ADDITIONAL READING
4
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Read the text. Match sentences A–E with gaps 1–5. There is one extra
sentence you do not need.
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A. Four out of five children in the USA have brothers or sisters.
B. Many of the parents of the only children worry about this.
C. Do you have any siblings?
D. So do the only children get benefits?
E. Or are you the only child?
F. They can teach you new facts.
One child families – are they good for us?
1. xxx Parents in China are excited
about
the news that now they can have more than
one child. So how are family sizes different
around the world?
In Europe, the average family has two
children. In Turkey and Azerbaijan parents
usually have three children.
2. xxx Most American families have two
children. But the American actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are famous
for their very big family. They have three children and three other children
from different countries. Zahara comes from Ethiopia, Pax comes from
Vietnam and Maddox comes from Cambodia.
According to research, a sister or brother is an advantage. You can talk to
your brother or sister when you are worried about your problems. You can
learn lots of things from your siblings.
3. xxx And learning how to get on with
each other can teach you life
skills
too. What about the only children? They don’t have brothers or sisters to
learn from or share with.
4. xxx People say that the only
children can’t share and are not
friendly.
However, according to lots of studies, the only children are no different
from children with siblings. They learn to share in the classroom, or with
cousins, step-brothers and step-sisters and their friends.
5. xxx The answer is yes. The only
children usually get on very well
with
their parents and they are very independent.