Question

A car dealership in my hometown of Albuquerque was selling six to eight new cars a day. I was also told that 72 percent of this dealership’s first-time visitors returned for a second visit.

I was curious. How does a car dealership get 72 percent of its first-time visitors to return? And how can they sell six to eight cars a day in a declining car market?

When I walked into Saturn of Albuquerque that Friday, the staff there didn’t know me from Adam; yet they shared with me their pricing policy, the profit margin on every model, and staff income. They even opened their training manuals for my review and invited me back on Saturday if I wanted more information.

On Sunday, the day after my second visit to the Saturn store, my wife, Jane, and I were walking as we frequently do. On this particular June morning, Jane gently slipped her hand in mine and said tenderly, ＂I don’t know if you remember, but today’s my fifth anniversary of being cancer-free.＂ I was surprised, partially because I was embarrassed that I had forgotten and, partially because.... Well, I didn’t know what to do with Jane’s information.

The next day, Monday, Jane went off to work teaching school. Still not knowing what to do to mark this special occasion, I did the most impetuous thing I’ve ever done in my life: I bought a new Saturn. I didn’t pick the color or the model, but I paid cash and told them I’d bring Jane in on Wednesday at 4:30. I told them why I was buying the car.

On Tuesday, it dawned on me that Jane always wanted a white car. I called the sales consultant at Saturn, and I asked him if he had anything white in the store. He said he had one left but he couldn’t guarantee it’d still be available on Wednesday at 4:30 because they were selling so fast. I said I’d take my chances and asked him to put it in the showroom.

Wednesday came. Unexpectedly, someone in our family was admitted to the hospital. So, it wasn’t until 9:30 Saturday morning when we finally made our way to the Saturn store. Jane had never been in a Saturn store. When we went through the front door, the Lord took control of her feet and her mouth. She saw that little white Saturn coupe all the way across the showroom floor. She quickly passed a multi-colored sea of automobiles, sat in the little white Saturn and said, ＂Oh, what a pretty little car. Can I have a new car?＂ I said, ＂No. Not until our son graduates from college.＂ She said, ＂I’m sick and tired of driving that old Dodge, I want a new car.＂ I said, ＂I promise, just three more semesters and he’ll be out.＂

Next, Jane walked around to the front of the car. As she looked it over, she let out the most blood-curdling, shrill scream I’d ever heard in 29 years of marriage.

Now, before I tell you why Jane screamed, let me tell you what the sales consultant had done. He had ordered a large, professionally engraved sign (white letters on blue). The sign stood alone on the hood of the little white Saturn coupe. It said ＂Congratulations, Jane. This car is yours. Five years cancer-free. Let’s celebrate life. From Team Saturn＂ Every employee at Saturn of Albuquerque had signed the back of that sign.

Jane saw it, screamed, collapsed in my arms and cried loudly. I didn’t know what to do. I was in tears. I took out my invoice (发票) from the previous Monday, pointing to the white coupe, said, ＂No, honey, this car isn’t yours. I bought you this one.＂ I tapped the invoice with my index finger. Jane said, ＂No, I want this one right here.＂

While this conversation was going on, there was no one in the store. The sales consultant had arranged it so that we could share the moment alone. Even so, it’s impossible to have a lot of privacy when so many people are standing outside the showroom windows looking in. When Jane screamed and collapsed in my arms, I saw everybody outside applaud and begin to cry.

1.Why did the writer visit the Saturn of Albuquerque that Friday?

A. He wanted to collect some raw materials for his story.

B. He was asked to write a report about that car store.

C. He was told the car store was launching a price reduction activity.

D. He simply wanted to see why the car store enjoyed so much popularity.

2.Why did the writer buy a new Saturn?

A. Because his car was so old that he didn’t want to drive it any longer.

B. Because Jane wanted a new car for her fifth anniversary of being cancer-free.

C. Because he wanted to mark his wife’s fifth anniversary of being cancer-free.

D. Because he thought the car could be helpful to his wife’s recovery from cancer.

3.When did the writer decide upon the white car?

A. On the next Tuesday.

B. On the first Friday.

C. On the second Wednesday.

D. On the first Saturday.

4.How did Jane feel when she saw the sign on the car?

A. Surprised and thrilled.

B. Angry but satisfied.

C. Shocked and frightened.

D. Skeptical but overjoyed.

5.Which of the following belongs to the most wonderful part of this story?

A. Paying cash for a new Saturn.

B. Picking up the new car in the store.

C. The couple’s conversation on the street.

D. The writer’s first visit to the car store.

6.The purpose of the writer writing this story is ________.

A. to introduce a new type of car

B. to tell readers of his lovely wife

C. to sing high praise for a car store

D. to show his deep love for his wife

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.A

5.B

6.C

【解析】本篇为记叙文。作者听说一家车店的生意不错，在汽车市场经济下滑的今天依然能一天销售6到8辆，于是决定去走访一趟。通过在这家店给妻子买车的经历，使作者明白了这家车店如此红火的原因。

1.推理判断题。由文章前三段内容尤其是＂I was curious. How does a car dealership get 72 percent of its first-time visitors to return? And how can they sell six to eight cars a day in a declining car market?When I walked into Saturn of Albuquerque that Friday…＂可知作者星期五去的目的是想了解一下这家车店为何如此受欢迎，因此D项正确。

2.推理判断题。由第四段中的＂I don’t know if you remember, but today’s my fifth anniversary of being cancer-free. ＂以及第五段中的“Still not knowing what to do to mark this special occasion, I did the most impetuous thing I’ve ever done in my life: I bought a new Saturn. ”可知，作者这样做的目的是庆祝他的妻子摆脱癌症第五个周年纪念日，因此C项正确。

3.细节理解题。由第六段的首句“On Tuesday, it dawned on me that Jane always wanted a white car. I called the sales consultant...”可知，星期二，作者突然想到，Jane一直想要一辆白色的车，于是打电话给汽车销售顾问，因此作者是在在下一个星期二决定买白色汽车的，故A项正确。

4.推理判断题。第七段讲述了作者故意隐瞒已经买车的事实，用孩子没毕业做理由拒绝妻子的换车的要求，再结合第八段 “she let out the most blood-curdling, shrill scream I’d ever heard in 29 years of marriage.”和第十段“Jane saw it, screamed, collapsed in my arms and cried loudly. ”的内容，可推知Jane看到标牌一定非常惊讶和激动，因此A项正确。

5.推理判断题。结合全文内容可以看出提车这一部分是全文最精彩的部分，主要体现几个方面：（1）一进门就能看到那辆车；（2）对妻子喜爱白车的描述；（3）销售人员的做法；（4）作者妻子的反应，因此B项正确。

6.作者意图题。文章第一段和第二段介绍了车店生意红火，下文作者买车更是证明了这家车店的优秀，作者在这家店的买车经历，另妻子感到惊喜和幸福，作者对购买过程非常满意，因此作者是在高度赞扬这家车店，故C项正确。