Question

I had started a small company several years ago. I worked hard to make it successful. It was a sign-making business. It was a small company, and it was private.

Still, I worked hard building up my business. I did not work only a few hours each day—no banker's hours for me. Instead I spent many hours each day, seven days a week, trying to grow the company. I never cut corners or tried to save on expenses. I made many cold calls. I called on possible buyers from a list of people I had never seen. Such calls were often hard sells.

Sometimes I sold my signs at a loss. I did not make money on my product. When this happened, there were cut backs. I had to use fewer supplies and reduce the number of workers. But after several years, the company broke even. Profits were equal to expenses. And soon after, I began to gain ground. My signs were selling very quickly. They were selling like hotcakes.

I was happy. The company was moving forward and making real progress. It was in the black, not in the red. The company was making money, not losing it.

My friend knew about my business. He is a leader in the sign-making industry—a real big gun, if you know what I mean. He offered to buy my company.

He offered me a ball park estimate of the amount he would pay to buy my company. But I knew his uneducated guess was low. My company was worth much more. That is, he asked his accountant to take a close look at the finances of my company and decide how much it was worth. Then my friend increased his offer.

My friend's official offer was finally given to me in black and white. It was written on paper and more than I ever dreamed. I was finally able to get a break. I made a huge profit on my company, and my friend also got a bang for the buck. He got a successful business for the money he spent.

1.What's the author's attitude towards his business?

A. He worked like a banker.

B. He showed no interest in it.

C. He devoted almost all his time to it.

D. He didn't expect to make money from it.

2.Which of the following matches the author's business?

A. Making neither a loss nor a profit→making money→running at a loss.

B. Making money→running at a loss→making neither a loss nor a profit.

C. Making neither a loss nor a profit→running at a loss→making money.

D. Running at a loss→making neither a loss nor a profit→making money.

3.What did the author think of his friend?

A. A big gun.    B. A proud fellow.

C. A selfish guy.    D. A stubborn man

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

【解析】本文介绍了作者的生意是如何建立起来的，从亏损到盈利，作者投入了他几乎所有的时间去经营，最终扭亏为盈，这时候作者的朋友提出想收购他的公司，作者最终以超出他想象的价格卖掉了公司，他终于可以休息一下了。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段"I spent many hours each day, seven days a week,"可知，作者对他的生意投入了他几乎所有的时间去经营。故选C。

2.细节理解题。由三四段中"Sometimes I sold my signs at a loss", "Profits were equal to expenses", "The company was making money"可知，作者的生意经历了亏损、不亏不赚和盈利的过程。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第三段"He is a leader in the sign-making industry—a real big gun,"可知，选A。这里的a big gun表示“大人物”的意思。