[originaltext] Ronald and Louis married for two decades consider themselves a

Ronald and Louis married for two decades consider themselves a happy couple. ［22］ But in the early years of their marriage both were disturbed by persistent arguments that seem to fade away without ever being truly resolved. They uncovered clues towards what was going wrong by researching a fascinating subject: How birth order affects not only your personality but also how compatible you are with your mate.
   ［23］ Ronald and Louis are only children, and “onlies” grow up accustomed to be the apple of parents’ eyes. Match two “onlies”, and you have partners who subconsciously expect each other to continue fulfilling this expectation, while neither has much experience in the giving end. Here is a list of common birth order characteristics, and some thoughts on the best and worst marriage or matches for each.
   ［24］ The oldest tends to be self-assured, responsible, a high-achiever and relatively serious and reserved. He may be slow to make friends, perhaps content with only one companion. The best matches are with a youngest, an only or a mate raised in a large family. The worst match is with another oldest, since the two will be too sovereign to share a household comfortably.
   The youngest child of the family thrives on attention, and tends to be out-going, adventurous, optimistic, creative and less ambitious than others in the family. He may lack self-discipline, and have difficulty making decisions on his own.
   A youngest brother of brothers, often unpredictable and romantic, will match best with an oldest sister of brothers. The youngest sister of brothers is best matched with an oldest brother of sisters who will happily indulge these traits.
   The middle child is influenced by many variables. However, “middles” are less likely to take initiative, and more anxious and self-critical than others. “Middles” often successfully marry other “middles”, since both are strong on tact, not so strong on aggressiveness, and tend to crave affection.
   ［25］ The only child is often most comfortable when alone. But since an only tends to be a well-adjusted individual, she’ll eventually learn to relate to any chosen spouse. The male only child expects his wife to make life easier without getting much in return. He is sometimes best matched with a younger sister of brothers. The female only child who tends to be slightly more flexible is well matched with an older man who will indulge her tendency to test his love. Her worst match? Another only. Of course.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
22. What does the speaker say about Ronald and Louis’s early years of married life?
23. What do we learn about Ronald and Louis?
24. What does the speaker say about the oldest child in a family?
25. What does the speaker say about the only children?