2024年外研社阅读比赛练习试题

1.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

Lastyearwasthefirstinwhichlow-carbonsourcesofelectricityeclipsedthosebasedonfossilfuelsburnedintheUK.Wind,solar,nuclearpowerandimportssupplied48.5percentofelectricity,while43percentcamefromUKcoalandgaspowerplants.In1990,three-quartersofpowerintheUKcamefromfossilfuels.4.Whichisthebesttitleforthetext?A.UKelectricpowergoinggreenB.UseoffossilfuelsintheUKgoingdownC.RenewableenergyboomingintheUKD.ReductionofcarbonemissionsintheUK答案:A2.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

Thelevelofout-of-classreadingrequiredincollegecanbeprettyintense.Ifyouarenewtocollege,yourreadingloadislikelytobesignificantlyhigherthanwhatyouexperiencedinhighschool;ifyou'reaseniorincollege,thelevelseemstogoupeachyear.Regardlessofyourspecificsituation,_________.Fortunately,thereisnoonerightwaytostayontrackwithyourreading.Amanageablesolutioncomesfromfindingsomethingthatworksforyourownlearningstyle-andrealizingthatbeingflexibleispartofanylong-termsolution.

Whichofthefollowingbestfitsintheblankinthetext?A.itisquiteessentialtofosteragoodreadinghabit

whenyouentercollegeB.thereisnodoubtthatreadingabilityplaysa

dominantroleinlearningC.knowinghowtokeepupwithcollegereadingcanbe

aseriouschallengeD.youhavetocompleteyourreadingassignmentsas

effectivelyaspossible答案:C3.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

Nobodylikesasnorer.Well,perhapsthat'stooharsh.Peoplewhohavetosleepinthesamegeneralvicinityofsnorersaren'tparticularlyfondofthosewhosawlogs

astheydriftawayingentleslumber.It'snotthemostpleasantnoiseintheworld.Especiallyifyouaretryingtosleepwhileadeepandresonantsnoreisblastingoffnearyoursoftandsensitivelittleears.Fortunately,therearemanysleepsolutionsouttheredesignedtohelpeasetheburdenofanyonebornwiththedreadedsnoregene.Butthesesolutionsaren'tjustlimitedtomasksanddevices.Nope,sometimesevenchangingyourpillowcanbeenoughtohelpwithsnoring.

Whatcanbeinferredfromthetext?A.Theproblemofhabitualsnoringiscorrelatedwitha

certainbiologicalgene.B.Thepurposeofthistextistopromoteproductsthat

canhelpstopsnoring.C.Theauthordoesn'tthinkit'srighttomakenoises

whenpeoplearesleeping.D.Theunderlinedexpression"sawlogs"refersto

people'sbehaviorofsnoring.答案:D4.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

U.S.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration'sNationalHurricaneCenterdoesnotcontrolthenamingoftropicalstorms.Instead,thereisastrictprocedureestablishedbytheWorldMeteorologicalOrganization.(1)Intheeventthatmorethantwenty-onenamedtropicalcyclonesoccurinaseason,anyadditionalstormswilltakenamesfromtheGreekalphabet.(2)ForAtlantichurricanes,thereisalistofmaleandfemalenameswhichareusedonasix-yearrotation.(3)Theonlytimethatthereisachangeisifastormissodeadlyorcostlythatthefutureuseofitsnameonadifferentstormwouldbeinappropriate.

Whatistherightorderofthenumberedsentences?A.(2)(3)(1)B.(3)(1)(2)C.(3)(2)(1)D.(2)(1)(3)答案:A5.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

