In the nineteenth century, the invention of the telegraph made it possible to send noise

s, signals, and even music over wires from one place to another. However, the human voice 36 this way. Many inventors tried to find a way to send a voice over wires, and in 1876 some of their efforts were awarded with success.

Two American inventors, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisa Gray, succeeded at almost the same time. The United States Supreme Court finally had to decide which of the two was the first inventor of the telephone. The Court decided 37 Bell’s favor.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Bell grew up in a family that was very interested in teaching people to speak. His grandfather had been an actor who left the theatre to teach elocution(演讲技巧); his father was a teacher 38 deaf-mutes learn how to speak.

However, probably none of the later inventions gave Bell the same feeling of success __39_ he had on the day when he spilled some acid from his batteries. It was after he had worked for months to find ways to send something more than metallic twangs(金属砰弦声)over the wires. Thinking Watson, __40__, was in the next room, Bell called, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you." Watson was not in the next room. He was down in his laboratory, next to the receiver. To Watson's surprise, he heard the words perfectly. He ran to tell Bell the news: the wires had carried Bell's voice perfectly.

36. A. had never traveled B. never had traveled

C. was never traveled D. never was traveled

37. A. at B. on C. to D. in

38. A. which was helped B. that was helped

C. who helped D. who has helped

39. A. like B. to C. which D. as

40. A. being his helper B. was his helper

C. his helper D. to be his helper