完形填空

通读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给A、B、C、D四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。

　　Life is not easy, so I like to say “When anything happens, believe in yourself．”

　　When I was 14, I was too 　　1　　 to talk to anyone．My classmates often laughed at me．I was sad but I could do 　　2　　．Later, something happened．It changed my life．It was an English speech contest．My mother asked me to take part in it．What a terrible idea!It meant I had to speak 　　3　　 all the teachers and students of my school．

　　“Come on, boy．Believe in yourself．You are sure to 　　4　　．” Then Mother and I talked about many different topics．At last I chose the topic “Believe in yourself．” I tried my best to 　　5　　 the whole speech and practised it hundreds of times．With my mother's great love, I did well in the contest．I could hardly believe my ears when the news came that I had won the 　　6　　 place．I heard the 　　7　　 from the teachers and students．Those classmates who once looked down on(瞧不起)me, now all said “Congratulations!” to me．My mother hugged(拥抱)me and cried 　　8　　．

　　Since then, everything has 　　9　　．When I do anything, I try to tell myself to be sure of myself．This is 　　10　　 not only for a person but also for a country．