D Miss Martha, aged 40, kept a little bakery on the corner.Two or three times a week a customer came in in whom she began to take an interest. He spoke English with a German accent. His clothes were worn and wrinkled. But he looked neat, and had very good manners,1 He always bought two loaves of stale bread. French bread was five cents a loaf. Stale ones were two for five. Once Martha saw a red and brown stain on his fingers. She was sure then that he was an artist and very poor. No doubt he lived in an attic painting pictures and eating stale bread.Often when Martha sat down to her chops and rolls and jam, she would sigh, and with that the gentle mannered artist might share her tasty meal instead of eating his dry bread. In order to test her theory as to his occupation, she brought a painting bought at a sale, and set it behind the bread counter. Two days afterward the customer came in. "Two loafs of stale bread, please." "A fine picture, madame," he said while she was wrapping up the bread. "Yes?" says Martha, " I do admire art. You think it is a good picture?""Der balance is not in good drawing.' Then he took his bread, bowed, and hurried out, How kindly his eyes shone behind his spectacles! To be able to judge perspective at a glance, and to live on stale bread! But genius of ten has to struggle before it is recognized. She thought he began to look thinner. 2 Her heart ached to add something good to eat to his meagre purchase, but her courage failed at the act. She did not dare insult him. She knew the pride of artists. Martha began to wear her blue-dotted silk waist behind the counter. In the back room she cooked a mysterious compound of quince seeds and borax (a kind of beauty products). One day the customer came in as usual and called for his stale loaves.3 While Martha was reaching for them, a fire engine came lumbering past. He hurried to the door to look, as anyone will. Suddenly inspired, Martha seized the opportunity, With a bread knife she made a deep slash in each of the stale loaves, inserted a generous quantity of butter, and pressed the loaves tight again, When the customer turned once more she was tying the paper around them. When he had gone, after an unusually pleasant little chat, Martha smiled to herself. For a long time that day her mind dwelt on the subject. She imagined the scene when he should discover her little deception.,He would prepare for his lunch of dry bread and water. He would slice into a loaf, ah! Martha blushed. Would he think of the hand that placed it there as he ate?Would he? The front door bell jangled. Someone was coming in, making a great deal of noise. Martha hurried to the front. Two men were there. One was a young man she had never seen before. 4 The other was her artist. His face was very red, his hair was wildly rumpled. He clinched his tow fists and shook them ferociously at Miss Martha. "Dummkopf!", he shouted with extreme loudness; and then "Tausendonfer!" or something like it in German. Martha leaned weakly against the shelves and laid one hand on her blue-dotted silk waist. The young man took the other by the collar. "Come on, “he said, " you've said enough." He dragged the angry one out, and then came back. "Guess you ought to be told, ma'am," he said,. "He's an architectural draftsman. I work in the same office with him" "Guess you ought to be told, ma'am," he said, "what the row is about. That's Blumberger. He's an architectural draftsman. I work in the same office with him. "He's been working hard for three months drawing a plan for a new city hall. It was a prize competition. He finished inking the lines yesterday. You know, a draftsman always makes his drawing in pencil first. When it's done he rubs out the pencil lines with handfuls of stale bread crumbs. That's better than India rubber. "Blumberger's been buying the bread here. Well, to-day -- well, you know, ma'am, that butter isn't -- well, Blumberger's plan isn't good for anything now except to cut up into railroad sandwiches." Miss Martha went into the back room. She took off the blue-dotted silk waist and put on the old brown serge she used to wear. Then she poured the quince seed and borax mixture out of the window into the ash can.56. Why did the customer always buy two loaves of stale bread?A. Because he was too poor to afford better ones.B. Because the bread was more delicious and to his taste.C. Because the bread had a special usage for his work.D. Because he wanted to create chances to see Miss Martha.57. Which of the following can best describe Miss Martha?A. Sympathetic, dreamy and decisive B. Disciplined, ambitious and generous C. Proud, sensitive and conservative D. Practical, dependable and diligent58. Which of the following sentences best forwards the plot?A. ① B. ② C. ③ D. ④59. Which of following sentences indicates the change of Miss Martha’s feelingsA. Curious→ excited→ lost→ relived. B. Curious→ hopeful→ frustrated → calm. C. Nervous→ delighted→ disappointed→ angry.D. Nervous→ satisfied→ frightened→ depressed.60. What message does the story convey?A. All is well that ends well.B. Love grows with obstacles C. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. D. Don’t measure other people’s corn by your own bushel.