Confidencelevelscanbeconsistentwithingroupsandpopulations:Contrastthehumilityandself-deprecationwidespreadamong*!Kunghunter-gatherers,forexample,withthe"cultureofarrogance"thatledtheEnroncorporationtobankruptcy.Aresearchteamwonderedwhyoverconfidenceinparticularmanifestsinsocialclusters.Onereason,documentedinsixexperiments,isthatitappearstobecontagious.Inthefirstexperiment,104undergraduatestudentswererandomlypartneredupafterindividuallycompletingacomputertaskandratingtheirconfidenceintheirperformance.Eachpaircollaboratedonanextensionofthetask,afterwhichparticipantsrevisedtheirassessmentoftheirindividualperformance.Theresearchersfoundthatworkingwithpartnerswhowereoverconfident(theirself-assessmentswerenotborneoutbytheiractualscores)causedsubjectstobecomemoreoverconfidentthemselves.Subsequentexperimentsshowedthattheeffectpersistedovertimeandacrossvaryingtasks;italsooccurredacrossindirectsocialtiesandwhensubjectsknewtheirpartner'sconfidencewasunjustified.*!Kung:agroupoftheSanpeopleofSouthernAfrica

Whatisthistextmainlyabout?A.Themanifestationofoverconfidenceinsocial

clustersB.Therelationofoverconfidencetoone'sperformance.C.Thesocialtransmissionofoverconfidence.D.Thepossibletroublewithoverconfidence.答案:C6.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.

Intensificationofsmogepisodes,followingharvestingofpaddycropsinagriculturalplainsoftheIndusbasinintheIndiansubcontinent,areoftenattributedtofarmingpracticeofburningstandingstubbleduringlateautumn(October,November)months.Biomassburning(paddystubbleresidual)isapreferredtechniquetoclearfarmlandsforcenturiesbyfarmersinthatbasin.However,despitestableagriculturallandholdingandyield,smogisbeingincreasinglyassociatedwithburningagriculturalbiomass,thuscreatingaparadox.Here,weshowthattheconcentrationofsmog(NOx,PM2.5,SO2)intheambientairexceedsthesafethresholdlimitsthroughouttheentireyearintheregion.Thisstudyarguesthatagriculturalbiomassburningisanephemeraleventinthebasinthatmayactasacatalystfordeterioratedairqualityintheentireregion.Resultsfurtherdemonstratethatsimultaneoussaturationofairpollutants,alongwithhighambientmoisturecontentandlowwindspeedsfollowingthemonsoonseason,arestronglyrelatedtoaggravatedsmogevents.Findingsfromthisstudyshouldhelpmakeholisticmitigationandinterventionpoliciestomonitorairqualityforsustainabilityofpublichealthinagriculturalregionswherefarmingactivitiesareadominanteconomicdriverforsociety.

WhichofthefollowingstatementsistrueabouttheIndusbasin

accordingtothetext?A.Thestudywastoassesstherelationofburningagriculturalbiomasswithsmog

episodes.B.Asteadyincreaseoffarmlandsandcropyieldfurther

intensifiessmogepisodes.C.Itisfoundthattheprimarysourceforsmogisthe

conventionalpracticeofbiomassburning.D.Biomassburningisauniquetechniqueusedtoclearfarmlandsforcenturiesby

farmers.答案:A7.Directions:Studythefollowingtwographsandanswerthequestionaccordingtotheinformationprovidedinthem.WhichofthefollowingisINCORRECTaccordingtothegraphs?A.Theworldhasnowsurpasseditspeakrateofgrowth,andtheintervalsbetweenbillionsareexpectedtogolonger.B.Since1987,theglobalpopulationgrowthratehasbeenslowing,andalongwithitthedoublingtimeisincreasing.C.Theworldpopulationincreasedsteadilyfrom1975to2011,with12yearsforittoincreasebyonebilliononaverage.D.Astheglobalpopulationgrowthratewasclimbingbeforethelate20thcentury,thepopulationdoublingtimerosetothehighestpoint.答案:D8.Directions:Lookatthecartoonofalogicalfallacyandanswerthequestionaccordingtothecartoon.Whichofthefollowingstatementsdemonstratesthesamefallacyasthecartoondoes?A.Heisaconvictedfelon.Youcan'tbelieveathinghesays.Idon'tbelieveheisinnocentofhiscrime,despitetheevidence.B.Howcanyouaccusemeofstealingadonut?You

takefoodfromthecafeteriaallthetime!C.Youthinkweshouldgetmorewomenintoscience?Youonlysaythatbecauseyouareawomanyourself,soitmustbefalse.D.VotingforPaulBlankwillleadtoincreasesinpropertytaxes,aslowdownintheeconomy,andlossofjobsinthearea.答案:C9.Directions:Readthefollowingexampleofalogicalfallacyandanswerthequestionaccordingtotheexample.

