As prices and building costs keep rising (上升), "the do-it-yourself" (DIY) trend (趋势), in the US
continues (继续) to grow.
    "We needed furniture (家具) for our living room, "says John Kose, "and we didn't have enough money
to buy it. "So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs. John got married (结婚) six months ago,
and like many young people these days, they are struggling (努力) to make a home at a time when the
cost of living is very high. The Roses took a 2-week course(课程)for $ 280 at a night school. Now they
build all their furniture and make repairs(修理)around the house.
    Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died (去世). He has a full-time job at home as well as
(除……之外)in a shoe-making factory. Last month, he received(收到)a car repair bill for $420. "I
was very upset (不安)about it. Now I've finished a car repair course. I should be able to fix (修理) the
car myself. "
    John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can save
money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourself". 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 to
do things yourself.

1. We know from the passage that many people _____.   

A. seldom (几乎不) go to a department store to buy things
B. take DIY courses run (经营) by the government (政府)
C. have to learn to make their own furniture 
D. find it hard to pay for what they need

2. John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to _____. 

A. improve the quality (质量) of life
B. save time and money 
C. make or repair things 
D. run a DIY shop

3. When the writer says that Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim _____. 

A. keeps house and looks after his children 
B. does his own car and home repairs 
C. does extra work at night 
D. make shoes in his home

4. Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourself when _____. 

A. he had to raise the children all by himself 
B. he could not possibly do two jobs 
C. the car repair class was not helpful 
D. his car repairs cost too much

5. What's the best title of the passage?   

A. Rose and Hatfield: Believers in DIY. 
B. You Can Do It Too. 
C. The Joy of DIY. 
D. Welcome to our DIY Course.

     Most people who work in the office have a boss(老板) . So do I(我也是). But my boss is a little unusual. What's
unusual about him? It's a big dog. Many men havedogs,but few men bring their dogs to the office everyday. My
boss's dog, Robinson, is big and brown. My boss brings him to work every day. He takes the dog to meet-ings
and he takes the dog to have lunch. When there is atelephone call for my boss, I always know if he is in theoffice.
I only look under his desk. If I see somethingbrown and hairy(毛茸茸的) under it, I know my boss issomewhere in
the office. If there is no dog, I know myboss is out.

1. People _____ bring dogs to the office.

A. usually
B. often
C. seldom(几乎不)
D. sometimes

2. My boss is Robinson's _____.

A. boss
B. master
C. classmate
D. teacher

3. Robinson goes to meetings _____ my boss.

A. for
B. without
C. instead of(代替)
D. with

4. Robinson is always under the desk if the boss is _____.

A. in the office
B. at meetings
C. out of the office
D. out of work

5. The passage tells us the boss _____ the dog very much.

A. looks like
B. hates(恨)
C. likes
D. trusts(信任)