大多数美国人认为，如果没有资本主义的经济自由 （economic freedom of capitalism） —— 许多人更喜欢称之为自由企业 （free enterprise) —— 他们的国家就不可能崛起为制造业产品、食品和服务的主要生产国。美国经济增长的故事就是人们发明新设备（devices）和新流程（processes）、创办新企业（starting new businesses）和创业的故事(launching new ventures)。每一项努力都需要金钱。这些钱就是所谓的资本。
【题目】As used in the context, the word “laissez-faire” is closest in meaning to ______.
[A] top-down processing.
[B]self-driven mechanism.
[C] free participation.
[D] non-interference.
【试题】
①In order to invest, individuals do not have to have a great deal of money: they can buy just a small portion of a business – called a share. ②The business of buying and selling shares in enterprises has become so big that offices have had to be set up where the selling of shares, or stock, can take place. ③Except for weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are busy every day as people buy and sell stock. ④Knowing about business is important if one wishes to make a profit in the stock market.
⑤Adam Smith would easily recognize these elements of American business, but other aspects he would not. ⑥Many problems accompanied the development of modern American industrial capitalism during the past century. ⑦Immigration and the rapid growth of American cities resulted in a large urban population seeking to earn a living. ⑧Factory owners often exploited this situation by offering low wages for long working hours, by providing unsafe and unhealthy working conditions and by hiring the children of poor families. ⑨There was discrimination in hiring: Black Americans and members of some immigrant groups were refused work or were forced to work under even more unfavorable conditions than the average worker. ⑩Entrepreneurs also took full advantage of the lack of government oversight, under the doctrine of laissez-faire, to enrich themselves by forming monopolies, eliminating competition, setting high prices for goods and producing poor quality goods.
【参考译文】
①In order to invest, individuals do not have to have a great deal of money: they can buy just a small portion of a business – called a share. 为了投资，个人不需要有大量的钱：他们可以买一个企业的一小部分，称为股票。 ②The business of buying and selling shares in enterprises has become so big that offices have had to be set up where the selling of shares, or stock, can take place. 企业的股票买卖业务如此之大，以致于不得不在股票买卖地点设立办事处。③Except for weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are busy every day as people buy and sell stock. 除了周末和节假日，股票交易所每天都很繁忙，因为人们在买卖股票。④Knowing about business is important if one wishes to make a profit in the stock market. 如果一个人想在股票市场上获利，了解商业是很重要的。
⑤Adam Smith would easily recognize these elements of American business, but other aspects he would not. 亚当•斯密很容易就能认出美国商业的这些要素，但其他方面他就认不出来了。⑥Many problems accompanied the development of modern American industrial capitalism during the past century.美国近代工业资本主义在过去一个世纪的发展过程中出现了许多问题。 ⑦Immigration and the rapid growth of American cities resulted in a large urban population seeking to earn a living. 移民和美国城市的快速增长导致了大量的城市人口寻求谋生。⑧Factory owners often exploited this situation by offering low wages for long working hours, by providing unsafe and unhealthy working conditions and by hiring the children of poor families. 工厂主经常利用这种情况，为长时间工作的工人提供低工资，提供不安全和不健康的工作条件，并雇用贫困家庭的儿童。⑨There was discrimination in hiring: Black Americans and members of some immigrant groups were refused work or were forced to worker under even more unfavorable conditions than the average worker. 在雇佣方面存在歧视：美国黑人和一些移民团体的成员被拒绝工作，或者被迫在比普通工人更不利的条件下工作。⑩Entrepreneurs also took full advantage of the lack of government oversight, under the doctrine of laissez-faire, to enrich themselves by forming monopolies, eliminating competition, setting high prices for goods and producing poor quality merchandise. 企业家还在自由放任主义的教义下，充分利用政府缺乏监管，通过形成垄断、消除竞争、抬高商品价格和生产质量低劣的商品来致富。
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76“free enterprise”自由企业——老夏考研每日一题
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