Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest
possible words.
There's worrying news for any parent who's struggled with a headstrong young child. Some scientists
recently claim that children who have low levels of self-control, which is the earliest demands that society
places on children, at the age of three are more likely to have health and money problems and a criminal
record by the age of 32, regardless of background and IQ. That is to say, willpower as a child really does
influence your chances of a healthy and wealthy adulthood.
They found that children with low self-control were more likely to have health problems in later life
including high blood pressure, being overweight, breathing problems and sexually transmitted infections.
They were also more addicted to substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, more likely to be single
parents, have difficulty managing money and have criminal records.
Researchers from Britain, the US and New Zealand analyzed data from two large studies in which
children completed a range of physical tests and interviews to assess genetic and environmental factors
that can shape their lives.
The participants' self-control was assessed by teachers, parents, observers and the children themselves
and included things like having low frustration tolerance, lacking persistence in reaching goals, being over-
active and acting before thinking.
Researchers then found that when the participants reached their early 30s, this impulsivity and relative
inability to think about the long-term gave them more problems with finances, including savings, owning a
home and credit card debt.
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TWELVE WORDS.)
1. What are the findings of a recent research according to the passage?
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. The phrase "more addicted to" (Line 3, Para. 2) probably means "____________".
3. Besides poor anti-frustration ability, over-activeness and fore-acting, children with low self-control may
also suffer ____________.
4. What may primarily cause the financial problems of the children with low self-control in their later years?
____________________________________________________________________________________
