17．A hobby can be almost anything a person likes to do in his free time．Hobbyists keep pets，build model ships，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．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 helpful for patients to recover from physical or mental illness．Hobbies give patients something to do，and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves． In early years，most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies．But some persons who were free did enjoy hobbies． People today hard more time than ever before for hobbies．Machines have reduced（減少） the amount of time they must spend on their jobs．More people are retiring than ever be-fore 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 Osier，a famous Canadian doctor，expressed the value of hobbies by saying，"No man is really happy or safe without a hobby．"
66．According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE？B 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． 67．Who may spend more time enjoying their hobbies？C A．People who have little money． B．People who have much money． C．People who have retired from their work． D．People who have left school． 68．What does the underlined word"recover"in the third paragraph mean？A A．Become well again． B．Get back． C．Become calm． D．Provide with a new cover． 69．Why did most people spend less time on their hobbies in early years？D A．Because they were brave． B．Because they were not interested in hobbies． C．Because they were hard-working． D．Because they were busy making a living． 70．What's the writer's opinion about hobbies？D A．People all over the world have the same hobby． B．People shouldn't have hobbies． C．Hobbies are popular among the retired people． D．People should have hobbies in their free time．
