阅读理解
It has been proved that some children are natural--born bosses. They have a strong need to make
decisions, manage their environment, and rather than follow. Stephen Jackson, a Year One student,
operates under the theory of what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine. His mother says: "The other
day I bought two new Star Wars light sword. Later, I saw Stephen with the two new ones while his
brother was using the beat-up ones."
"Examine the extended family, and you will probably find a bossy grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin
in every generation. It is an inheritable trait." says Russell Barkley, a professor at the Medical University
of South Carolina. Other children who may not be particularly bossy can gradually gain dominance(支配地位) when they sense their parents are weak, hesitant, or in disagreement with each other.
Whether it is inborn nature or developed character at work, too much control in the hands of the
young isn't healthy for children or the family. "Fear is at the root of a lot of bossy behavior," says family
psychologist John Taylor in his book From Defiance to Cooperation, "and children have secret feelings
of weakness and a desire to feel safe. It is the parents' role to provide that protection."
When a "bossy child" doesn't learn limits at home, the stage is set for a lot of troubles outside the
family. The overly willful and unbending child may have trouble obeying teachers or coaches, for example, keeping friends. It can be pretty lonely as the top dog if no one likes your bossy ways.
"I see more and more parents giving up their power, " says Barkley, who has studied bossy behavior
for more than 30 years. "They bend too far because they don't want to be as strict as their own parents
were. But they also feel less confident about their parenting skills. Their kids, in turn, feel more anxious."
1. Bossy children like Stephen Jackson .
A. make good decisions
B. show self-centeredness
C. Lack care from others
D. have little sense of fear
2. The underlined phrase "beat-up " in paragraph 1 means .
A. old
B. bad
C. pretty
D. moved
3. The study on bossy behavior implies that parents should .
A. give more power to their children
B. not be so anxious about their children
C. be strict with their children
D. not set limits for their children
4. Bossy children may probably become .
A. relaxed
B. skillful
C. hesitant
D. lonely