"Ithinkitisagreedbyallparties,thatthisprodigiousnumberofchildreninthearms,oronthebacks,orattheheelsoftheirmothers,andfrequentlyoftheirfathers,isinthepresentdeplorablestateofthekingdomaverygreatadditionalgrievance;and,therefore,whoevercouldfindoutafair,cheapandeasymethodofmakingthesechildrensoundandusefulmembersofthecommon-wealth,woulddeservesowellofthepublic,astohavehisstatuesetupforapreserverofthenation."

———AModestProposal(ByJonathanSwift)

Whichofthefollowinglogicalfallaciesdoesthetextillustrate?A.HastyGeneralization:Itoccurswhensomeone

makesageneralstatementbasedonaninsufficientnonrepresentative

sample,ratherthanlookingata

broaderrangeofavailabledata.B.ChronologicalSnobbery:Itconsidersmodernideassuperiortothosefromearlierages.Thisfallacyspecificallytargetsideasfromart,culture,science,andphilosophy.C.GuiltbyAssociation:Itoccurswhensomeoneconnectsanopponenttoademonizedgroupofpeopleortoabadpersoninordertodiscredithisorherargument.Theideaisthatthepersonis"guilty"bysimplybeingsimilartothis"bad"groupand,therefore,shouldnotbelistenedtoaboutanything.D.ReductioAdAbsurdum:Itisinlogic,aformofrefutationshowingcontradictoryorabsurdconsequencesfollowinguponpremisesasamatteroflogicalnecessity.Actually,itisamethodofrefutingaclaimbyextendingthelogicoftheopponent'sargumenttoapointofabsurdity.答案:D10.TheLawofDemand,anessentialruleineconomics,statesthatthequantitydemandedforagoodorservicerisesasthepricefalls.Similarly,thequantitydemandedshouldfallwithariseinprice.However,whenthepriceofbreadwentupintheearly19thcenturyinBritain,thelow-paidworkerspurchasedmorebreadandnotlessofit.

Whichofthefollowingmaybestexplaintheapparentparadoxgiveninthetext?A.Thequalityandvarietyofbreadimprovedasitspricewentup,therebyattractingmorepeopletoconsumeit.B.Thepriceofbreadwentuptooslowlyformostconsumerstorealizethepricedifferenceswithinashortperiodoftime.C.Outoftheapprehensionthatthepricesmightstillgoup,theBritishworkerschosetobuymorebreadinadvancetostoreit.D.Whenthebreadpricerose,theBritishworkers,unabletoaffordmeat,substitutedbreadformeattomaintaintheirfoodintake.答案:D11.Inthe1860s,theBritishgovernmentcontractedwithshipcaptainsregardingthetransportationofsomeofitsprisonerstoAustralia.Unfortunately,thesurvivalrateoftheprisonersshippedtoAustraliawasonly40%.Humanitariangroups,thechurch,andgovernmentalagenciesappealedtothecaptainsonmoralgroundstoimprovethesurvivalratewithmoredecenttreatment.Despitetheseappeals,thesurvivalrateremainedat40%.Nothingchangeduntilafewyearslater,whenthesurvivalrateoftheprisonersincreasedtoover98%.

