Harry¹ saw an ad in a window. It said: "Wanted. The Best Sales- man in the World. Top Pay."

 

　　" I' m a great salesman." Harry told himself." I can sell anything. I'll go in and ask for that job."

 

　　He went into the building and spoke² to the manager.

 

　　"I'm the best salesman in the world," he said. "Give me the job. "

 

　　"You must prove you're the best," the manager said.

 

　　"I'll pass every test you give me." Harry told him.

 

　　"Good."

 

　　The manager took a box of candy out of his desk .

 

　　"Last week, I bought a thousand boxes of this candy. If you can sell them all before the end of the week, you can have the job.

         "That's easy," Harry said.

 

　　He took the box of candy and left the office.

 

　　Every day and all day, he went from shop to shop, trying to sell boxes of the candy .

 

　　He couldn't sell one.

 

　　The candy was so bad he couldn't even give it away.

 

　　At the end of the week he went back to the manager.

 

　　"I'm sorry, sir, " he said," I was wrong about myself . I'm not the best salesman in the world, but I know who is.

 

　　"Oh," said the manager. "Who?"

 

　　"The person who sold you a thousand boxes of this candy, " Harry said.

 

Notes:

 

　　(1) candy n. 糖果

 

　　(2) give away赠送

 

Exercises:

 

根据短文选择正确答案：

 

　　① The manager told Harry_____ .

 

　　A. he was the best salesman in the world

        B. he wasn't a good salesman

 

　　C. he had to show how good he was

 

　　D. he could start work immediately

 

　　② Harry could have the job if_____ .

 

　　A. he sold a thousand boxes of candy

 

　　B. he sold a hundred boxes of candy

 

　　C. he gave away two hundred boxes of candy

 

　　D. he gave away a thousand boxes of candy

 

　　③ Harry could not sell the candy because_____ .

 

　　A. he was a very bad salesman

 

　　B. the candy was very bad

 

　　C. he did' t try to sell it

 

　　D. nobody liked candy

 

　　④ Who was the best salesman in the world?

 

　　A. Harry

 

　　B. the manager

 

　　C. nobody

 

　　D. the man who sold the candy to the manager

        ⑤ So we can infer³ from the story that_____ .

 

　　A. Harry got the job

 

　　B. Harry wasn't accepted by the manager

 

　　C. Harry was very stupid

 

　　D. the manager was very clever

 

 

115.世界上最好的售货员

 

 

　　哈里在橱窗上看到一则广告。上面写着：“招聘世界上最好的售货员，报酬优厚。”

 

　　“我是一名了不起的售货员，”哈里自言自语，“任何东西我都能卖出去，我要进去应聘这份工作。”

 

　　他走进大楼去和经理说这件事。

 

　　“我是世界上最好的售货员，”他说，“把这件工作给我吧。”

 

　　“你必须证明你是最好的，”经理说。

 

　　“我会通过你给我的每一次考验的。”哈里告诉他。

 

　　“好。”

 

　　经理从桌子里取出一箱糖果。

 

　　“我上星期买了一千箱这种糖果。如果你能在周末之前把这些全卖出去，你就能得到这份工作。”

 

　　“这很简单。”哈里说。

 

　　他拿着这箱糖果离开了办公室。

 

　　每天从早到晚，他从这家店走到那家店，竭力想卖出一千箱糖果。

 

　　结果他一箱也没卖出去。

 

　　糖果质量太差，以至于送人都没人要。

 

　　周末他回去见经理。

 

　 “很抱歉，先生，”他说，“我搞错了。我不是世界上最好的售货员，但我知道谁是最好的。”

         “哦，”经理问，“是谁？”

 

　　“是把这一千箱糖果卖给你的人，”哈里说。

 

练习参考答案：

 

①C②A③B④D⑤B

上一篇：A Boy with a Big Head（大头娃娃） 下一篇：A Woman's answer（妇女的回答）