A hobby (嗜好) can be almost anything a person likes to do in his spare time.Hobbyists raise pets，build model ships，weave baskets，watch birds，hunt animals，climb mountains，raise flowers，fish，ski，skate，and swim.Hobbyists also paint pictures，attend concerts and plays，and perform on musical instruments.They collect everything from books to butterflies，and from shells to stamps.

People take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment，friendship，knowledge and relaxation.Sometimes they even yield financial profit.Hobbies help people relax after periods of hard work，and provide a balance between work and play.Hobbies also offer interesting activities for persons who have retired.Anyone，rich or poor，old or young，sick or well，can follow a satisfying hobby，regardless of his age，position，or income.

Hobbies can help a person’s mental and physical health.Doctors have found that hobbies are valuable in helping patients recover_from physical or mental illness.Hobbies give bedridden or wheel­chair patients something to do，and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves.Many hospitals treat patients by having them take up interesting hobbies or pastimes.

In early times，most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies.But some persons who had leisure did enjoy hobbies.The ancient Egyptians played games with balls made of wood or pottery.

People today have more time than ever before for hobbies.Machines have reduced the amount of time they must spend on their jobs.Hobbies provide variety for workers who do the same monotonous (单调的) tasks all day long.More people are retiring than ever before，and at an earlier age.Those who have developed hobbies never need to worry about what to do with their newly found leisure hours.

Sir William Osler，a famous Canadian doctor，expressed the value of hobbies by saying，“No man is really happy or safe without a hobby.”

46．Which of the following is right?

A．Hobby is one’s regular activity in his office.

B．Hobby is one’s regular activity in his spare time.

C．Hobby is a kind of activity only for old people.

D．Hobby is a kind of activity only for young people.

47．It seems that people who________ may spend more time enjoying their hobbies.

A．have little money

B．have much money

C．have retired from their work

D．have left school

48. The phrase “recover from” in the third paragraph means________.

A．get back                                             B．become healthy again

C．become calm                                      D．supply with a new cover

49．In early times，most people spent less time on their hobbies，because________.

A．they were brave and hard­working

B．the living conditions were poor

C．they were engaged in making a living

D．B and C

50．What’s the writer’s opinion about hobbies?

A．People all over the world have the same hobby.

B．Machines also have their hobbies.

C．Hobbies are popular among people in Egypt.

D．People should have hobbies in their spare time.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had loved a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well   16   it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As   17   drew near, the young man expected   18   that his father had bought the car. Finally, on the morning of the special day, his father called him into his study. His father told him how   19   he was to have such a fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped (包装好的) gift box. Curious, but a little bit   20  , the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible (圣经).
Angrily, he raised his   21   to his father and said, “Is a Bible   22   you can give me with all your money?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years   23   and the young man was very successful in business, but   24   his father was very old, he thought perhaps he   25   go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.   26   he could make the arrangements (安排), he received a telegram which   27   him of his father’s death, and all the possessions (财产) willed (立遗嘱) to him.
  28   arriving at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to   29   through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had   30   it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to   31  . As he was reading, a car   32   dropped from the back of the Bible.
How many times do we   33   blessings (祝福) because they are not wrapped as we expected? Do not spoil (搞糟) what you have by desiring (渴求) what you have not; but remember what you now have was once   34   the things you hoped for. What may appear as bad fortune (运气) may   35   be the door that is just waiting to be opened.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had loved a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well   16   it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As   17   drew near, the young man expected   18   that his father had bought the car. Finally, on the morning of the special day, his father called him into his study. His father told him how   19   he was to have such a fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped (包装好的) gift box. Curious, but a little bit   20  , the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible (圣经).
Angrily, he raised his   21   to his father and said, “Is a Bible   22   you can give me with all your money?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years   23   and the young man was very successful in business, but   24   his father was very old, he thought perhaps he   25   go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.   26   he could make the arrangements (安排), he received a telegram which   27   him of his father’s death, and all the possessions (财产) willed (立遗嘱) to him.
  28   arriving at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to   29   through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had   30   it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to   31  . As he was reading, a car   32   dropped from the back of the Bible.
How many times do we   33   blessings (祝福) because they are not wrapped as we expected? Do not spoil (搞糟) what you have by desiring (渴求) what you have not; but remember what you now have was once   34   the things you hoped for. What may appear as bad fortune (运气) may   35   be the door that is just waiting to be opened.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had loved a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well   16   it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As   17   drew near, the young man expected   18   that his father had bought the car. Finally, on the morning of the special day, his father called him into his study. His father told him how   19   he was to have such a fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped (包装好的) gift box. Curious, but a little bit   20  , the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible (圣经).

Angrily, he raised his   21   to his father and said, “Is a Bible   22   you can give me with all your money?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years   23   and the young man was very successful in business, but   24   his father was very old, he thought perhaps he   25   go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.   26   he could make the arrangements (安排), he received a telegram which   27   him of his father’s death, and all the possessions (财产) willed (立遗嘱) to him.

  28   arriving at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to   29   through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had   30   it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to   31  . As he was reading, a car   32   dropped from the back of the Bible.

How many times do we   33   blessings (祝福) because they are not wrapped as we expected? Do not spoil (搞糟) what you have by desiring (渴求) what you have not; but remember what you now have was once   34   the things you hoped for. What may appear as bad fortune (运气) may   35   be the door that is just waiting to be opened.

1.                A．offer           B．pay            C．buy  D．afford

2.                A．his birthday     B．graduation day   C．sports meet   D．examination day

3.                A．signs           B．notes          C．warnings  D．marks

4.                A．upset          B．crazy           C．comfortable   D．proud

5.                A．excited         B．disappointed     C．worried  D．satisfied

6.                A．hand           B．head           C．voice D．sound

7.                A．all             B．that            C．all what   D．that all

8.                A．past           B．gone           C．passed   D．spent

9.                A．learning        B．realizing        C．hearing   D．understanding

10.               A．could          B．would          C．should    D．ought

11.               A．After          B．Before         C．Since D．Until

12.               A．informed       B．required        C．reported  D．introduced

13.               A．By            B．On            C．As   D．At

14.               A．put            B．push           C．search    D．pass

15.               A．kept           B．bought         C．left   D．expected

16.               A．turn over       B．turn on         C．turn up    D．turn down

17.               A．picture         B．model          C．key   D．toy

18.               A．miss           B．get            C．forget D．avoid

19.               A．of             B．among         C．between  D．along

20.               A．surely          B．actually         C．mainly D．naturally

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had loved a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well   16   it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As   17   drew near, the young man expected   18   that his father had bought the car. Finally, on the morning of the special day, his father called him into his study. His father told him how   19   he was to have such a fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped (包装好的) gift box. Curious, but a little bit   20  , the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible (圣经).

Angrily, he raised his   21   to his father and said, “Is a Bible   22   you can give me with all your money?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years   23   and the young man was very successful in business, but   24   his father was very old, he thought perhaps he   25   go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.   26   he could make the arrangements (安排), he received a telegram which   27   him of his father’s death, and all the possessions (财产) willed (立遗嘱) to him.

  28   arriving at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to   29   through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had   30   it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to   31  . As he was reading, a car   32   dropped from the back of the Bible.

How many times do we   33   blessings (祝福) because they are not wrapped as we expected? Do not spoil (搞糟) what you have by desiring (渴求) what you have not; but remember what you now have was once   34   the things you hoped for. What may appear as bad fortune (运气) may   35   be the door that is just waiting to be opened.