阅读下面短文，根据短文内容，在每小题句子空白处填入适当词语，使其意思与短文内容一致（每空词数不限）。

    A king was old and he knew it was time to choose a new king.He told all the young people in the country， "I'll give each of you a seed（种子）.Plant it and show me your flower in one year，and I'll choose a new king from you."

    A boy named Alex got a seed，too.He planted it carefully，but the seed didn't grow at all.A year later，Alex had to take his empty box to the palace.Others all brought beautiful flowers there and Alex felt sad.

    The king arrived at the palace and looked around.When he found there was nothing in Alex's box，the king smiled and said to the others， "One year ago，I gave everyone a seed which couldn't grow.But all of you，except Alex，have brought me flowers.Alex was the only one with courage to bring such a box.So he will be the new king!"

（1）The king told all the young people to plant a seed to choose a 　   　.

（2）Alex planted the seed carefully，but it 　   　 at all.

（3）Other boys except Alex brought 　   　 to the palace.

（4）The king 　   　 when he found there was nothing in Alex's box.

（5）From the passage we can infer （推断） that Alex was a（an） 　   　 child.