《中英對照讀新聞》First-born children ’more intelligent’ due to extra mental stimulation from parents－第一胎生的小孩「更聰明」，因為來自父母的額外心理刺激

◎陳正健

First-born children are more intelligent than their siblings because they receive more mental stimulation in their early years, new research has shown. University of Edinburgh economists found that first-born children achieved higher IQ test scores.

新研究顯示，第一胎生的小孩比他們的手足更聰明，因為他們在早年接受更多的心理刺激。愛丁堡大學經濟學家發現，第一胎生的小孩在智商測驗取得較高的分數。

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The researchers examined data from 5,000 children. Every child was assessed every two years. The tests included reading recognition, such as matching letters and reading single words aloud. First-born children tended to score higher on verbal, reading, math and comprehension skills.

研究人員檢視來自5000名孩童的資料。每位孩子每2年接受評估。這些測驗包括閱讀識別，例如字母配對和大聲閱讀單字。第一胎生的孩子傾向在言語、閱讀、數學和理解技巧上取得較高分數。

All children were found to receive the same level of emotional support, but parents appeared to spend less time on brain-stimulating activities with their younger children, took part in fewer activities with them such as reading, crafts and music.

所有孩子被發現受到相同程度的情緒支持，但父母們顯然花較少時間在較小的孩子身上，從事刺激腦部的活動，參與較少跟他們的活動，例如閱讀、手藝和音樂。

Researchers said the findings could help to explain a phenomenon called the birth order effect which means children born earlier in a family have better wages and higher levels of education later in life.

研究人員指出，這項發現可能有助解釋一種稱為出生順序效應的現象，意指一個家庭中較早出生的孩子，在日後人生有較佳的薪資，以及較高的教育程度。

《新聞辭典》

first-born：形容詞，頭生的，初生的，第一胎的。例句：Charles is their first-born son.（查理是他們第一胎生的兒子。）

nurture：名詞，（後天）養育，培育。例句：The nature versus nurture dilemma is one that scientists have been studying for decades.（先天對上後天的兩難，是科學家數十年來研究的課題之一。）

craft：名詞，技藝，工藝。例句：He learned his craft from an old master.（他從一位老師傅身上學得技藝。）