Reciting the Blessings before Shema‘ in Tattered Clothing

One who breaks bread, and one who recites a blessing over fruit or over mitzvot, should not answer “Amen” to himself. If he does answer, this is an ignorant practice. We do not answer an “orphaned” amen,¹ nor a truncated one. Ben Azzai says: One who answers an “orphaned” amen, his children will be orphaned; if it is truncated, his life will be truncated. If it is extended, his days and years will be extended. One with tattered clothing may recite the blessings before Shema‘ and translate the Torah reading. R. Simeon ben Gamaliel says: He must be sure that he does not expose himself.