B1 English Reading – Short Story & Grammar Quiz
Maya was a young artist who dreamed of painting a masterpiece. She spent hours in her small studio, but her portrait of the mayor was not progressing properly. She felt huge pressure. If she did not finish it soon, she would lose the chance to show her work.
She often wished she had more inspiration. “I wish I could paint something truly powerful,” she sighed. Her neighbor, an old poet who lived next door, felt her worry. He was a man who rarely left his house, but he offered her a suggestion. “If you could find the legendary blue orchid, it would give your portrait a unique touch.”
The blue orchid was a rare flower, which grew only in the northern mountains. Maya knew that if she had known about it earlier, she would have gone there weeks ago. It was a difficult journey, but she decided to try. After three days, she found it. If she hadn’t found that specific flower, her portrait would have been very ordinary. She painted it, and the finished work was truly powerful. Exactly as she had imagined it. A real masterpiece!