A
Seventy-three-year-old Gary selected his food in Value Mart more carefully than NASA chose its candidates for the space shuttle. Skim milk was $2.99, on sale from $3.49; white bread, 89 cents with a discount; table salt, 99 cents, 20 cents off the regular price. Leaving the cashier (收银员), he estimated that he had saved 80 cents today. He was pleased that he had got good value for his money again.
At the exit, the cold wind reminded him of his gloves. “Now where are they?” Not in the coat pockets. Not in the grocery bag either. The worried man made a thorough search of all his pockets, again including the grocery bag. Now he was sure they must have been dropped somewhere inside the store.
Old Gary had bought the black gloves at a 25% discount ten years ago. His quick decision to buy the expensive gloves turned out to be a good one, which even promoted his social status on the bus, as poorer passengers stared at him enviously. Losing this favorite possession was almost like losing a child to him.
Gary re-entered the store with long steps. He followed the same route he had walked before. There were all open passages and it did not take long to be convinced that the gloves were not in sight.
“Society has changed, people have changed”, he murmured to himself. “Years ago, if somebody picked up something lost, they would give it back. Not anymore!”
On his way out, he went over to the cashier to ask if she had received any lost gloves. She asked him what color they were, and when he said “black”, there came a disappointing answer. He took his time now, finally walking out of the store.
Back home, Gary was at a loss. In deep winter, he could not do without a pair of gloves. He was very upset that people no longer returned things they found on the road.
After a month, Gary decided to buy another leather pair. Before boarding the subway, he stepped into Value Mart again to see if by any chance his gloves had been returned to the lost and found office. “What color are they?” the woman in the office asked again. “Black,” he gave the same answer. She looked into her drawer and drew out a pair of men’s leather gloves. “Are they?”
“Yes! Those are mine!” Gary exclaimed, his eyes glowing with joy.
21. According to the passage, Gary thought his buying the gloves to be ______.
A. unnecessary B. hot-headed C. wise D. adventurous
22. What can we infer about Gary?
A. He is particular about food.
B. He is not well off.
C. He holds a pessimistic attitude towards life.
D. He doesn’t get along well with his neighborhood.
23. In Gary’s opinion, why couldn’t he recover his gloves at first?
A. He was not careful enough.
B. The cashier forgot to return his gloves.
C. A customer took his gloves by mistake.
D. Someone picked up his gloves and kept them on purpose.
【答案】21. C 22. B 23. D
【解析】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了生活并不富裕的老Gary经常去Value Mart买打折商品，有一次他昂贵的手套丢失了，他原以为有人故意捡到不归还，当最后手套又失而复得的故事。
【21题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段His quick decision to buy the expensive gloves turned out to be a good one, which even promoted his social status on the bus, as poorer passengers stared at him enviously。得知Gary买这双昂贵手套的快速决断结果证明不错，这提升了他乘坐公交车的社会地位，较贫穷的乘客们羡慕地盯着他，可以推断出Gary认为他当时买下那副昂贵的手套很明智。故选C。
【22题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段Leaving the cashier (收银员), he estimated that he had saved 80 cents today. He was pleased that he had got good value for his money again. 得知Gary经常买打折商品以及as poorer passengers stared at him enviously.坐车也是穷人们居多。可以推断出Gary生活不富裕。故选B。
【23题详解】
细节理解题。根据倒数第三段He was very upset that people no longer returned things they found on the road.可知，人们不再归还他们在路上捡到的东西，这让他很不高兴。所以Gary认为有人捡了他的手套，故意留下手套不还给他。故选D。
