Older brothers provide protections for their younger siblings (兄弟姐妹), but they might also be damaging their education, a new study suggests.
French scientists have discovered that the language ability of children falls two months behind for under-sixes who have an older brother, but not those who have an older sister. The researchers guess that older sisters are far more willing to talk to their younger siblings than brothers to make up for their parents’ being less available now. Older sisters may also compete less than older brothers for parental attention.
To find out, scientists followed a group of 1000 children from birth to five-a-half years old and evaluated their language skills at two years old, three years old and at the end of the study, measuring vocabulary, syntax (句法) and verbal reasoning. On average, first-borns and those with older sisters performed best.
Explaining the phenomenon, Dr Naomi Havron of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris said, “We generally believe that first-borns often have better language ability because their parents often supply them with one-on-one quality time, when they talk about things that interest them, tell them stories, etc.”
“But it is possible that older sisters are more likely to interact with their younger siblings than older brothers, and thus provide their own input. Also, it is possible that girls are less damaging than boys, and are thus in less of a competition for parents’ time and attention.”
The researchers said parents should try and make time to talk to their children to help develop their language skills. Dr Haivron added, “Encourage your children to have positive interactions between themselves, for example by encouraging them to play a game that they both like together.”
【小题1】According to the new study, who has a weaker language ability?| A．A boy with a younger brother. | B．A boy with an older sister. |
| C．A girl with an older brother. | D．A girl with an older sister. |
| A．Girls are more competitive. | B．Boys are more troublesome. |
| C．Girls damage their siblings. | D．Boys care for their siblings. |
| A．some advice | B．a summary |
| C．another example | D．the writer’s attitude |
| A．A book review. | B．An education magazine. |
| C．A medical paper. | D．A science report. |
