My sister and I were taught at a very early age to write thank-you letters for birthday and Christmas gifts. We carefully copied addresses from our mom’s address book into our own pretty little books, and a new box of stationery（信箋，信封）was always among my gifts under the tree. We wrote our letters on December 26 at the latest every year. It was an important tradition in our home, and it has turned me into an avid（热情）thank-you-letter writer as an adult.
I still send a great deal of personal mail, and I am extremely interested in all of the trappings of letter writing: unique stamps, beautiful stationery, fountain pens（自来水笔）. I feel a mad rush of satisfaction sticking a stamp on a carefully penned thank-you letter and sending it off in the mail.
Several years ago, I even sent my mom a thank-you letter to thank her for teaching me to count my blessings on paper. Sending letters of thanks out into the world has made me more grateful for the love, support and kindness I receive daily.
My father died when I was twenty-seven. Even then, I found comfort in writing letters of thanks for the gifts of words I received. At a time when all I wanted to do was retreat（退缩）into my own sadness, the act of giving thanks forced me to stay connected to the world and to the lives of the living.
And while it may seem unimportant, my belief in well-written thank-you letters has protected my popularity. Since real thank-you letters are extremely few and far between, my social graces（风度）are considered as a charming difference from other people, and my friends and family always seem truly moved by my efforts.
1.What can we learn about the author’s family?
A.Her family liked to collect stationery.
B.Her family had a thank-you-letter writing tradition.
C.She often copied addresses for her mother.
D.They wrote thank-you letters on Dec 26.
2.How did the author feel when writing thank-you letters?
A.Satisfied. B.Tired. C.Excited. D.Bored.
3.What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?
A.The author felt happy to receive gifts from others.
B.The author’s father died when she was very young.
C.Writing thank-you letters made the author lead an active life.
D.Writing thank-you letters forced the author to talk with others.
4.What does the author intend to tell us?
A.Expressing thanks can protect what we have.
B.Receiving thank-you letters is truly moving.
C.Writing thank-you letters is difficult work.
D.Being grateful can help gain the respect.