The expression “down to earth” means being open and honest. It is easy to get on with some one who is down to earth. A down-to-earth person is the opposite of someone who acts important or proud.
Down-to-earth people could be important members of society. But they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. A person who is filed with his own importance and pride is said to have his nose in the air.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some ways to down to earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality（现实）. He may have dreams, but he does not allow them to have influence on his understanding of what is real.
The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. Someone with his head in the clouds is a person whose mind is not on what is happening in real life. Such a person may be called a day－dreamer.
When we have both our feet on the ground, and when we are down to earth, we do not have our noses in the air. We act honestly and openly to others. Our lives are like the ground below us— solid(牢固的) and strong.
1.A down-to-earth person could be_____________.
A. social and proud B. good and opposite C. real and important D. strong and changeable
2.The expression “has one’s nose in the air” means_____________.
A. 眉飞色舞 B. 目中无人 C. 瞻前顾后 D. 春风得意
3.This passage mainly talks about_____________.
A. the use of some expressions B. dreams and achievements
C. the lifestyle of honest people D. honesty and understanding
4.If you want to understand what is real in life, you have to_____________.
A. get along with other people easily B. learn from those who are down to earth
C. be a good dreamer with quick mind D. have both your feet on the ground
5.If you only consider your own importance, __________.
A. you’ll think you are better than others
B. your life will be like the solid and strong ground
C. you’ll be hated by down-to-earth people
D. your life will be filed with love
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
According to the latest reports on TV and in the newspaper, food safety is becoming a ____________ serious worldwide problem.
A. more and more B. little by little C. now and then D. one by one
Drugs can do great harm (危害) not only to you but also to your family. You must be _________them.
A. along with B. out of C. in front of D. away from
—You’re supposed to hand in the travel diary as soon as possible.
—I see. I’m going to _________until 11:30 pm once more.
A. cheer up B. put up C. turn up D. stay up
—It has been written into law that drink driving can be a crime(罪).
—I quite agree. We should better be careful not to _____________the law.
A. test B. cheat C. break D. deal
