Final answer:
A new value stored in a variable overwrites the previous one, making the old value discarded and irretrievable.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a new value is stored in a variable, it overwrites the previous value. The previous value is discarded and can no longer be retrieved. In programming, a variable is like a storage box where you can keep different values. However, each box can only hold one value at a time. When you put a new value into the variable, the old one is removed completely—think of it like writing on a piece of paper, then erasing it and writing something new. Once erased, you cannot get the old information back unless you have made a copy or logged it elsewhere before changing it.