Whichofthefollowing,iftrue,istheweakestevidencefortheincreaseinthesurvivalrateoftheprisoners?A.Thegovernmentraisedfundstoprovidebetterfoodandsanitationfortheprisoners.B.Thegovernmentreducedthenumberofprisonerswhowerepackedontotheships.C.Thegovernmentimposedafineonthecaptainsforthelowsurvivalrateofthe

prisoners.D.Thegovernmentpaidthecaptainsafeeforeverylivinaprisonerwhogotoffthe

ship.答案:B12.Directions:Readtheintroductionsandmatchthemwiththeauthors.Pleasenotetherearetwoextraoptionsyoudonotneed.A.EdithWhartonB.JamesJoyceC.ThomasHardyD.HenryJamesE.EmilyBronte1.Theauthor'slastworkoffiction,alsooneofhismostgloomilyfatalistic,depictsthelivesofindividualswhoaretrappedbyforcesbeyondtheircontrol.Itsprotagonist,JudeFawley,isaworking-classyoungman,astonemason,whodreamsofbecomingascholar.________2.Publishedin1847,theyearbeforetheauthor'sdeathatagethirty,thenovelisoneofthenineteenthcentury'smostpopularyetdisturbingmasterpiecesandperhapsthemosthauntingandtormentedlovestoryeverwritten.Thewindsweptmoorsaretheunforgettablesettingofthistaleofthelovebetweenatroubledorphanandhiswealthybenefactor'sdaughter,Catherine.________3.Thenovelwasfirstpublishedinbookformin1922.Stylisticallydenseandexhilarating,itisgenerallyregardedasamasterpieceandhasbeenthesubjectofnumerousvolumesofcommentaryandanalysis.ThenovelisconstructedasamodernparalleltoHomer'sOdyssey.AlltheactioninthenoveltakesplaceinandimmediatelyaroundDublinonasingleday(June16,1904)._________答案:CEB13.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionsaccordingtothetext.

Whenconsumersslamcompaniesinwaysthatareobviouslyundeserved("Morelike'MediocreCanyon,'complainedoneunhappyvisitortoGrandCanyonNationalPark),brandmanagersmaytrytosuppressthereview,publiclyshamethereviewer,orevensue.Aseriesofnewstudiessuggestthat15.Inoneexperiment,theresearchersrandomlyassigned223graduatestudentstoreadoneofthreereviewsofareusable-water-bottlecompanybeforeindicatingtheirpurchaseintent.Inthepositivereview,acustomerdescribedgettingananswertoacustomerservicequerywithin24hours.Inthefairnegativereview,thecustomerdescribedhavingtowaittwoweeks.Intheunfairnegativereview,thecustomercomplainedaboutnotgettingthroughonChristmasEve.Subjectswhoreadtheunfairnegativereviewwerejustaslikelytosaytheywouldbuyfromthecompanyasweresubjectswhoreadthepositivereview.Subsequentexperimentsfoundthatatveryhighlevelsofunfairness,negativereviewsactuallygeneratedgreaterpurchaseintentthandidpositivereviews.Surveysofparticipantsshowedthatthesedynamicsweredrivenbyempathy.Accordingtothe"justworld"theory,16.

Consequently,"firmsmaywanttohighlightunfairnegativereviewsandstrategicallyleveragetheirpositivedownstreamconsequences,"theresearcherswrite—andindeed,organizationsincludingtheSnowbirdskiresortandtheViennaTouristBoardhaveusedsuchmaterialinadcampaigns.Brandmanagerscanapplythefindingsevenwhencriticalreviewsarejustified,theresearchersnote:"Creatingemployee-focusednarrativesasaformoffirmcommunication...orevenrespondingtoreviewsinawaythatismorepersonal...enhancesempatheticrespondingonthepartofconsumersandprotectsthefirmagainstthepotentiallyadverseimpactsofnegativereviews."

15.Whichofthefollowingstatementsbestfitsintheblankin

thefirstparagraph?A.thoughignoringconsumers'criticalreviews,they

canstillgainexcessbenefitB.consumers'negativereviewsdonotnecessarily

impacttheirpurchaseintentionC.mostofthecomplaintsoftheirconsumersare

actuallyspeciousandgroundlessD.bytakingadifferenttack,theycanturnsuch

broadsidestotheiradvantage

16.Whichofthefollowingstatementsbestfitsintheblankin

thethirdparagraph?A.itisusuallyundesirabletogetwhatonewantsbywalkingoverotherpeopleinanidealworldB.peopletendtorefusetoacceptthatbadthingscanhappentothemselvesduetocircumstancesbeyond

controlC.itisnecessaryforcompaniestoshowconcernfortheirstaffwhoreceiveunfaircriticismfromtheir

customersD.peopleoftentrytorestorefairnesswhentheyobservesomeonebeingtreatedinanobviouslyunfair

way答案:D|D14.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionsaccordingtothetext.

