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

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】 考查词组词义辨析。句意：因为销售额下降商店不得不裁掉一些雇员。lay out布置，展开；lay off解雇，停止工作；lay aside放在一边，留待后用；lay down放下，阐述。