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  3. "The word ’protection’ is no longer taboo (禁忌语)" This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy late last mont

"The word ’protection’ is no longer taboo (禁忌语)" This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy late last mont

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问题      "The word ’protection’ is no longer taboo (禁忌语)" This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy late last month, may have launched a new era in economic history. Why? For decades, Western leaders have believed that lowering trade barriers and tariffs was a natural good. Doing so, they reasoned, would lead to greater economic efficiency and productivity, which in turn would improve human welfare. Championing free trade thus became a moral, not just an economic, cause.
     These leaders, of course, weren’t acting out of unselfishness. They knew their economies were the most competitive, so they’d profit most from liberalization. And developing countries feared that their economies would be swamped by superior Western productivity. Today, however, the tables have turned—though few acknowledge it. The West continues to preach free trade, but practices it less and less. Asia, meanwhile, continues to plead for special protection but practices more and more free trade.
     That’s why Sarkozy’s words were so important: he finally injected some honesty into the trade debate. The truth is that large parts of the West are losing faith in free trade, though few leaders admit it. Some economists are more honest. Paul Krugman is one of the few willing to acknowledge that protectionist arguments are returning. In the short run, there will be winners and losers under free trade. This, of course, is what capitalism is all about. But more and more of these losers will be in the West. Economists in the developed world used to love quoting Joseph Schumpeter, who said that "creative destruction" was an essential part of capitalist growth. But they always assumed that destruction would happen over there. When Western workers began losing jobs, suddenly their leaders began to lose faith in their principles. Things have yet to reverse completely. But there’s clearly a negative trend in Western theory and practice.
     A little hypocrisy (虚伪) is not in itself a serious problem. The real problem is that Western governments continue to insist that they retain control of the key global economic and financial institutions while drifting away from global liberalization. Look at what’s happening at the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The Europeans have demanded that they keep the post of managing director. But all too often, Western officials put their own interests above everyone else’s when they dominate these global institutions.
      The time has therefore come for the Asians—who are clearly the new winners in today’s global economy—to provide more intellectual leadership in supporting free trade. Sadly, they have yet to do so. Unless Asians speak out, however, there’s a real danger that Adam Smith’s principles, which have brought so much good to the world, could gradually die. And that would leave all of us worse off, in one way or another.  
The Western leaders preach free trade because ______.
选项 A、it is beneficial to their economies
B、it is supported by developing countries
C、it makes them keep faith in their principles
D、it is advocated by Joseph Schumpeter and Adam Smith
答案A
解析 参见文章第2段。They knew their economies were the most competitive，so they’d profit most from liberalization．这句话的大意是：他们知道他们的经济最具有竞争力，因此，他们将会从自由贸易中获得最大好处。由此可知，西方领袖们之所以大力鼓吹自由贸易，是因为这对他们的经济很有好处，故正确A。
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