AheadofGCSE(GeneralCertificateofSecondaryEducation)resultsonThursday,thegovernmenthasannouncedallA-levelandGCSEmarkswillbebasedonteacherassessmentsratherthanonthecontroversialalgorithm.ItisawelcomeU-turn,althoughitdoeslittletoaddresstheunderlyingissue.Thiswasalwaysaclear-cutmatterofclass:PrivateschoolsuniquelybenefitedfromthestatisticalmodelusedtoreplaceA-levelslastweek,increasingtheproportionofstudentsachievingtopgrades-A*andA-twiceasmuchaspupilsatcomprehensives.Youonlyhavetoseetheheartbrokenteenagerspostingonsocialmediatounderstandthepainofthesepastfewdays:Working-classyoungpeoplehadtheirdreamfutureinfrontofthemonlytoloseitbecausetheyliveinthewrongpostcode.Thesepupilsdeservedjustice.ThegovernmentisrighttofixthesysteminEnglandbutitwouldbeamistaketotreatthisdebacleasaone-offmistakethatcanbesolvedwithabettergradecalculator.Thescandalissimplyablown-upversionoftherealitywe'velongknown:Working-classkidsworkhardandtoooftengettossedaway,whileprivate-schoolfamiliesbuytheirwayin.Intheyearbeforethepandemic,theSuttonTrustfoundthatindependentschoolpupilswereseventimesmorelikelytogainaplaceatOxfordorCambridgethanthoseinnon-selectivestateschools,andweremorethantwiceaslikelytotakeaplaceatRussellGroupinstitutions.In2018,anotherstudyfoundalmosthalfof"cleverbutdisadvantaged"studentsfailedtosecuretopGCSEgrades.Just52%ofthedisadvantagedhighachieversatprimaryschoolgainedatleastfiveA*andAgradesinEngland,comparedwith72%oftheirwealthier,equallyclever,peers.Farfrombeingwrong,theinfamousalgorithminmanywayssucceededinreplicatingthesocioeconomicbiasthathasplaguedtheeducationsystemforcenturies.Ortoputitanotherway:Theeducationalinequalitylaidbarebythegovernment'sincompetenceisnotashock.Itisbusinessasusual.Justlookathowtheexamcrisisisbeingdiscussed.ThefocusinmuchofthemediahasbeenonA*studentsmissingoutonaplaceatOxbridge(perhapsinpartbecausemuchofthemediafollowedthisroutethemselves)withbarelyanyattentiononworking-classteenagerswhohopedtogostraightintoemploymentoronthefactthattheproportionofpeopleawardedgradeCandabovefellmostindeprivedareas.Eventhesupposedlycomfortingclaimthat"examsdon'tmatter"issteepedinprivilege.ItiseasytosaygradesareirrelevantifyouhaveparentswithconnectionsandaflatinLondon,butconsiderablyharderifyou'reatyourlocalcompinalow-incometown.

17.Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardcancelingthealgorithmasawaytocalculateA-levelandGCSEgrades?A.Enthusiasticsupport.B.Slightcontempt.C.Reservedconsent.D.Strongdisapproval.

18.Accordingtotheauthor,whatproblemdoesthedebatearousedbythealgorithmmainlyreflect?A.Thegovernmentremainscharacterizedbybureaucraticinefficiencyandincompetence.B.Itisunfairforstudentstogettheirgradesdependingontheareatheylivein.C.Thephenomenonofinequalityisstillcommonplaceintheeducationalsystem.D.Assessmentineducationisaverycomplicatedissueinvolvingeverystudent'sinterests.

