2. Dialogue 2 - Position in the family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s eight o’clock and time for Breakfast Time.

Presenter Good morning, everyone. Our guest this morning is the American writer Norah Levy. Norah’s here in Britain this week promoting her new book ‘We are family’, which is all about how our position in the family affects our personality. Welcome Norah.

Norah Thank you.

Presenter Now is this really true, Norah, that our position in the family affects our personality?

Norah Sure. OK, other factors can influence your personality too, but your position in the family is definitely one of the strongest.

Presenter So tell us a bit about the oldest children in a family - the first born.

Norah Well, the oldest children gel maximum attention from their parents and the result is that they're usually quite self-confident people. They make good leaders. The famous Prime Minister. Winston Churchill, was a firstborn child. They're often ambitious and they're more likely to go to university than their brothers or sisters. They often get the top jobs too. Oldest children are also responsible people, because

they often have to look after their younger brothers or sisters. The downside of this is that sometimes this means that when they're older they worry a lot about things. They can also be quite bossy, and even aggressive, especially when they don't get what they want.

Presenter What about the middle child?

Norah Well, middle children are usually independent and competitive.

Presenter Competitive?

Norah Yes, because they have to fight with their brothers and sisters for their parents' attention. And they're usually sociable, they like being with people, probably because they have always had other children to play with. However, on the negative side middle children are often jealous of their brothers and sisters and they can be moody.

Presenter And youngest children?

Norah If you're the youngest in a family, you'll probably be very charming, very affectionate, and probably quite a relaxed person. This is because parents are usually more relaxed when they have their last child. On the other hand youngest children are often quite lazy. This is because they always have their older brothers and sisters to help them. And they can be quite manipulative - they use their charm to get what they want.

Presenter OK, that's all very interesting. Now, I'm an only child. People often have the idea that only children like me are spoilt. Is that true?

Norah Well, of course it's true! Only children arc the only ones - they don't have to share with anyone - so they're often spoilt by their parents and their grandparents. As a result they can be quite selfish. They think of themselves more than of other people.

Presenter OK. Well, that sounds like a good description of me! Is there any good news?

Norah Yes, there is. On the positive side, only children are usually very organized and responsible, and they can be very imaginative too.

Presenter Well, thank you, Norah, and good luck with the book. And now it's lime for the news headlines...