第二部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today－the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much influence as the wheel. Then in the early 1800’s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn't have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better. In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today. The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions: the helicopter in 1909, movies with sound in 1926, the computer in 1928, and jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wear.
The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help people get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and let them live longer lives. By the 1960’s most people could expect to live to be at least 60. By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions went on to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the USA took a step. And then China has made her steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning though. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never dreamed of.
36. This passage talks mainly about _________.
A. why cars were very important B. when electric light was invented
C. which country made the first step into space D. how inventions influence people’s life
37. In 1800’s, people began to work to make_________.
A. explorations B. life better C. discoveries D. a trip to space
38. Nylon came out nearly at the same time as _________.
A. radios B. cameras C. jet planes D. movies
39. People can live longer lives because _________ to help people cure diseases have worked very well.
A. doctors B. new ways C. medicines D. new hospitals
40. Man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot _________.
A. at the beginning of the 1800’s B. in the 1960’s
C. since the 1900’s D. from the 1800’s to the 1960’s