Reading comprehension

Read the text and do the tasks.

Text

Miles Wakefield hurried up to get to the house of this Arnold Blair. Blair's advertisement was published in all the daily papers and he was sure that others had seen it too. Blair had a Balzarini for sale and he was selling it cheaply. The price was only $75. Miles couldn't afford to miss such a wonderful chance. He knew he could sell it later with profit. Balzarini, of course, was no great master, but his sunny landscapes caused admiration.

He had to ring at least three times before the door was opened by a boy of about 16. There was something strange about this boy. He looked upset. Miles had the feeling the boy wanted to tell him something, but could not make himself do so. Before the boy could make up his mind, a deep voice was heard from somewhere in the house, "Who is it, Davey?"

Miles followed the boy into a small living room. A tall, white-haired man rose from his chair as Miles and Davey entered. Miles saw at once that the man was blind.

"I think you want to set to our business?"

"I don't object, 1 hear you have a Balzarini".

"All right, Davey, you are free for some time".

It was clear that the old man didn't want the boy to hear them discuss the agreement." It's my last hope", said the old man " I had refused to sell the picture many times, until now. It's too dear to me. But I need money. Come, it's in the next room".

Miles followed the old man into the next room. A second later Davey joined them.

"There!" said the old man. "My Balzarini!"

He showed to the opposite wall. Hanging there was a plain black frame. Behind the glass there was nothing. Miles caught the boy's look. It was full of sadness.

"A beautiful canvas, isn't it?" continued the old man. "You'll buy it".

Miles swallowed hard. "Why ... I don't think I can afford to buy it, it's too expensive. I supposed to spend about fifty". The empty frame was taken down, wrapped in a piece of paper and handed to Miles. When Miles had gone with the empty frame under his arm the boy and the grandfather returned to the room where the frame had hung. The boy went to a box in the corner, took out another empty frame, and hung it where the first had been. Then the old man and the boy sat down and began to wait. They were completely ready for the next art dealer.

Tasks A: Answer the questions.
1. Why did Miles Wakefield want to buy Balzarini picture?
a) He had a hobby to collect masterpieces.
b) Не admired works of Balzarini very much.
c) He knew he could sell it later with profit.
2. Why didn't the boy manage to tell anything to the customer?
a) He couldn't make up his mind to find necessary words.
b) He heard a voice of his master from somewhere in the house.
c) He could tell nothing because something averted his attention.
3. Whom did Miles Wakefield meet in the small living-room?
a) He met a tall, white-haired man.
b) He met a tall, white-haired man and a boy.
c) He met a tall, white-haired man and a painter.
4. What did the old blind man have for sale?
a) The old blind man had nothing for sale.
b) The old blind man had a Balzarini work for sale.
c) The old blind man had a lot of pictures for sale.
5. Why couldn't Miles refuse the blind man?
a) He wanted to help the blind man.
b) He felt sorry for him and his upset grandson.
c) He couldn't find the better way out.
6. What did the boy and his grandfather do when Miles left the house?
a) The boy and his grandfather hung another picture on the wall.
b) The boy and his grandfather set to their business.
c) The boy and his grandfather returned into the room.
B. Finish the sentences.
1. Miles Wakefield hurried up the house of Arnold Blair because ...
a) he wanted to be the first to see a beautiful canvas by Balzarini;
b) he wanted not to miss a chance to admire sunny landscapes of a great
c) he was afraid somebody could have sought it, he could miss a chance to buy a picture.
2. The boy of about 16 who looked ... opened the door.
a) upset;
b) disappointed;
c) excited.
3. The old blind man showed he ...
a) didn't want the boy to disturb them during their conversation;
b) didn't want the boy to hear them discuss the agreement;
c) didn't want to discuss the agreement with somebody else.
4. In the next room on the wall... was hanging.
a) a plain black frame with Balzarini work behind the glass;
b) a plain black frame with a beautiful landscape behind the glass;
c) a plain black frame with nothing behind the glass.
5. The empty frame was taken down and ...
a) wrapped in a piece of paper and put aside;
b) wrapped in a piece of paper and handed to Miles;
c) wrapped in a piece of paper and handed to a boy.
6. Arnold Blair managed to sell a "picture" because ...
a) he was very witty and inventive;
b) he was clever and unhappy;
c) he was Balzarini's grandson.