阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。
As the 2026 Year of the Horse approaches, zodiac-themed plush toys have become popular in China. In early January, a flawed horse plush from Yiwu unexpectedly won the hearts of millions, perfectly illustrating the Chinese proverb “a blessing in disguise.”
The story began when a netizen in Hangzhou bought a plush horse online. Originally designed with a bright, smiling face for the festive Year of the Horse, the toy’s mouth was sewn upside down by accident, making it look sadly pouted. The buyer first asked for a replacement but then shared the toy’s photo on social media. Surprisingly, its sorrowful yet cute look touched many people, especially stressed office workers. It soon became a way to express hidden tiredness, and related online topics quickly garnered（获得） over 1 billion views.
Sellers in Yiwu reacted swiftly. Factories immediately added more production lines, and workers began working around the clock in three shifts to produce these “crying horses” and meet the soaring（激增的） demand. Within a week, derivatives like keychains and U-shaped pillows hit the market. Even with orders backed up until March, the toy was still sold at a reasonable price of 25 yuan. This fair pricing strategy greatly boosted sales, with domestic orders rising by 300% and overseas exports tripling.
This imperfect toy shows how a small flaw can lead to great success—a real-life example of “a blessing in disguise.” It also highlights Yiwu’s efficient supply chain and the powerful role of emotional connection in modern consumption.
1.What can we infer from the underlined sentence “a blessing in disguise” in Paragraph 1?
A. A wrong choice will finally lead to success.
B. A seemingly bad thing may turn out to be good.
C. A minor defect results in an unexpected success.
D. A good product is often hidden in a poor package.
2.The word “derivatives” in Paragraph 3 most likely means ______.
A. derivative products B. independent products
C. traditional products D. innovative products
3.Why did the “crying horse” become popular among office workers?
A. It was sold at a reasonable price of 25 yuan.
B. Its design was originally made for the festive Year of the Horse.
C. Its sorrowful yet cute look matched their hidden tiredness.
D. It was quickly developed into keychains and U-shaped pillows.
4.What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce the right way to price products.
B. To explain the development of Yiwu’s supply chain.
C. To share a real-life example of the Chinese proverb.
D. To introduce a popular plush toy and its inspiring story.
5.What is the author’s attitude towards the “crying horse” phenomenon?
A. Critical B. Doubtful C. Positive D. Uncaring
