The offering
Just as they were getting ready to leave the street corner, they noticed a man walking toward them. He was obviously a wealthy1 man ---- they could tell that from the finely tailored2 business suit he was wearing and the gold watch chain that decorated3 his left pocket.
The first beggar whispered4 to the second with excitement, "He's coming our way!"
The two tried not to look directly at the man as he stepped closer to them, but they couldn't help gazing（凝视，注视） up with expectation as he reached into his pocket and took something out.
"Thunk" was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard candy, wrapped5 doubly in tissue paper, hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man turned and continued on his way, not making a backward glance6.
"How disgusting7 !" said the first beggar, as soon as the rich man was out of sound range. “He could have easily left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he tricks us with a piece of rock candy."
He looked at the wrapped offering with disgust. "Who does he think we are ---- children? There's no way we can even eat this ---- we have no teeth."
The beggar picked up the object with the very tips of his fingers and threw it into the gutter（臭水沟）. He watched as it floated a few yards in the stream8 of muddy water and disappeared into the drain（排水道） at the end of the street. Then, he gathered up his things and walked away.
The second beggar looked down at the morsel (少量食物）in his hat, then at his departing friend. His first impulse (冲动) was to throw the donation in the trashcan9 under the street light. But his second thought made him change his mind.
"I haven't had anything like this for ages," he thought. "I can't chew10 it, but I can suck on it for a while, and the sugary juices will stay in my mouth for a long time. How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet."
He eagerly opened the paper outside, then paused as his hands touched the white tissue paper inside. "Maybe I should save it for another time," he thought. "It won't spoil（糟蹋）, and I could eat it later when I'm really hungry."
The beggar hesitated11 for a moment, then declared12 aloud, "Who cares? He wanted me to have it anyway. I might as well enjoy it now."
With that, he unwrapped the white tissue paper, but to his surprise, there was no hard rock candy inside. Instead, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars.
What can we learn from the story?
A. Rich people who give offering to the poor deserve more respect.
B. Those who are lazy may miss more opportunities.
C. Things which have no appealing（有吸引力的）appearance tend to be more valuable.
D. Those who appreciate what they own are more likely to be rewarded.