19.Whichofthefollowingstatementsbestsummarizesthetext?A.Theflip-flopofgovernment'seducationpolicyiswhatunderminesitscredibility.B.ThereisnoeasysolutiontotheunderlyingissuefacingEngland'seducationsystem.C.Thereisagapbetweentheidealofequalopportunityforallstudentsandreality.D.TherealproblemisthatEngland'seducationsystemheavilyfavoursthewealthy.答案:C|C|D15.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionsaccordingtothetext.

AncientRomanpoetsemulatedtheirGreekpredecessorsandmixedmusic,drama,andversewhilecreatingalargeaudienceforRomanliterature.ThemercantileRomansalsolaunchedthefirstbookstores,stockingthemwithhand-printedscrollsorstone-carvedtablets.Takingprintedpoetrybeyondtheprivateshelvesofrulersandthewealthiestcitizens,thesestoresenabledthegeneralpublictoreadverseandliteratureforthefirsttime.Thebuyersofgreatlibraries-suchasAlexandria,Ephesus,andConstantinople-hoardedoriginalsandqualitycopies,somerchantshiredscribestocopyRomanandGreekmanuscriptsandfillthegrowingpublicthirstforwrittenmaterial.Itwasinthebestinterestofpoetstobeprolific,astheyreceivedpercentagesofsales,thefirstknown"royalty"arrangement.Thedemandforprintedpoetry-alongwiththebookstores,manylibraries,andcountlessthousandsofscrollsandtablets-wentupinflames(literally)whenRomewassacked.TheHolyRomanEmpiretookoverandthrustEuropeintotheDarkAges.Fortencenturies,poetrybecameanoraltraditionusedtospreadnewsbeneaththeearsandeyesoftheChurch;onlyinPersiadidscribingcontinue,becominganartform.Thecommerceofpoetryskiddedtoastandstill,nottobereviveduntilaconfluenceofsocialawakening,intellectualandcreativepursuits,andtechnologychangedtheworld.Asthe15thcenturyItalianRenaissancebegantospreadtoEngland,France,andSpain,Germany'sJohannGutenbergcreatedamachinethatcouldreproduceoriginalmanuscripts.Gutenberg'spresschangedthecourseofhistory,butitwasnearlyanothercenturybeforeWilliamShakespearefacilitatedthemarriagebetweentheprintingpressandpoetry.

Shakespeare,whoimbeddedhissonnetsandverseintotheatertoredefinedramaintheWesternworld,wasperhapsthefirsttomakesubstantialamountsofmoneyfrompoetry.AsthepopularityofversespilledovertoElizabethansociety,countlesspoetspublishedbroadsides--singlesheetsofpaperprintedononeside,soldforapittance-oftheirsonnets,ballads,andotherpoems.Afterreadingtheirworksonstageoratpublicreadings,poetssoldanddistributedtheirbroadsides.Self-publishedpoetryvaultedfromtheexcruciatingwriting

andcopyingofmanuscriptstotheformationofabusiness,fueledbyprintingpressessproutingupthroughoutEngland.Evenfivecenturiesago,poetsunderstoodthatsimplywriting,binding,andpublishingpoemswasasureroadtopoverty.Poetsbecameorators,publicreaders,governmentadvisors,academics,shamelesspromotersanddistributorsoftheirwork,andwritersfordramatists.Allpublishedtheirownwork;some,likeWilliamBlake,movedprintingpressesintotheirhomestocontroltheentireprocess.Thiswasnosmallfeat,asprintingpressesinthelate18thcenturywerethesizeofsmallbedroomsandreachedfromfloortoceiling.Bythe19thcentury,theroadtoachievingsuccessinpoetrylookedmuchasitdoesnow.

20.DecidewhetherthefollowingstatementisTrueorFalse

accordingtothetext.ThefirstbookstoreslaunchedbytheRomanshelpedenhancethepopularityofprintedpoetryamongthe

governingclassesandtherichpeople.A.TrueB.False

21.WhatcanwelearnaboutpoetryintheDarkAges?A.Theoraltraditionofpoetryreacheditsfull

development.B.Thegeneralpublicwasdeniedaccessagainto

printedpoetry.C.Thetradeofpoetrystagnatedforaverylong

periodoftime.D.PoetrybecameanartforminPersiasupportedby

theChurch.

