有哥哥好还是有姐姐好？恐怕不能一概而论，因为各有各的好。但是，单从语言发展的角度来说，有姐姐就比有哥哥更好。
Older brothers delay language development of younger siblings
by Sarah Knapton
Older brothers may provide playground protection from bullies, and a deflection for parental anger, but they might also be damaging the education of younger siblings, a new study suggests.
protection /prəˈtekʃ(ə)n/ n. 保护（由protect加后缀-ion变成名词）
bully /ˈbʊli/ n. 恃强凌弱者
deflection /dɪˈflekʃ(ə)n/ n. 改变方向、引开
parental /pəˈrent(ə)l/ adj. 父母的（由parent加后缀-al变成形容词）
sibling /ˈsɪblɪŋ/ n. 兄弟姐妹
suggest /səˈdʒest/ v. 提出
French scientists have discovered that the language ability of children lags two months behind for under-sixes who have an older brother, but not those who have an older sister.
lag /læɡ/ v. 落后、滞后
under-six 指不到六岁的孩子
The researchers speculate that older sisters are far more willing to talk to their younger siblings than brothers, and so compensate for their parents being less available, now they have to care for a second child. Older sisters may also compete less than older brothers for parental attention, the study authors also suggest, giving mothers and fathers more time to interact with younger children.
researcher /rɪˈsɜːtʃə(r)/ n. 研究者（由research加上表示人的后缀-er）
speculate /ˈspekjʊleɪt/ v. 推测
compensate /ˈkɒmpənseɪt/ v. 补偿、弥补
compete /kəmˈpiːt/ v. 竞争
interact /ˌɪntəˈrækt/ v. 交流、互动
Researcher Franck Ramus, of the The French National Center for Scientific Research, said: "Children with an older brother are on average two months behind in language development, relative to those with an older sister or without any older sibling. It is therefore a small effect of course – there are so many other factors that influence language development – but a perfectly tangible one."
relative /ˈrelətɪv/ to 相对于
factor /ˈfæktə(r)/ n. 因素
influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ v. 影响
perfectly /ˈpɜːfɪktli/ adv. 非常（表示强调）
tangible /ˈtændʒəb(ə)l/ adj. 实实在在的
It had been expected that having an older brother or sister would help younger siblings to develop language more quickly than first-borns, because they would have a wider and more stimulating linguistic environment.
first-born 第一胎
stimulate /ˈstɪmjuleɪt/ v. 激励、鼓励
linguistic /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk/ adj. 语言的
To find out, scientists followed a group of 1,000 children from birth to five-and-a-half years old and evaluated their language skills at two years old, three years old and at the end of the study, measuring vocabulary, syntax（句法） and verbal reasoning. On average first-borns and those with older sisters, performed best.
evaluate /ɪˈvæljueɪt/ v. 评估
measure /ˈmeʒə(r)/ v. 测量、度量
vocabulary /vəˈkæbjul(ə)ri/ n. 词汇量
verbal /ˈvɜːb(ə)l/ adj. 言语的、词语的
reason /ˈriːz(ə)n/ n. 推理
perform /pəˈfɔːm/ v. 做、表现
Explaining the phenomenon, Dr Naomi Havron, of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, said: "We generally think that the fact that first-borns outperform children with an older brother has to do with their parents' greater ability to supply them with one-on-one quality time, where they talk about things that interest them, tell them stories, etc."★
phenomenon /fəˈnɒmɪnən/ n. 现象
outperform /ˌaʊtpəˈfɔːm/ v. 比…做得更好
supply /səˈplaɪ/ v. 提供
one-on-one 一对一的
quality /ˈkwɒləti/ adj. 高品质的
etc. 等等
★ 这句话里that first-borns outperform children with an older brother是个同位语从句，具体说明之前的fact，而句子主体是We think that the fact has to do with ...
"But it is possible that older sisters are more likely than older brothers to interact with their younger siblings, and thus provide their own input to compensate for the loss of input from parents. Second, it is possible that girls are less demanding than boys, and are thus in less of a competition for parent's time and attention."
thus /ðʌs/ adv. 因而、因此
input /ˈɪnpʊt/ n. 输入
demanding /dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ/ adj. 要求多的、难满足的
The researchers said parents should try and make time to talk to their children as individuals to help develop their language skills. Dr Havron added: "If you have two or more children, try to also spend some time doing these things with each of them alone. Encourage your children to have positive interactions between themselves, for example by encouraging them to play a game that they both like together."
make time 挤出时间
individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/ n. 个体、个人
positive /ˈpɒzətɪv/ adj. 积极的、正面的
interaction /ˌɪntəˈrækʃ(ə)n/ n. 交流、互动（由interact加后缀-ion变成名词）
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