少年把冰淇淋店开到了水面上
Teenager Brian Troupe, now 16, was on a boat ride with a neighbor when business inspiration struck.The man mentioned that someone used to sell food to boaters, cooking it at one location, then delivering it to another. Troupe loves being out on the water, and he wanted to make some extra money. So he started brainstorming ideas.
It’s not unusual for boaters to carry sandwiches, chips and similar snacks on board, Troupe notes. However, frozen treats, like ice cream, are less common — because a lot of boats don’t have freezers. Then, aged 15, Troupe decided to run with the idea.
He purchased a freezer with funds he’d earned doing chores, stocked up on ice cream and opened Troupe’s Treats for business at the end of a pier on the Bohemia River in July 2025. Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly according to plan.
Troupe realized he didn’t need to wait for customers to seek his product out—he could bring it right to them. The young entrepreneur used his savings to invest in a small jon boat, which cost about $700, and outfitted it with bumpers and extra equipment for about $120 more.
The first weekend of sales immediately validated his new strategy. Troupe priced his offerings at $2 apiece and brought in about $400. As the summer unfolded, Troupe averaged $800 per weekend selling from the jon boat, hitting more than $1,200 on his best weekend ever. He closed that summer season with nearly $6,000 in gross sales.
Going into summer 2026, Troupe was ready to make some changes and grow his business even more.He upgraded from store-brand to premium ice cream products, like Magnum and Klondike bars, and charged $3 for them. He also invested in a larger freezer and a bigger boat, the Sea-Doo Switch. The Switch could cover a greater range, allowing him to go from visiting just one location to four in multiple rivers.
Troupe’s smart business strategies paid off this summer. On an average weekend, Troupe’s Treats earned about $1,800, surpassing $2,100 on its best. Gross sales broke $25,000 for the 2026 season.Troupe plans to operate the business next summer and says he can “100%” see himself remaining an entrepreneur.
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1.1. What gave Troupe the idea for his business?
A A neighbor’s remark on a boat ride.
B The snacks he often carried on board.
C His plan to buy a bigger boat.
D A friend who ran a snack shop.
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。原文第一段说 Brian Troupe 和一个邻居乘船时，“business inspiration struck”，随后“The man mentioned that someone used to sell food to boaters...”，即邻居提到以前有人向划船者卖食物，这直接触发了他的创业想法。因此选 A“A neighbor’s remark on a boat ride”。B 项说他自己常带的零食，原文只是说划船者通常带三明治、薯片等，并不是他获得想法的原因；C 项买更大的船是 2026 年扩大业务时的事；D 项文中没有提到朋友开零食店。故选A。
2.2. Why did Troupe buy a small jon boat?
A To keep the ice cream frozen.
B To expand to four rivers.
C To bring ice cream to customers.
D To go on boat rides with a neighbor.
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。原文说 Troupe 意识到不必等顾客来找产品，他可以“bring it right to them”，随后用积蓄买了一艘小 jon boat。这说明买小船是为了把冰淇淋直接送到顾客那里，因此选 C“To bring ice cream to customers”。A 项保持冰淇淋冷冻的是他之前买的 freezer，不是 jon boat；B 项从只去一个地点变成去多条河上的四个地点是 2026 年买更大的 Sea-Doo Switch 后实现的；D 项和邻居乘船是故事开头，不是买 jon boat 的目的。故选C。
3.3. How did Troupe’s average weekend sales change from 2025 to 2026?
A They remained roughly stable.
B They more than doubled.
C They tripled.
D They declined a little.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。2025 年他平均每个周末销售额约为 800 美元，2026 年平均每个周末约为 1800 美元。1800 约为 800 的两倍多，但没有达到三倍（三倍应为 2400 美元），所以选 B“They more than doubled”。A 项“基本稳定”不符合数字变化；C 项“三倍”计算错误；D 项“略有下降”与原文增长事实相反。故选B。
4.4. What is Troupe’s attitude toward the future of his business?
A Proud.
B Relaxed.
C Concerned.
D Optimistic.
解析：选D。D 观点态度题。原文最后说 Troupe 计划明年夏天继续经营，并说自己“100%”可以预见自己会继续做企业家。这体现了他对未来业务充满信心，因此选 D“Optimistic”。A 项“Proud”可能来自他对成绩的自豪，但题干问的是对业务未来的态度；B 项“Relaxed”文中没有体现；C 项“Concerned”与最后一句的积极态度相反。故选D。