单选题 35. The store had to ______ a number of clerks because sales were down.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[考点] 词义辨析
lay out：布置，展开；lay off：解雇，停止工作；lay aside：把……放在一边，积蓄(金钱等)；lay down：放下，制定。根据句意可知，选B。
因为销售额下降，商店不得不解雇大量员工。