22.Whatcanwelearnfromthelastthreeparagraphs?A.Shakespeareearnedmoremoneyfrompoetrythan

fromdrama.B.WilliamBlakeoncehelpedimproveprinting

pressesinhishome.C.Gutenberg'spresspromotedthespreadofpoetry

soonafteritscreation.D.Poetscenturiesagofoundithardtomakealiving

asaprofessionalpoet.答案:B|C|D16.Directions:Readthetextandanswerthequestionsaccordingtothetext.Itmaybejust21yearsold,butGoogleisinthemidstofamidlifecrisis.Assoofteninsuchcases,23

.

Everydayitssearchenginehandles6bnrequests,YouTubereceives49years'worthofvideouploadsandGmailprocessesabout100bnemails.Thankstoitsdominanceofonlineadvertising,Google'sparentcompany,Alphabet,madeaprofitof$34bnlastyear.Beyonditscoreoperations,itisaworldleaderinartificialintelligence(AI),quantumcomputingandself-drivingcars.AlongwiththebossesofAmazon,AppleandFacebook,itschiefexecutive,SundarPichai,wasgrilledbylawmakersinWashington,DC,whofretthatAmerica'stechgiantsneedtoberestrainedbecausetheyaresoprofitable.Crisis?Whatcrisis?BeinghauledbeforeCongressis,onthefaceofit,asignofsuccess.ButitalsomarksadifficultmomentforGoogle'sleaders:theonsetofcorporatemiddleage.Thisisaproblemasoldasbusinessitself.Howdocompaniessustainthecreativityandagilitythatmadethemgreat,evenastheyforgeacultureandcorporatemachinethatisbuilttolast?ForGooglethetransitionisespeciallydramaticbecauseitsfounders,LarryPageandSergeyBrin,triedfromthestarttobuildafirminwhichthismomentwouldneverarrive.AsGooglepreparedtogopublicin2004theydeclaredthatitwasnotaconventionalcompany,and"wedonotintendtobecomeone".Theyhopedplayground-likeoffices,generousperksandacampusatmospherewouldallowittoretaintheagilityandinnovationofastartupasitgrew.Theappearanceofwrinklesonthecorporateforeheadisanadmissionoffailure.ThesignsofageingareapparentinGoogle'smaturingbusiness,itschangingcultureanditsever-more-entwinedrelationshipwithgovernment.Takethebusinessfirst.Thefirmisrunningupagainstgrowthconstraintsinitsnear-monopoliesofsearchandonline-advertisingtools.Itsmarketshareinsearchadsisaround90%.Unearthingothergoldmineshasproveddifficult.Noneoftheambitious"moonshot"projectsintowhichAlphabethaspouredbillions,suchasdeliverydronesandrobots,hasbeenabreakoutsuccess.Tokeepgrowing,Googleishavingtotrytomuscleinontheturfoccupiedbybigtechrivals,suchascloudcomputingandenterprisesoftwareandservices.Theculturalchallengeisfuzzierbutnolessurgentforafirmthatisproudofitsunusualcorporatecharacter.ThefreewheelingethosthatwassosuccessfulinGoogle'searlydayshasbecomealiability.Itworksmuchlesswellatscale.Googlenowhasnearly120,000employees,andevenmoretemporarycontractors.Doingthingsfromthebottomuphasbecomeharderastheworkforcehasgrownlargerandlesslike-minded,withsquabblesbreakingoutovereverythingfromgenderpoliticsandtheservingofmeatincafeteriastoGoogle'ssaleoftechnologytopoliceforces.Thethirdsignoflostyouth,theattentionof*trustbusters,haslonglookedinevitable.Asbigtechhasgrown,sohaveitsinteractionswithgovernment-asaninstitutiontolobby,asacustomerandasaregulator.America'sJusticeDepartmentisporingoverGoogle'sonline-adsbusinessesandmaysoonfi