3. Another common argument against having just one child is that an only child may be more
spoiled than one with siblings. Many people believe that a single child will not have learned to negotiate with others, and respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships. Some think this may leave the child less capable of interacting well with people his or her own age than one who has been raised with siblings.
4. Despite these arguments, the number of parents choosing to have only one child is increasing in
many parts of the world. In the US, for example, 14 percent of women between 18 and 34 plan to have just one child, and this percentage is expected to rise. The same trend can be seen in the UK. According to the Family Policy Studies Center, the overall number of British children being born each year has declined. In Japan, the average number of children born per family had declined to 1.42 by 1996, while latest statistics cite less than one child. This has led to government concerns about supporting an increasing population of elderly people in the future; it is predicted that, by 2020, a third of the population in Japan will be aged 65 or over.
5. For some single-child parents, particularly those with busy careers, the pressures of devoting time
and energy to a second child can seem too overwhelming, resulting in them electing to have no more children. For other parents, the financial burden of having a second child may be the prime consideration. According to government surveys, many couples in Japan choose not to have large families as the cost of supporting a child up to the age of 18 is estimated to be around 20 million yen, equivalent to around US $160,000.
6. Advocates of single-child families argue that there are advantages for the child as well as the
parents. With just one child, they suggest, there is no potential for family arguments arising from favoritism or sibling jealousy. Moreover, with only one child, the parents can give, and the child can receive, more quality time and attention. This often leads to increased self-esteem which, combined with increased independence, can lead to the child being more confident.
7. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child.
The circumstances affecting each set of parents are unique, and what is appropriate for one family may not be for another. The important thing, in the end, is to make a decision that both you and your spouse feel confident about.
Words and Expressions ? advocate: n. sb. who publicly supports sb. else or sth.
? circumstance: n. the conditions that affect a situation, action, event, etc.
? equivalent: a. having the same value, purpose, job, etc, as a person or thing of a different kind ? self-esteem: n. the feeling of being satisfied with your own abilities and that you deserve to be
liked or respected ? interact: v. talk to each other, work together, etc.
? overwhelming: a. having such a great effect on you that you feel confused and do not know how to
react ? prime: a. most important ? sibling: n. a brother or sister ? stigma: n. a strong feeling in society that being in a particular situation or having a particular
illness is sth. to be ashamed of
(A) Text comprehension & Structural analysis (10 points) Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What king of writing is the passage, a piece of exposition, argumentation or narration? (1 point) 2. What issue does the text center on? (1 point)
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3. The text may be divided into five parts: the first paragraph as the beginning part, Paragraphs 2-3
the second part, Paragraphs 4-5 the third part, Paragraph 6 the fourth part, and the last paragraph the concluding part. Some paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. Try to identify the topic sentences of Paragraphs 3, 4, 6 and 7. (4 points)
4. Some words used at the beginning of a paragraph make it easier for the reader to understand the
coherence of the whole text, such as Another at the beginning of Paragraph 3, Despite of Paragraph 4, and Unfortunately of Paragraph 7. Can you explain how they function? (3 points)
5. What is the writer’s answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child? (1 point)
(B) Essay-writing (10 points)
Directions: Many Chinese families today raise only one child in response to the “One Couple, One Child” policy. Write an essay of 150-200 words to express your opinion about the pros and cons（利弊）of having only one child in the family.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks.
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