“I believe you’re the right person to write an advice column (专栏) for the students called Dear Amy!” Jenny, editor of the school newspaper, said to Andy, who finally agreed to accept the job if Jenny promised not to tell it to anyone else.
At first it wasn’t too bad. Most of the letters he received were interesting and quite easy to answer. Then came a letter from a person named Joe.
“Dear Amy,” it began, “I’m in real trouble. I’ve wanted to be a songwriter all my life, but my parents don’t even let me take music lessons. I have a guitar, but they both get angry if I play. I’ve tried explaining, but they didn’t listen. I feel sad. Should I run away from home? Maybe that will make my parents agree.” The letter signed “Joe”.
Andy thought about this letter for a long time. Should he advise someone to run away from home? Probably not. But didn’t Joe have a right to be a songwriter if he wanted to? Andy thought hard, but couldn’t think out a good answer. Andy couldn’t sleep. He just worried about poor Joe.
At a bar a few days later, Eleanor, a girl in Andy’s maths class, sat down next to him and asked, “ What’s wrong with you? You look a little worried.”
“I guess I do,” said Andy.
“If you get a problem, why don’t you try writing to Dear Amy about it?” asked Eleanor.
Andy sighed. But Eleanor continued, “In fact, I guess Dear Amy is rather busy with other problems. She still hasn’t answered the phony letter I wrote her last week. You’d better read it — it may even make the most hard-hearted person cry! It was supposed to be from a songwriter named Joe.”
【小题1】Andy might be ______.

People around the world celebrate the new year. However, not all countries celebrate in the   46    way. When it is the New Year, people celebrate for several days. In some countries, the New Year is not on the same date every year. It can depend    47    the seasons, the moon or the sun.

In many countries, New Year begins on January1st, but people start celebrating on December 31st, New Year’s Eve. In New York, many people go to celebrate in Times Square. While they’re waiting for the New Year, they    48    music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o’clock, everyone    49    down from 10, 9, 8 … As soon as it’ s 12 o’clock, everyone shouts very loudly, “Happy New Year!” and they say, “Out with the old year and in with the new!” Suddenly there    50   fireworks and special drinks. Sometimes people sing an old song   51   “Auld Lang Syne”.

New Year’s Day is often a family day. Some people relax at home. Some families get together for a special    52   with grandparents, aunts and uncles. When the weather is    53   , many families go out for a walk.

On New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They write down a list of things, such as “I will help out more at home. I will work harder at school.”

Or “I won’t spend so much time    54   video games.” When they have made their list, they read it to their family or friends.

So it does not matter how they celebrate, for people in countries all over the world, it is a time to    55   goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

1.A. different           B. difficult                  C. same             D. easy

2.A. in                        B. on                          C. for                          D. like

3.A. hear                             B. listen to                  C. sound            D. hear of

4.A. counts               B. count                     C. counted       D. counting

5.A. am                       B. is                            C. be                          D. are

6.A. calls                     B. calling                    C. called            D. call

7.A. meal                   B. breakfast      C. lunch             D. supper

8.A. well                     B. good             C. hot                         D. fine

9.A. play                    B. playing                   C. played                   D. plays

10.A. say                             B. tell                          C. talk               D. speak

Peter's job was to examine cars when they crossed the frontier (边界) to make sure that they were not smuggling (走私) anything into the country. Every evening he would see a factory worker coming __36__ the hill towards the frontier, __37__ a bike with grass on it. When the bike __38__ the frontier, Peter would stop the man and __39__ him take the grass off. Then he would examine the straw very __40__ to see whether he could find anything, after which he would look in all the man's pockets __41__ he let him tie (捆绑) the grass again. The man would then put it on his bike and go off down the hill with it. Although Peter was always __42 __ to find gold or other valuable things hidden in the straw, he never found __43__. He was sure the man was smuggling something, but he was not __44__ to think out what it could be.

Then one evening, after he had looked __45__ the grass and emptied the worker's pockets __46__ usual, he __47__ to him, "Listen, I know you are smuggling things __48__ this frontier. Won't you tell me what it is? I'm an old man, and today's my last day on the job. Tomorrow I'm going to retire (退休). I promise I shall not tell __49__ if you tell me what you've been smuggling." The worker did not say anything for __50__. Then he smiled, turned to Peter and said quietly, "Bikes."

阅读短文，根据短文内容，从短文后的五个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有一项为多余选项。
Many people think self-confidence is the key to a happy, successful life. But where does self-confidence come from?    【小题1】   .
I’m Lucy. Self-confidence means that I can do something well. It’s even better if someone else tells you that you’re good at something, too. When people listen to me and pay attention to my ideas, I know they like me. When people don’t listen, I sometimes feel sad.  【小题2】   .
I’m Jeff. Respect from my family and friends makes me feel the best. I don’t care if I’m the best football player, or I don’t get the highest grade on a test, or don’t succeed at everything I do.    【小题3】   . If someone says something unkind about you, you don’t mind that much because you know they’re wrong—that means you have self-confidence.
I’m Sue. I really feel good when my mum gives me a hug and says,“Have a nice day!”before I leave the house. Also, one day in a store I asked a salesman where to find something, and to my surprise, he said,“You have a beautiful smile.” For the rest of the day I was happy. These kinds of things have to come naturally and from the heart, but they make a big difference in the way a person feels.
   【小题4】  . Believe that no matter who you are, you can build your own self-confidence.