I had my first job at a local diner called the Buttercup Bakery when I was 22. I worked there for seven years and learned so many lessons, especially from a fellow waitress Helen who had incredible self-respect and did what she loved—serving people. She made everyone smile and feel good, customers and co-workers alike.
Being a waitress changed my life. One of my regular customers was Fred Hasbrook, an electronics salesman. Thanks to the newfound confidence I picked up from Helen, I dreamed of having my own restaurant. But when I called my parents to ask for a loan, they said, “We just don’t have the money.”
The next day, I shared my dream with him and said, “Fred, I know I can do more if somebody would just have faith in me.”
He walked over to some of the other diner regulars and the next day handed me checks totaling $50,000—along with a note that I have to this day. It reads, “The only collateral（担保）on this loan is my trust in your honesty as a person. Good people with a dream should have the opportunity to make that dream come true.”
I took the checks to Merrill Lynch—the first time I had ever entered a brokerage（经纪业）house—where the money was invested for me. I continued working at the Buttercup, making plans for the restaurant I would open. My investments soured, though, and I lost the money.
After great deliberation（考虑） I decided to apply for a job at Merrill Lynch. Even though I had no experience, I was hired and ended up becoming a pretty good broker. Eventually I paid back Fred and my customers the $50,000, plus 14-percent annual interest. Five years later, I was able to open my own firm.
I got a thank-you note from Fred, which will be imprinted on my head forever. He had been sick and wrote that my check had helped cover his mounting medical bills. His letter read, “That loan may have been one of the best investments that I will ever make.”
According to the passage, the author thought ______.
A. Helen was full of complaint about her work
B. it was easy for Helen to make everyone happy and comfortable
C. she was lucky to have a job working with Helen
D. it was not acceptable to live in such a bad condition
By saying that “Being a waitress changed my life.” the author means that ______.
A. the author got a high pay by working hard
B. the author borrowed $50,000 with no interest from Fred Hasbrook
C. the effort which she had made influenced her a lot
D. the experience working as a waitress was worthwhile for the author
Which of the following statements is not true of Fred Hasbrook?
A. Fred Hasbrook was one of the author’s regular customers.
B. Fred Hasbrook lent the author $50,000, together with other customers.
C. Fred Hasbrook’s self-respect had a great effect on the author.
D. Fred Hasbrook’s himself did not have much money.
What made the author’s customers lend her money according to the passage?
A. Her maturity. B. Her honesty. C. Her faith. D. Her success.