61. John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to______.

A. run a DIY shop　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. make or repair things

C. save time and money　　　　　　　　　　　 D. improve the quality of life

60. We can learn from the text that many newly married people_______.

A. find it hard to pay for what they need　B. have to learn to make their own furniture

C. take DIY courses run by the government　D. seldom go to a department store to buy things

59. What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?

A. The roller skates needed further improvement.

B. The party guests treated Merlin as a fool.

C. Merlin succeeded beyond expectation.　　　　　 D. Merlin got himself into trouble.

B

As prices and building costs keep rising, the do-it-yourself'(DIY)trend(趋势)in the U.S. continues to grow.

　‘We needed furniture(家具)for our living room,' says John Ross, ‘and we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs.' John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.

Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. ‘I was deeply upset(焦虑)about it. Now I've finished a car repair course(课程), I should be able to fix the car by myself.’

John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a ‘do-it-yourselfer', you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.　 (240words)

58. Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to________.

A. impress the party guests　　　　　　 B. arrive at the party sooner

C. test his invention　　　 　　　　　　 D. show his skill in walking on wheels

57. People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he__________.

A. often gave others surprises　　　　　 B. was a gifted(天才的)musician

C. invented the roller skates　　　　　 D. was full of imagination

56. The text is mainly about ____________.

A. a strange man　　　　　　　　　　 B. an unusual party

C. how roller skating began　　 D. how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

54. A. lighter　　　 　　 B. heavier　　　　 　　 C. weightier　　 D. more

53. A. should　　　 　　 B. might　　　　　 　　　 C. would　　　 　　 D. must

52. A. other　　　　 　 B. another　　　　 　　　 C. more　　　 　　 D. me