单选题 Self-esteem is the collection of beliefs or feelings we have about ourselves, our "self-perceptions. " How we define ourselves influences our motivations, attitudes, and behaviors and affects our emotional adjustment.
Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. For example, a {{U}}toddler{{/U}} who reaches a milestone experiences a sense of accomplishment that bolsters self-esteem. Learning to roll over after dozens of unsuccessful attempts teaches a baby a "can-do" attitude.
The concept of success following persistence starts early. As kids try, fail, try again, fail again, and then finally succeed, they develop ideas about their own capabilities. At the same time, they're creating a self-concept based on interactions with other people. This is why parental involvement is important to helping kids form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.
Self-esteem fluctuates as kids grow. It's frequently changed and fine-tuned, because it is affected by a child's experiences and new perceptions. So it helps to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem. Kids with low self-esteem may not want to try new things, and may frequently speak negatively about themselves. They tend to be overly critical of and easily disappointed in themselves. Kids with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions, and a sense of pessimism predominates. Kids with healthy self-esteem tend to enjoy interacting with others. They're comfortable in social settings and enjoy group activities as well as independent pursuits. When challenges arise, they can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others.
How can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? Kids who don't feel safe or are abused at home will suffer immensely from low self-esteem. A child who is exposed to parents who fight and argue repeatedly may become depressed and withdrawn. Also watch for signs of abuse by others, problems in school, trouble with peers, and other factors that may affect kids' self-esteem. Deal with these issues sensitively but swiftly. And always remember to respect your kids.
If you suspect your child has low self-esteem, consider doing something about it. Family and child counselors can work to uncover underlying issues that prevent a child from feeling good about him or herself. Therapy can help kids learn to view themselves and the world positively. When kids see themselves in a more realistic light, they can accept who they truly are. With a little help, every child can develop healthy self-esteem for a happier, more fulfilling life.

单选题 The first paragraph intends to tell the readers______.

A. what self esteem is
B. some examples of self esteem
C. patterns of self-esteem start very early in life
D. how important self-esteem is for children

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 写作意图题；在考研英语阅读理解的命题中，逐渐开始并且增多地出现从写作的角度分析文章的题目。以本题为例，需要我们解答的是作者在第一段的写作中所完成的任务。这就需要我们不仅理解第一段，并且要对全文的结构有大致的了解。通过阅读我们知道，作为开篇的段落，第一段的主要目的是引入本文的话题：自信心。而作者采取的方式是下定义的方式，也就是说A选项是正确的。误选D选项的考生可能需要再思考文章的第一段是否已经触及到了“for children”这个层次，还是像A选项所说，只是一般性的概念介绍。

单选题 The word "toddler" (Line 1, Para. 2) most probably means______.

A. very young child
B. teenager
C. adult
D. boy

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 词义题；我们首先寻找在原文中包含这个关键词的句子，“For example，a toddler who reaches a milestone experiences a sense of accomplishment that bolsters self-esteem”，结合前文的“Patterns of self-esteem start very early in lire”，我们可以判断这里讲的是自信心对孩子的影响。或者我们向后去寻找，可以发现“Learning to roll over after dozens of unsuccessful attempts”这样的表达，据此我们也可以推测出toddler一词表示儿童的意思。

单选题 Which one of the following belongs to the characteristics of kids with low self-esteem?

A. They always want to try new things.
B. They frequently talk about themselves.
C. They are overly criticized for their mistakes.
D. They are easily disappointed in themselves.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题；根据题目中的定位词，我们在原文的第四段找到“kids with low self-esteem”的相关信息。与4个选项对比阅读，我们可以看到，A选项和原文“may not want to try new things”的表述相反，需要排除。B选项和原文“may frequently speak negatively about themselves”本质含义差别很大，negatively一词的缺失改变了原文需要表达的意思，也需要排除。C选项把“They tend co be overly critical of...themselves”这样一种主动的自我苛刻态度变成了被别人严厉批评，也是不符合原文的。只有D选项的表述得到原文“They tend to be...easily disappointed in themselves”的支持，是正确选项。