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 surprised and worried about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair class, 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-yourself”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take a lesson, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.

A. $3.50                 B. $5.00 C.                   C. $6.50                D. $10.00

( C )

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 trying to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week lesson for $ 280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.

54. If a mother and her 5-year-old son go to the Agricultural Fair, she will pay ________ for the tickets.

53. What can you do at the Agricultural Fair?

A. Cook food.                                           

B. Plant apple trees.

C. Make cotton candy.                                              

D. See huge vegetables.

52. If you want to watch the movie After Love, you will go to the cinema before ______.

A. 7:30 pm on Friday                                 

B. 10:00 am on Saturday

C. 10:00 pm on Friday                               

D. 3:30 pm on Sunday

The ticket price is $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children under 12.

It’s that time again. The Agricultural Fair opens today, October 8, and runs to October 22―two weeks of fun for the whole family. So, put on your most comfortable shoes and come to the State Road 41. Shows and rides will be open from 10 am until 11 pm every day.

This year at the fair you can see many different kinds of animals, rides, and shows, so get ready to enjoy them, eat cotton candy, and pet all the lovely animals.

One of the most interesting shows is called “Too big to eat.” Here you can see huge tomatoes, cabbages, and other vegetables, some weighing up to 15 pounds.

There are many places to eat at the fair. You’ll find lots of food such as French fries, candy apples, and popcorn.

The fourth French Film Festival starts tomorrow, Friday, October 9. From Friday to Sunday there are eight different films. The ticket price of each film is $5.00. You can buy tickets at the Coleman Art Theater or by calling 555-9753. But do quickly because some shows are already sold out. For more information about each film, you can get a brochure at the theater.

Schedule of films

Friday

Sunday

3:30 pm―Wild Nights

5:30 pm―November

7:30 pm―After Love

10:00 pm―Tito and Me

10:00 am―The Man of My Life

3:30 pm―Wild Nights

7:30 pm―November

10:00 pm―Max and Jeremy

1:00 pm―Indochina

3:30 pm―The Little Prince

7:30 pm―November

10:00 pm―Max and Jeremy

Enjoy Family Fun at the Agricultural Fair

51. What is the passage about?

      A. Feathers.         B. Birds.                C. Food.             D. Weather.

( B )

Read the newspaper articles below and answer the questions.

French Film Festival

50. Birds near the sea usually like to eat _______.

   A. fish            B. fruit              C. insects        D. seeds