Question

As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.

Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have important effects on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s 1Q scores,” Lewis says, “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”

The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings (兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, which needs more attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone gets up from the table and walks around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention. “When TV is on.” Lewis says, “Dinner is a non-event.”

1.Why are the parents with small families talk actively?

A. Their children are outgoing.

B. They love to community.

C. They get along well with each other.

D. They think it’s easy to control the order.

2.What is the meaning of “invisible”?

A. The middle children keep away from the dinner.

B. No one likes the middle children.

C. The middle children are quiet

D. The middle children get no attention.

3.Why are some children most likely to get up from the table during the dinner time?

A. They are full.

B. They don’t want to eat food with their families.

C. They didn’t get enough attention.

D. They want to eat alone.

4.Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question ______.

A. why TV is important in family life

B. why parents should keep good order

C. why children in small families seem to be quieter

D. why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life

5.Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

A. It is important to have the right food for children.

B. It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.

C. Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.

D. Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner

Answer 1