第三部分 阅读理解 (共20小题;每小题3分，满分60分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A

If you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on. Usually, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.

Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.

“What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors.

“We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” one of the brothers answered excitedly.

The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar(罐) full of spiders(蜘蛛), worms and a lot of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the visitors who were laughing at them. Then he said quietly and confidently, “Even if we don’t dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!”

Their goal was far too difficult, but it made them dig. And that is what a goal is for—to make us move in the direction we have chosen. In other words, it sets us to digging!

But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, “Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!” And I believe it is the joy in the journey, rather than in the end, that truly matters.

36. The writer told us the story to ________ .

A. advise us to treat our failures fairly

B. persuade us not to make an aim for our lives

C. encourage us to learn from the two brothers

D. prove that failure helps us make achievements

37. What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Failure is the mother of success

B. When there is a will, there is a way

C. No pains, no gains

D. Joy in the journey

38. Which is true according to the passage?

A. Digging a hole all the way through the earth is impossible.

B. The two brothers will surely reach their goal one day.

C. If one has a goal, he will want to dig holes.

D. Everyone can succeed if he sets a practical goal.

B

Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955. He and his two sisters grew up in Seattle. Their father, William H. Gates II, was a Seattle lawyer. Mary Gates, their late mother, was a school teacher.

Gates attended public elementary school before moving on to the private Lakeside School in North Seattle. It was at Lakeside that Gates began his career in personal computer soft- ware, programming computers at age 13.

In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, who is now Microsoft's president. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version (版本) of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer---the MITS Astair. In his junior year, Gates dropped out of Harvard to devote his energies full-time to Microsoft, a company he had started in 1975 with his boyhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desk-top and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers.

Gates' foresight has led to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. He plays an important role in the technical development of new products. Much of his time is devoted to meeting with customers and staying in touch with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail.

In the dozen years since Microsoft went public, Gates has donated more than $ 800 million to charities (慈善机构), including $ 200 million to the Gates Library Foundation to help libraries in North America make use of new technologies and the Information Age.

39. Where did Bill Gates begin his career in personal computer software?

A. At public elementary school. B. At the private Lakeside School.

C. At Harvard University. D. At Microsoft Company.

40. Why did he drop out of Harvard?

A. To change school. B. To spend all his energies to Microsoft.

C. To find a full-time job. D. To earn money.

41. How does Gates spend much of his time?

A. Meeting with people.

B. Travelling around the world.

C. E-mailing some friends.

D. Meeting with customers and e-mailing Microsoft employees.

42. What does the underlined word "donated" in the last paragraph mean?

A. gave. B. earned. C. made. D. received.