I needed to get some money so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham's for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can't say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I'll never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales; where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock(货物) and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn't sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Clever! Lastly, they buy in “seconds”(clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building. This made me very nervous.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less
confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn't believe my eyes; this wasn't shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn't keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colours and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small child
ren to crawl(爬行) through people's legs and get hold of things they couldn't get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole
day continued like that, but I kept my temper(脾气)! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realise why, twice a year, Graham's were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain it was OK.
You won't believe this but as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
1.What kind of clothes is likely to be sold 5% cheaper?
Last summer's clothes.
B.Clothes not in perfect condition.
C.Clothes bought in specially for the sales.
D.Clothes for winter.
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A.The customers gave up the queuing, for which the English are famous.
B.The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted.
C.Small children enjoyed crawling through people's legs.
D.The security guards were fearless of the crowd.
3.In the author's opinion, why were Graham's happy to make their expensive store into a “battlefield”?
A.There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales.
B.They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business.
C.They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes.
D.They wanted to make more money by having sales.
4.The expression “_________crashed out” means ________.
A.chatted with her friendsB.slept soundlyC.broke downD.dined out
5. What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The Best Bargain B.Hunting for a Job
C.Sale Fever D.A Pleasant Fortnight
1----5 DADBC
1.这是一道细节题。第二段中列举了四类降价的衣服及其降价幅度。A选项中的衣服are heavily reduced to clear(清仓) them;C选项中的衣服降价60%；B选项中的衣服are sold very cheaply降幅一定大于5%。答案为D。
2.这是一道细节推断题。根据倒数第三段可判断出如果人多，英国人就会放弃排队。答案为A。
3.这是一道推断题。从整篇短文的内容可以了解到，使人们相信他们所卖的衣服便宜，许多人来到商店竞相购买衣服，使整个商店变成了一个“战场”。他们这样做的目的就是为了赚钱。答案为D。
4.这是一道词义猜测题。根据上下文来判断，上文提到作者上班时遭遇那么多的人竞相抢购，倒数“Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose”，可见劳动强度非常大，所以回到家后作者crashed out，而且作者下文说自己害怕听到提醒自己明天还得继续像这样工作的铃声，还went back to bed，可见crash out应为熟睡。答案为B。
5.这是一道主旨题。作者在这篇短文中描写了人们疯狂购物的场面，所以这篇短文的主题应是“购物热”。答案为C。