Everybody loves a bargain． One person’s useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person's bargain．That is why so many Americans do not throw things away．They put them outside their houses．They put on a For Sale sign．And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper．It tells, when and where the yard sale will take place．These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn．Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house．Then they sit all day in the sunlight—like tired guests at a party—waiting for someone to take them home．
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale．Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else．Cooking equipment is also popular．So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs．
Then there are objects called white elephants．A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless．It may be an electric light shaped like a fish．You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it．To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy．
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect．It may be old toy trains, for example, or paintings of dogs．Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before．Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special．They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating（谈判）over prices, even if they really do not need the object．Later, they may hold their own yard to sell all the things they have bought．
【小题1】What kind of things will go to a yard sale?A．Things people no longer use．B．Things of great, value．C．Things out of season．D．Things of beauty and joy．【小题2】A white elephant refers to something ．A．that can cause a feeling of painB．disliked by the owners while appreciated by othersC．that looks like a golden fishD．sold at the lowest prices in the old newspaper【小题3】Which of the following is NOT true about a yard sale?A．It is held outdoors．B．It may not be held on a cold day.C．It can last for a whole day．D．It is usually held with a party．A
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(答案→)A
解析：本文叙述了把自己家里认为没有用的东西拿到旧货市场去卖，人们是在春夏秋的周末，在室外的旧货市场等一整天去卖自己的东西，有的人买这种东西为了收藏，有的人买确实因为它们是便宜的。
【小题1】这是细节理解题。根据第一段可知人们把自己认为没有用的东西，拿到旧货市场去出售，故选A。
【小题2】这是细节理解题。根据A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless．A white elephant指主人认为是没有用的而有人却非常喜欢的东西，故选B。
【小题3】这是细节理解题。根据hese sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn．Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house．Then they sit all day in the sunlight—like tired guests at a party—waiting for someone to take them home．人们在旧货卖东西是在春夏秋的周末，在室外等一整天去卖自己的东西，故选D。