A hobby can be almost anything a person likes to do in his free time．Hobbyists keep pets, build model shops, watch birds, hunt animals, climb mountains, grow 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 have hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendship, knowledge, and relaxation．Sometimes they even make some money by following a hobby．Hobbies help people relax after hard work, and provide a balance between work and play．Hobbies also offer interesting activities for persons who have retired(退休)．Anyone, rich or poor, old or young, sick or well, can follow an interesting hobby．
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 patients something to do, and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves．Many hospitals treat patients by having them have interesting hobbies or pastimes．
In early times, most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies．But some persons who were free did enjoy hobbies．The old Egyptians played games with balls made of wood or pottery．
People today have more time than ever before for hobbies．Machines have reduced(减少)the amount of time they must spend on their jobs．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 free 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．”
(1)
Which of the following is right?
[ ]
A．
Hobby is one’s regular activity in his office．
B．
Hobby is a kind of activity a person likes to do in his free time．
C．
Hobby is a kind of activity only for old people．
D．
Hobby is a kind of activity only for young people．
(2)
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
(3)
The underlined phrase “recover from” in the third paragraph means ________．
[ ]
A．
get back
B．
become healthy again
C．
become calm
D．
provide with a new cover
(4)
In early times, most people spent less time on their hobbies, because ________．