Question

In any family with more than one child, children seem to naturally compete for their parents’ love and attention. Parents say they love every child equally. But is that true?

Susan, founder of a consulting firm in Chicago, interviewed 216 women and found that even though none of her questions asked directly about a parent favoring one child over another, about two-third of the women said there was a favored child. And they also remembered their experience when they were young. One of the women said, “My mother always liked my brother better, and he got to summer camp in 1968 and I didn’t.

Plumez, who interviewed parents with both biological children (亲生孩子 ) and adoptive children for an adoption book in 2008, found that what matters most is whether your temperaments (性情 ) are pleasing. “In some cases, parents would say they felt closer to their adopted children, ”she says. “Some parents like the children with characters similar to theirs. Two people who are shy and withdrawn (内向的) might get along well, unless the shy parent doesn’t like that aspect of themselves and they try to push the naturally withdrawn child to be more extroverted.”

It could be a result of gender, birth order or how easy or difficult a child’s temperament may be, but a parent’s different treatment has far-reaching effects. Studies have found that less-favored children may suffer emotionally, with decreased self-esteem and behavioral problems in children. Favoritism (偏爱) is a reason for the next generation not to like each other.

Experts say it’s not realistic to say everyone should be treated equally, because no two people are the same and they related differently to others.

“It does not mean the parent loves or likes one child more. It has to do with which one of them is independent,” says psychologist Lauriet Kramer of the University of Illinois.

1.The study carried out by Susan shows that ________.

A. showing favoritism is common in many families

B. most mothers like their sons better than their daughters

C. only two-thirds of the women interviewed have more than a child

D. it is favoritism that leads to absence of harmony in most families

2.The underlined word “ extroverted” in the third paragraph means ________.

A. independentB. outgoingC. easygoingD. awful

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Favoritism is not beneficial to the development of children

B. Parents’ favoritism to a certain child can’t be avoided in families.

C. Parents may be favorite one of their children and don’t realize it.

D. People are very much shaped by how they were treated by their parents.

4.What’s the best title for the passage?

A. Parents’ favoritism can affect children deeply

B. Why do parents show favoritism to children?

C. Parents should give attention to all their children

D. Building a harmonious family is important to children

Answer 1