@staticmethod
def skipLines(f, skipCount: int):
    """
        >>> f = open( "test_set_small.txt", "r" )
        >>> skipLines( f , 20 )
        20
        """
    lineCount = 0
    if skipCount > 0:
        dummy = f.readline()
        while dummy:
            lineCount = lineCount + 1
            if lineCount == skipCount:
                break
            dummy = f.readline()
    return lineCount
