For years scientists have been arguing about whether nature or nurture (后天) decides what people will be like. Is it nature— what people are (41) with— that decides what they will be like? (42) is it nurture —what(43) to people when they are born —that decides what they will be like?

    Scientists have been studying twins to (44) if they can find the answer, because twins start out with the (45) DNA. Sometimes twins don’t live together at birth and grow up in different (46) and different places— so the nature is the same for both, but the nurture is different.

    When scientists (47) these twins in their later life, they some times find some surprising (48).

    Jim Springer and Jim Lewis were adopted（收养）by two different families at birth. They first met each other again thirty-nine years (49) and discovered they had a lot in (50). Both had been (51) twice. Their first wives were both named Linda and their second wives were both named Betty!

    Each twin had a son — one called his son James Alan and the (52) called his son James Alan, too. Their children each had a dog called “Toy”. They even arrived at their first (53) in the same color of car.

    So far twin (54) seem to show that both nature and nurture are important. What we have from birth, and how and where we live help to build (55) we are.

    1.A. born     B. grown    C. taught     D. made

   2.A. So     B. And    C. If     D. Or

   3.A. pretends    B. happens    C. falls     D. depends

   4.A. hear     B. win    C. see     D. plan

    5.A. nice     B. same    C. full     D. free

    6.A. families     B. cities    C. countries     D. nations

    7.A. believe     B. suggest    C. receive    D. compare

   8.A. numbers     B. discoveries    C. results     D. decisions

    9.A. ago     B. later    C. forward     D. behind

    10.A. common     B. fact    C. danger     D. trouble

   11.A. mentioned     B. married    C. succeeded     D. interviewed

    12.A. either     B. else    C. other     D. only

   13.A. competition     B. education    C. purpose     D. meeting

    14.A. studies    B. movies    C. challenges     D. mysteries

    15.A. what     B. when    C. where     D. who

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have porridge, eggs or toast. When others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. But at least I wasn’t alone when I was sad. My sister and two brothers had the same mean(刻薄的) mother as I did.?
My mother preferred to know where we were all the time. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed “sick” in order to miss school.?
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother was brave to break the Child Labour Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do. ?
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of us have ever been arrested(taken away by the police) or divorced. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. I am trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children call me “mean”. Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.?
【小题1】 How many children does the writer’s mother have??

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have porridge, eggs or toast. When others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. But at least I wasn’t alone when I was sad. My sister and two brothers had the same mean(刻薄的) mother as I did.?

My mother preferred to know where we were all the time. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed “sick” in order to miss school.?

The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother was brave to break the Child Labour Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do. ?

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of us have ever been arrested(taken away by the police) or divorced. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. I am trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children call me “mean”. Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.?

1. How many children does the writer’s mother have??

2. What can you infer(推测) from the passage??

3.The best title for this passage may be     . ?