第4部分：阅读理解(第31～45题，每题3分，共45分) 下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题，每题后面有4个选项。请仔细阅读短文并根据短文回答其后面的问题，从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案涂在答题卡相应的位置上。 第一篇 How to Start a Small Business in the US People from other countries often take America as the “land of opportunity”. Americans, too, believe that the country gives no end of chances to those who want to open their own businesses. Today, many Americans are still trying hard to become small business people, although only one out of two remains in operation after the first two years. Many people start their small businesses for the wrong reasons. They want to get away from the paper work of their present jobs, or to exchange the responsibility of their present jobs for free life styles. But more, not less, paper work and responsibility come with ownership of a small business. Thomas is the owner of the news magazine Mother Earth, which is now quite successful. He says that he had to work sixty hours without stopping when he was trying to bring out the first issue. Thomas had waited for years after he came up with the idea for Mother Earth. During that time, he collected as much information as he could about his business. He borrowed books from the library, talked to successful people in the field, and began planning carefully the amount of money and the kinds and numbers of supplies he would need. When he finally opened with a capital of $1，500，he set up his office in the kitchen and his printing press in the garage. Owing to his devotion(投入)to business, his talent, and his skill in management, Mother Earth now has a circulation(发行量) of 300，000. Not all small businesses are doing as fine as Mother Earth as 50% of the 450, 000 that start in America every year fail. Still, 95% of businesses in the US can be called “small”. Altogether these businesses amount to 40% of America’s gross national product(国民生产总值). 31 According to the passage, which of the following is true of the small businesses in the U. S. ? A All of them close down in the first two years. B Most of them fail within the first two years. C They all make big profits. D Only half of them continue to operate after the first two years. 32 According to paragraph 2, many people start small businesses in order to A do heavy work or earn more money. B do less paper work or take less responsibility. C do more paper work or take less responsibility. D do light work or live quiet lives. 33 What preparations did Thomas make before he started his business? A He stayed at home. B He borrowed money from a bank. C He made investigations and drew up a plan. D He wrote a book. 34 Thomas’success can be attributed to A his talent, his skill in management, and his devotion to his work. B his good luck. C his good relations with a business manager. D his good treatment of his workers. 35 How many businesses in the U. S. can be called “small”? A 5%. B 40%. C 50%. D 95%.