(1) In his book about the family's influence on a personality the British psychologist Tom Hughes tells that our position in the family is the strongest factor that influences our personality.
(2) On his opinion, the oldest children get maximum attention from their parents, and the result is that they're usually quite self-confident people. They make good leaders. For example, the famous Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a firstborn child. The oldest children are often ambitious. They're more likely to go to university than their brothers or sisters. They often get the top jobs, too. They are also responsible people, because they often have to look after their younger brothers or sisters. The downside of this is that sometimes this means that when they're older they worry a lot about things. They can also be quite bossy and even aggressive, especially when they don't get what they want.
(3) The middle children are usually independent and competitive. It's because they have to fight with their brothers and sisters for their parents' attention. And they're usually sociable, they like being with people, probably because they have always had other children to play with. However on the negative side, the middle children are often jealous of their brothers and sisters and they can be moody.
(4) If a child is the youngest in the family, he or she will probably be very charming, affectionate and quite relaxed. On the other hand, the youngest children are often quite lazy. This is because they always have their older brothers and sisters to help them. And they can be quite manipulative they use their charm to get what they want.
(5) The only children in the family dont have to share with anyone so they're often spoilt by their parents and their grandparents. As a result, they can be quite selfish. They think of themselves more than of other people. On the positive side, the only children areusually very organized and responsible, and they can be very imaginative too.
1. Read the article. Which paragraph (1-5) mentions?
a) about the youngest children;
b) about the children who have to look after their younger brothers & sisters.
c) abut Tom Hughes
d) about the only children
e) about the most competitive children
2. Find in the text the following word combinations: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ;
3. Complete the following sentences:
1. Family has on a
2. The position in the family is
3. The oldest children
|
|
|
4. The oldest children are
5. The oldest children have to look
6. Sometimes the oldest children can be quite
7. The middle children have to for their
8. The youngest child is
9. The only children are often by
10. They are they think
11. The only children are usually
4. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. , .
2. , .
3. , ?
4. ̳ , .
5. , .
6. , ?
7. ̳ , .
8. ³ , .
9. .
5. Say if these statements are true or false:
1. Family has a great influence on the personality.
2. The position in the family isnt important factor for our personality.
3. Parents pay great attention to their oldest children.
4. The oldest children are ambitious & responsible and quite bossy.
5. The oldest children dont have to look after the younger brothers & sisters.
6. The oldest children dont go to the university.
7. Middle children often fight with their elder brothers & sisters.
8. The middle children dont like to be with people.
9. The middle children are jealous & moody.
10. The youngest children are relaxed & lazy.
11. The oldest brothers & sisters dont help the younger ones.
12. The youngest children have great charm.
13. The only child has to share in the family.
14. The only children are organized & imaginative.
6. Find words that have the opposite meaning: well-bred; unselfish; simple; hard-working; rude; calm
