To say that the child learns by imitation and that the way to teach is to set a good example oversimplifies. No child imitates every action he sees. Sometimes, the example the parent wants him to follow is ignored while he takes over contrary patterns from some other example. Therefore we must turn to a more subtle theory than "Monkey see, monkey do". Look at it from the child's point of view. Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he lacks a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do. There is a second element at work in this situation. The child may be able to attain his immediate goal only to find that his method brings criticism from people who observe him. When shouting across the house achieves his immediate end of delivering a message, he is told emphatically that such a racket(叫嚷)is unpleasant, that he should walk into the next room and say his say quietly. Thus, the desire to solve any objective situation is overlaid with the desire to solve it properly. One of the early things the child learns is that he gets more affection and approval when his parents like his response. Then other adults award some actions and criticize others. If one is to maintain the support of others and his own self-respect, he must adopt responses his social group approves. In finding trial responses, the learner does not choose models at random. He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather than a person whose social status he wished to avoid. If the pupil wants to be good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players; while some other person may most influence his approach to books. Admiration of one quality often leads us to admire a person as a whole, and he becomes an identifying figure. We use some people as models over a wide range of situations, imitating much that they do. We learn that they are dependable and rewarding models because imitating them leads to success.
单选题 By the last sentence of the first paragraph, the author _____.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:首段末句提到,我们应当放弃“小猴看样学样”的观点,转而探索更深奥的理论。而文章首句中也说断言孩子们通过模仿来学习是把问题过于简单化了。结合这两句可知,认为模仿就是“小猴看样学样”有失偏颇,因此选项C为正确答案。
单选题 The first element at work when a child learns by imitation is _____.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:第2段第2、3句提到,孩子处在新情况下,没有形成现成的反应。他寻找一个能够实现一定目的的反应。如果他对这个新情况既没有现成反应,又不能想出该怎么去做,就会想通过模仿来学习,所以在这个过程中起作用的第一个因素是寻找一个能够实现一定目的的反应,因此选项A为正确答案。
单选题 According to the third paragraph, besides achieving his goals, a child should also learn to _____.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:第3段第2句提到,孩子们也许能够立刻实现他们的直接目标,却发现他的这种做法遭到其监护人的批评。接着通过举例说明孩子还得学会举止得当。因此选项D为正确答案。
单选题 It can be inferred that children usually imitate people _____.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:第4段第2句提到,孩子会模仿那些看上去值得效仿的人,第3句举例如果这个学生想成为一个卓越的小提琴手,他就会观察并模仿一个出色琴手的技巧。也就是说他们会模仿那些他们想成为的人,因此选项B为正确答案。
单选题 The last two paragraphs are mainly about _____.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:文章倒数第2、3段提到,“学习者不会随便选择模仿对象”,“他模仿那些看上去值得效仿的人”,“我们知道他们是可靠、值得模仿的对象,因为模仿他们可以走向成功”,可见最后两段都是关于如何选择榜样的,所以选项C为正确答案。