Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Recreation is the use of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of one’s body or mind. While leisure is more likely a form of entertainment or rest, recreation is active for the participant but in a refreshing and diverting manner. As people in the world’s wealthier regions lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles, the need for recreation has grown. The rise of so-called active vacations exemplifies this trend.

   Recreation, play, and fun are not the preserve of human; nearly all creatures indulge in this to some extent. Play is essential for the development of skills, the most basic of which are motor skills in young creatures.

   The choice of hours for recreation is, for employees, restricted by the requirements of, and agreements with, the employer (working time), and for students by schools hours. For people with their own business it is also restricted by the requirements of the work, such as the opening hours of the business based on wishes of customers, laws, and customs.

   The weekend is usually a time for recreation. Holidays are also a common time for recreation, though recreation may take place at virtually any time. Recreation commonly occurs during an individual’s discretionary time.

   Traditionally Olympics, music and dance serve as recreation in many cultures, as do sports, hobbies, game (playing) and tourism. Watching TV and listening to music are common forms of recreation, or rather leisure.

Weekends and holidays are ________________.

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as overs (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.

   Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.

   Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.

   Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals.

The estimated number of stamp collectors in the United States is ………….

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as overs (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.

   Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.

   Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.

   Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals.

Why have some collectors taken to Philatelic investment?

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as overs (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.

   Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.

   Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.

   Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals.

Which of the following is NOT true about rare stamps?

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as overs (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.

   Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.

   Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.

   Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals.

Philatelic knowledge is especially important for …………

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as overs (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.

   Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.

   Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.

   Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals.

The word they in paragraph 4 refers to ……….

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Gardening is the art of growing plants with the goal of crafting a purposeful landscape. Residential gardening most often takes place in or about a residence, in a space referred to as the garden. Although a garden typically is located on the land near a residence, it may also be located in a roof, in an atrium, on a balcony, in a window-box, or on a patio or vivarium.

   Gardening also takes place in non-residential green areas, such as parks, public or semi-public gardens amusement and theme parks, along transportation corridors, and around tourist attractions and hotels. In these situations, a staff of gardeners or groundskeepers maintains the gardens.

   Indoor gardening is concerned with the growing of houseplants within a residence or building, in a conservatory, or in a greenhouse. Indoor gardens are sometimes incorporated as part of air conditioning or heating systems.

   Water gardening is concerned with growing plants adapted to pools and ponds. Bog gardens are also considered a type of water garden. These all require special conditions and considerations. A simple water garden may consist solely of a tub containing the water and plant.

Where is a garden usually located?

Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question.

   Recreation is the use of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of one’s body or mind. While leisure is more likely a form of entertainment or rest, recreation is active for the participant but in a refreshing and diverting manner. As people in the world’s wealthier regions lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles, the need for recreation has grown. The rise of so-called active vacations exemplifies this trend.

   Recreation, play, and fun are not the preserve of human; nearly all creatures indulge in this to some extent. Play is essential for the development of skills, the most basic of which are motor skills in young creatures.

   The choice of hours for recreation is, for employees, restricted by the requirements of, and agreements with, the employer (working time), and for students by schools hours. For people with their own business it is also restricted by the requirements of the work, such as the opening hours of the business based on wishes of customers, laws, and customs.

   The weekend is usually a time for recreation. Holidays are also a common time for recreation, though recreation may take place at virtually any time. Recreation commonly occurs during an individual’s discretionary time.

   Traditionally Olympics, music and dance serve as recreation in many cultures, as do sports, hobbies, game (playing) and tourism. Watching TV and listening to music are common forms of recreation, or rather leisure.

What is the difference between leisure and recreation?