test.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

class ArrayWithHashes

    def initialize(hashes)
       @hashes = hashes 
    end

    def find_by(selector)    
        hashes = []
        counter = 0
        limit = selector.delete(:__limit)
        @hashes.each do |h|
            is_match = selector.each do |k,v|
                break false unless h[k] == v
            end
            hashes << h if is_match
            counter += 1
            break hashes if limit && counter >= limit
        end
        hashes
    end

end

hashes = [
  { id: 1, name: 'Pat', gender: 'f' },
  { id: 2, name: 'Pat', gender: 'm' },
  { id: 3, name: 'Steve', gender: 'm' },
  { id: 4, name: 'Sue', gender: 'f' },
]

i = ArrayWithHashes.new(hashes)

puts i.find_by({name: 'Pat'})
puts '----'
puts i.find_by({name: 'Pat', __limit: 1})
puts '----'
puts i.find_by({name: 'Pat', gender: 'm'})
puts '----'
puts i.find_by({__limit: 3})
puts '----'
puts i.find_by({id: 5})