The charm(迷人之处) of stamp collecting is collectors arefree to spend as much as they

The charm(迷人之处) of stamp collecting is collectors are free to spend as much as they want on time, money and efforts. Collectors can collect stamps whether by country, by topic, or by time period. Many years ago, it was possible to collect all kinds of stamps in the world. But with more than a half million stamps already issued worldwide, and with thousands more being released(发行) each year, that is an unrealistic dream even for the minority rich. Great rarities(稀缺) also make it impractical for anyone to gain world completeness.

  This guideline may help you in whatever your collecting choices may be:

  Collect what interests you. If you are interested in the colorful new stamps of some islands, collect them regardless of their future worth. If you cannot afford to get all that's available in your field, limit yourself to what interests you the most. Many fine collectors follow that path, collecting stamps just for fun. Burton, a great collector, works hard on the stamps of Panama. He delights in (喜爱) another collection simply called "Cuz I Like Them", a collection of stamps with unusual shapes.

  Ernst Cohn owns one of the world' s top-grade collections of error stamps. "I am not a collector of expensive stamps, the ones only crazy people can afford and buy. I only collect inexpensive, easy-to-find stamps, which have one thing in common: a stupid error(错误) in their design. So far I have collected more than 1,500 stamps with at least one thing in common: 'the crazier the error, the more I like it'. "

These fine collectors mean you may do what you please, without worrying about whether anyone else collects in that way. Collecting stamps is probably the least structured hobby in the world; you can do exactly as you want.

1. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the reading?   (    )                                      

  A. The value of stamps.

  B. Collecting stamps in your own way.

  C. Stamp collecting can never be complete.

  D. General knowledge of stamp collecting.

2. Based on the passage, which might NOT be the writer's advice? (     )                                             

  A. Collectors should have their own ideas about what to collect.

  B. Collect what others like most and you will watch your collection growing fast.

  C. You need to specialize in a certain item.

  D. Enjoyment rather than completeness makes your collecting more practical and more effective.

3. Why does the writer think we need to forget completeness in stamp collecting? (    )                            

  A. Nobody is rich enough to afford the stamps he wants to collect.

  B. There are so many stamps in use and to be used every year.

  C. The difficulty lies in great rarities of certain stamps.

  D. Both B and C.

4. What does the underlined word "structured" probably mean? (     )                                           

  A. Expensive       B. Free      C. Interesting         D. Fixed

5. The message from these collectors mentioned in the passage is that

  A. you can be serious about stamp collecting and have fun at the same time

B. many people like stamp collecting for no good reasons

C. good collections of stamps seem never to be found

D. people involved in this hobby are all crazy

1—5  BBDDA