I’m trying to be a writer, but I can’t even start. What should I do?
Abraham, Nebraska
There are many ways to come up with ideas, one of which is to write down a list of your experiences, as well as things from your imagination. When you want to write, look in the notebook for ideas.
Books for writers often have good suggestions, too. One we like is Spilling Ink: A Yong Writer’s Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. Perhaps your library has it.
My classmates keep asking about a new movie I’ve seen. But I don’t want to spoil it for them. What should I do?
Corinne (by e-mail)
You could ask your classmates whether they are sure they want to know and if they insist, go ahead and tell them. You may be able to give them a general idea of the movie without revealing details of the ending.
I’m going to a soccer camp for youth, but I’m not sure if I’m good at soccer or if I’ll make friends.
Louise, New Hampshire
Soccer camp is for people who share an interest in the sport. No matter what a person’s ability is at the beginning, it’s likely that everyone will leave camp with improved skills.
Sharing a common interest may make conversations easier. Smile, be friendly, and have a sense of humor. Before long, you may find that you’ve made some good friends.
Someone invited me to a birthday party. When I got there, kids were doing stuff I’m not interested in, like watching scary movies. I told them my mom would pick me up, so I just left. Was I rude for doing that?
Sam (by e-mail)
You just did the right thing and that isn’t being rude.
We hope you’ll talk with your parents about this. They’re probably proud of what you did. They may have other suggestions for you, too. Talk about different situations that might come up and what would be the best way to handle (处理) them.
【小题1】Who is interested in Spilling Ink: A Yong Writer’s Handbook?

　　R．D．Good evening,lades and gentlemen.I’m Roy Derby,and this is my show.This is a television show for all the family,and I know you’re going to enjoy it.

　　Let’t start with a story I heard the other day,about a very proud pig.This pig lived on a farm with a lot of other animals,and of all the animals on the farm,he thought he was the most important.But it was not enough that he himself thought this,he had to be sure that the other animals thought it,too.So he went up to one of the chickens and said:”Who is the most important animal on this farm?”Straight away,the chicken answered:“You are,master.”Then he asked one of the farm dogs,and he received the same reply.

　　Next he asked a cow.When the cow seemed uncertain of the right answer,the pig looked angry,and showed his teeth.“Oh,you are of course,master pig,”said the cow.“Of course,”said the pig, “There is no doubt about it.”

　　At last the pig asked a big horse. “Who is the most important animal on this farm?” the horse lifted one foot,rolled the pig over,and placed his foot on the pig’s head. “All right”said the pig, “You don’t have to do that,just because you don’t know the answer.”

1．The Roy Derby Show is ______ .

[    ]

A．a funny story about a pig.

B．for ladies and gentlemen only.

C．a show about life on the farm.

D．a family show on the television.

2．When he put his question to the chicken,the chicken ______ .

[    ]

A．gave him the answer that he wanted

B．went up to him and answer him

C．said that the master was more important

D．said that the pig was as important as the chicken.

3．The dog ______ .

[    ]

A．answered in the same way as the chicken.

B．did not understood the question

C．asked the very same question as the pig

D．received the same reply as the chicken

4．The pig was angry with the cow because ______ .

[    ]

A．the cow showed her teeth

B．the cow did not give the right answer straight away

C．the cow gave him the wrong answer

D．the pig had to tell the cow the right answer

5．When the horse put his foot on the pig’s head ______ .

[    ]

A．the pig could not ask his question

B．the horse hurt the pig to show that he was more important

C．the pig knew that the horse was more important than he was

D．the horse showed the pig what he thought of him

When you are little, it’s not hard to believe you can changed the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed the people at the Rio Earth Summit. “I am only a child,” I told them. "Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."
I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur（刺激） action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.
When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices--education, career, lifestyle--life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are learning a shortsighted way of looking at the future, focusing on four-year government terms and quarterly business reports. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for our future when we were 12 was idealistic and naïve（天真）.
Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of the change. I hope this goal will be met through our common efforts. Thank you all.
57．The purpose of what the speaker said at the age of 12 was to          .
A．end poverty and make school beautiful
B．find environmental answers and show off
C．focus people’s attention on some social problems
D．find a wonderful place and clean it up
58．What does the underlined word “ovation” in the second paragraph refer to?
A．A long period of laughing.
B．A cold and unfriendly welcome.
C．An expression used for greeting.
D．Great applause or cheering.
59．The information in the text is presented mainly through          .
A．question and answer         B．a personal lecture[来
C．cause and effect                  D．listing steps in a process
60．Which of the following best describes the speaker?
A．He is an experienced educator.         B．He is an impolite man.
C．He is a man of great worries.   D．He is a man of social responsibility.

    When you are little, it’s not hard to believe you can changed the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed the people at the Rio Earth Summit. “I am only a child,” I told them. "Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."

I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur（刺激） action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.

When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices--education, career, lifestyle--life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are learning a shortsighted way of looking at the future, focusing on four-year government terms and quarterly business reports. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for our future when we were 12 was idealistic and na??ve（天真）.

Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of the change. I hope this goal will be met through our common efforts. Thank you all.

57．The purpose of what the speaker said at the age of 12 was to          .

       A．end poverty and make school beautiful

       B．find environmental answers and show off

       C．focus people’s attention on some social problems

       D．find a wonderful place and clean it up

58．What does the underlined word “ovation” in the second paragraph refer to?

       A．A long period of laughing.

       B．A cold and unfriendly welcome.

       C．An expression used for greeting.

       D．Great applause or cheering.

59．The information in the text is presented mainly through          .

      A．question and answer B．a personal lecture[来

       C．cause and effect              D．listing steps in a process

60．Which of the following best describes the speaker?

       A．He is an experienced educator.       B．He is an impolite man.

       C．He is a man of great worries.  D．He is a man of social responsibility.

.

When you are little, it’s not hard to believe you can changed the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed the people at the Rio Earth Summit. “I am only a child,” I told them. "Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."

I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur（刺激） action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.

When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices--education, career, lifestyle--life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are learning a shortsighted way of looking at the future, focusing on four-year government terms and quarterly business reports. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for our future when we were 12 was idealistic and na??ve（天真）.

Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of the change. I hope this goal will be met through our common efforts. Thank you all.

53．The purpose of what the speaker said at the age of 12 was to          .

A．end poverty and make school beautiful

B．find environmental answers and show off

C．focus people’s attention on some social problems

D．find a wonderful place and clean it up

54．What does the underlined word “ovation” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．A long period of laughing.     B．A cold and unfriendly welcome.

       C．An expression used for greeting.    D．Great applause or cheering.

55．The information in the text is presented mainly through          .

      A．question and answer B．a personal lecture

       C．cause and effect              D．listing steps in a process

56．Which of the following best describes the speaker?

       A．He is an experienced educator.       B．He is an impolite man.

       C．He is a man of great worries.  D．He is a man of social responsibility.