、Whatwouldbethebesttitleforthenext?A．ThePowerofLoveB．MakingaDifferenceC．AGoodTeacherD．RemarkableAchievements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）MyTeacherintheSchoolofLifeIspenttheopeningdayofschoolthisyearatDeMathaCatholicHighSchoolinmuchthesamewayIspentthefirstdayofclasses130yearsago;IsatinDrCharlesE.Offutt’sBritishliteratureclass,listeningtohim2whathisseniorswouldlearnandgetthemexcitedaboutthejourneytheywould3I’mtheprincipal(校長(zhǎng))oftheschoolnow,butforafewminutesIwasbackin1975,4whatthefutureheld.IhavebeenlearningfromDrOffuttfor30ofthe51yearshehadbeenteachingatDeMatha.Henotonlytaughtmetothink,he5me,asmuchbyexampleas6thatitwasmymoraldutytodosoandtoserve7.Neitherofuscouldknowhowour8woulddevelopovertheyears.WhenIfirstcamebacktoDeMathatoteachEnglish.IworkedforDrOffutt,thethendepartmentchair.Afterseveralyears,Iwas9departmentchair,andourrelationshipchanged10.Ithoughtthatitmightbe11chairingthedepartment,sinceallofmyformerEnglishteacherswerestillthere,butDrOffutt12methroughout.Heknewwhentogiveme13aboutcurriculum,textsandpersonnel,andwhentoletmedesignmyowncourse.In1997,IneededhisadviceaboutleavingDeMathatobecomeprincipalatanotherschool.IfhehadaskedmetostayatDeMatha,Imighthave.14,heencouragedmetoseizethenew15Fiveyearsago,Ibecamethe16ofDeMatha.Onceagain,DrOffuttwasthereforme,lettingmeknowthatIcould17onhimasItriedtofillsuchbigshoes.I’velearnedfromhimthatgreatteachershavea(n)18wealthoflessonstoteach.19hisstudentsdon’tknowityet,Iknowhow20theyare;I’mstilloneofthem.1、A．mostlyB．exactlyC．onlyD．simply2、A．explainB．predictC．speakD．teach3、A．keepB．a(chǎn)chieveC．chooseD．take4、A．preparingB．discoveringC．wonderingD．realizing5、A．a(chǎn)ssistedB．remindedC．a(chǎn)dvisedD．convinced6、A．wordsB．a(chǎn)ctionC．explanationD．models7、A．theothersB．everyoneC．othersD．a(chǎn)nyone8、A．relationshipB．positionC．situationD．condition9、A．pointedB．namedC．givenD．taken10、A．a(chǎn)lreadyB．yetC．stillD．a(chǎn)gain11、A．foolishB．surprisingC．uncertainD．challenging12、A．promotedB．a(chǎn)cceptedC．supportedD．welcomed13、A．a(chǎn)dviceB．informationC．noticeD．thought14、A．OtherwiseB．ThereforeC．FurthermoreD．Instead15、A．choiceB．opportunityC．occupationD．possibility16、A．teacherB．principalC．officerD．clerk17、A．liveB．lookC．dependD．take18、A．richB．littleC．valuableD．endless19、A．OnceB．EvenifC．UnlessD．Until20、A．fortunateB．curiousC．innocentD．satisfied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）TeaisanimportantpartofChinesetradition.1．Chinesesocietydevelopedandprogressed,teaproductionhasplayedaroleindrivingeconomicdevelopmentwhileteaconsumption(消費(fèi))2．(remain)apracticeofdailylife.Thepracticeofteaculturecanbringthespiritand3．(wise)ofhumanbeingstoahigherlevel.ThehistoryofChineseteaisalongandgradualstoryofrefinement.GenerationsofgrowersandproducershaveperfectedtheChinesewayofmanufacturingtea,and4．manyuniqueregionalvarieties.Theoriginalidea5．(credit)tothelegendaryEmperorShennong,whoissaid6．(live)5000yearsago.Hisfar-sightedrulingrequired,amongotherthings,7．a(chǎn)lldrinkingwaterbeboiledasasafetymeasure.Astorygoesthat,onesummerday,whilevisitingadistantpartofhisterritory,heandthecourtstoppedtorest.Inagreement8．hisruling,theservantsbegantoboilwaterforthecourttodrink.9．(dry)leavesfromanearbybushfellintotheboilingwater,andabrownsubstancewasinfused(注入)intothewater.Asascientist,theEmperorwasinterestedinthenewliquid,dranksome10．(careful),andfounditveryrefreshing.Andso,accordingtolegend,teawascreatedin2737BC．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。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。Excuseme.MayIhaveyourattention,please?Ihaveaurgentannouncementtomake.IamLiHua,studentassistanttopresidentofyourschoollibrary.Inordertoprovidebetterservice,ourlibrarywasscheduledtohaveitsInternetsystemupdatefromJune7toJune9.Forthisperiod,thereadingrooms,includingtheelectronicreadingones,willbeclosedtemporary.YouwillbeabletoborrowandreturnbackbookonlyonTuesdaysandFridays.Pleasepassontheinformationstothestudentsarenotpresent.I’mterriblysorryfortheinconveniencetheupgradewillbringyou.Iwouldbegreatlyappreciatewhetheryoucouldunderstandandcooperate.第二節(jié)書(shū)面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李華，打算今年暑假去美國(guó)旅游。請(qǐng)你給TravelAmerica國(guó)際旅行社寫(xiě)一封電子郵件進(jìn)行咨詢(xún)，內(nèi)容如下:1.請(qǐng)其推薦合適的旅游路線；2.請(qǐng)其告知相關(guān)的旅游費(fèi)用；注意；1.詞數(shù)80左右；2.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫。DearSir/Madam,__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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、A2、A3、D4、B5、C6、A7、C8、A9、C10、C11、B12、C13、C14、D15、B16、B17、D18、A19、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、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.Butle