Question

Parents of very young children know this：You catch your child in the act of stealing the cookie—the evidence（證據(jù)）of candy written on his or her face. However, the kid often gives a denial, "I didn't do it!"

Learning to tell the truth, even at the risk of punishment, is an important part of moral（道德）development, and new research suggests it can take seven or more years for kids to get there.

Early in 2017 Professor Craig E. Smith published a study. He and his workmates chose 48 children between four and nine years of age. They told the kids a story about a boy or girl doing something wrong，such as taking a classmate's toy or candy, and then either lying about the wrongdoing to a parent or confessing（承認錯誤） it. In each case, they asked the children, "How would the child feel? How would the mother feel?"

The children's answers were generally divided according to age, which is in agreement with the above research, showing a gradual growth of moral understanding in early childhood. More of the four-to-?ve-year-olds thought the child in the story would feel better keeping the stolen candy, lying and getting unpunished. They imagined the parent in the study would be angry with the child who confessed. However, the seven-to-nine-year-olds were more likely to think the child would feel better confessing the wrongdoing and that the parent would have positive（積極的） feelings towards a confessor.

Smith says, "Kids of all ages who expect that a parent would feel happy about a child's confession are more likely to tell the truth rather than lie. Reward the honesty even if you feel you must punish the wrong action." He adds, what parents can learn from these studies is to listen calmly without getting angry right away when their child confesses.

Allowing children to make mistakes is one of the greatest challenges of parenting. It is easier when they are young. The potential（潛在的） mistakes carry greater risks, and part of being a parent is reducing risk for our children.

1.What does the expression "gives a denial," in Paragraph 1 mean?

A.refuses to tell the truth B.decides to blame the parent

C.prepares to accept the truth D.begins to shout at the parent

2.What did Smith and his workmates ?nd in their study?

A.Kids of all ages are more likely to tell the truth rather than lie.

B.Younger children would feel better confessing the wrongdoing.

C.Older kids thought parents would be angry with their confessions.

D.Older kids are more likely to confess to an act than younger children.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A.It's easy for kids to confess their mistakes.

B.Parents should at once punish the kids who lied.

C.It takes time for children to learn to tell the truth.

D.Parents should never get angry after kids' confessions.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Why children like telling lies when they are young.

B.How children feel when they confess their mistakes.

C.Why parents must punish their children's wrong actions.

D.How parents should treat their children when they make mistakes.

Answer 1