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Activity 1: Reading Exercise
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Directions:  Read the information about birth order below. To listen to the audio, click on the button <a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=gif::::/sites/dl/free/007008226x/130370/play.gif','popWin', 'width=79,height=94,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (0.0K)</a> under the text.

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/007008226x/130370/un13_131b.jpg','popWin', 'width=529,height=391,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (53.0K)</a>

Studies in psychology are beginning to find connections between children's positions in the family and the personalities they develop. Psychologists think birth order is important because it determines how much attention a child gets from parents and the amount of interaction the child has with other people. It is not a clear, exact science, but it can teach us a lot about ourselves and about other people.

According to birth order studies, there are four different positions a child can have in the family: the first-born, a middle child, the last-born, or an only child. Each position has its own typical personality traits. For example, first-born children are often more independent and more organized than younger siblings. They are often faster at learning and remembering details.

Middle children are different because they are often more flexible and social than their siblings. They are more concerned with relationships. They are not as independent as older siblings, but they have better cooperation and negotiation skills.

Last-born children are often the most outgoing, creative children in the family, and they are often funnier, too. They take more risks than their older siblings, but they also are faster at thinking of new ideas and solutions to problems.

Only children are similar to first-born children. They are usually as motivated and determined to achieve high goals, and they can be as independent as first-borns as well.

These are the main trends that psychologists see in birth order studies. What do you think?


Directions:  Read the following sentences about birth order. Choose True or False for each sentence.



1

Studies about a child's position in the family are called birth order studies.
A)True
B)False
2

Birth order is important because it teaches us how to be good parents.
A)True
B)False
3

There are three different positions a child can have in the family.
A)True
B)False
4

First-born children are more independent than their siblings.
A)True
B)False
5

Middle children are usually faster learners than their siblings.
A)True
B)False
6

Middle children are more concerned about relationships.
A)True
B)False
7

Last-born children are often the most creative children in the family.
A)True
B)False
8

Only children are very similar to last-born children.
A)True
B)False
9

A first-born child is probably the best artist in the family.
A)True
B)False
10

Birth order studies produce exact results and descriptions of people.
A)True
B)False





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