On Wednesday, incoming Financial Secretary Donald Tsang said he is "committed to the principle and philosophies enshrined by his

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问题     On Wednesday, incoming Financial Secretary Donald Tsang said he is "committed to the principle and philosophies enshrined by his predecessor, Sir Hamish Macleod. " Such commitments are unsurprising given that the government has in recent months consistently reiterated its policy of nonintervention.
    The twin policies of low taxation and free market have been both boon and bane for the economy of the island territory. While the government is correct in crediting its policies for the recent economic surge, it has also left officials wary of being seen as meddling with the private sector. Such interference , say government critics, might well kill the goose that laid the golden egg and slow economic development and trade.
    Since 1945, government spending in monetary terms has never exceeded 20% of Gross Domestic Product (CDP). Yet even as the specter of unemployment looms over the heads of many island residents , the government has done nothing to avert the growing crisis, this is in part clue to government reluctance to upset the apple cart and interfere with the island’s "market miracle". Meanwhile, the unemployment rate continues to rocket skyward and the government seems unable or unwilling to act in the midst of a growing crisis.
    "Those measures currently in place are inadequate and unnecessarily complicated," says activist P. T. Chang," the unemployed in this society are already under a great deal of stress and those who do seek help from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) have to endure the complicated application procedure and the inhumane and harsh ’ means test’ .
    As a result, activists like Chang, are calling on the government to make the invisible hand of the market just a little more visible by creating more opportunities for the unemployed, legislating against discrimination based on age or gender, and making it more difficult for employers to unjustly fire or lay off employees.
    Such measures face strong opposition from the island’s business community who reject any government interference in the private sector. They say companies will bear the brunt of paying for these new-policies. Such policies argue business leaders, will drive up the cost of labor and force companies to cut back on staff.
    " They want to lower unemployment," says one executive who declined to be named, " but these policies will have the opposite effect of driving up the unemployment. "
    The business community argues that higher labor costs mean companies can afford fewer workers. However this newspaper (Washington Post) considers this argument, as well as darker suggestions that these policies will mean the inevitable slow down of economic growth, as specious. Without action soon, the government risks social instability which will have a far more detrimental effect on the economy than enacting the new policies.
What can be inferred from the text?

选项 A、The government’s twin policies turn out to be a big failure.
B、The private sector looks forward to government interference.
C、It is a painful experience to apply for unemployment benefit.
D、The unemployment rate is likely to drop quite recently.

答案C

解析 推理题。第四段提到,失业者已经承受了巨大的压力,那些确实希望从社会福利部门寻求帮助的人不得不忍受复杂的申请程序以及非人道的、苛刻的“资产凋查”。由此可知:申请失业救济非常艰难。C符合题意,故为正确选项。A与第二段第一句话的意思不符合;B与第六段第一句话的意思不符;D与第三段最后一句话的意思不符。
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