All parents tell their children little white lies from time to time. "Of course Father Christmas comes
down the chimney!" "Eat your spinach - you'll get as strong as Popeye.". . . and so on. However, there's
one fib that's bigger than all the others. It's "I don't have a favorite child."
    In his fascinating new book, The Sibling Effect: What Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal
About Us, Jeffrey Kluger, a father of two daughters, aged eight and ten, claims that " 95 percent of
parents in the world have a favorite child - and the other 5 percent are lying."
     Kluger may be exaggerating the figures for dramatic effect - but despite every parent's vehement (激
烈的) denial that they have a favorite child - scientific research shows that he is not far off the truth.
     According to one recent study by researchers from the University of California - which followed 384
sibling pairs and their parents for three years - 65 percent of the mothers and 70 percent of fathers
exhibited a preference for one child. As this was among families that knew they were being monitored,
there's a strong possibility the true figures could be significantly higher.
     Favoritism is certainly a controversial topic. When raised as a subject for discussion on parenting
websites, it always arouses a stream of angry denials.
     But interestingly, a lot of personal anecdotes appear from parents who say they were overshadowed
by a favored sibling, or were, indeed, their mother or father's favorite. It seems everyone knows
favoritism exists - but nobody wants to put their hand up and say they're guilty of it themselves.
     Another research, where siblings have been asked to say who their mother and father favor, suggests
that mothers do tend to a show a preference for their first-born son, but fathers often dote on their
youngest daughters.
     Parents will often be drawn to the child who is easiest to get along with - or the child that shares
similar traits to them. For example, mum will have a special bond with her sensitive, arty son, while dad
lavishes attention on his sporty daughter.
     Professor Scott says being least favored in a family can color our behavior as adults. "Children who
feel they are less loved within their family are more likely to develop low self-esteem, anxiety and
depression."
But some experts believe being less favored can have positive consequences. Professor Scott agrees that
favored children can sometimes find life difficult when they have to rub along in the real world.

1. Which of the following is most likely a white lie?

A. I am determined to go and nothing will stop me.
B. A good idea, without action, is worth nothing.
C. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
D. Thank you so much for the gift! I just love it!

2. What can we infer from paragraph three?

A. Kluger is exaggerating the figures for dramatic effect.
B. Every parent denies the fact that he has a favorite child.
C. Every parent does have a favorite child.
D. What Kluger said is quite close to the fact.

3. What does "sibling" (para 4) mean in the passage?

A. brother or sister    
B. parent
C. brother
D. sister

4. Which child is most likely to be a favorite child in a father's eyes?

A. A sensitive, arty son.
B. The first-born son.
C. A sporty daughter.
D. A young daughter.

5. What is the most likely effect on the child who is the favored one in a family according to
     Professor Scott?

A. He simply just has to put his head down and work harder to succeed.
B. He is likely to learn how to turn disadvantages into advantages.
C. He is likely to find life difficult when he has to face the real world.
D. He is likely to develop low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

6. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A. Some people were overshadowed by a favored sibling when they were young.
B. Most people will admit that they feel guilty of favoring one child over another.
C. Experts have different opinions about the consequences of being less favored.
D. The topic about favoritism on parenting websites always arouses angry denials.