[originaltext]W: Today I’d like to welcome Sean Smith, who is going to talk to

W: Today I’d like to welcome Sean Smith, who is going to talk to us about the normal and sound development of self with adopted child. Hello, Sean.
M: Hello.
W: Now Sean, what do you think is the most important factor affecting a child during his normal development of self?
M: Well,(6)actually several factors may work together to cultivate the self. Among them, a child’s relationship with his mother is ranking on the top of the list, which we may also call maternal attachment.
W: All right, then. What are the other factors required to help children realize a sound development of self? Does environment play any role in it?
M: Certainly. Affectionate, caring parents are essential as well. As the child begins to develop his sense of self, he must master certain developmental tasks that are part of growing up.
W: "Developmental tasks"? Could you present us some concrete examples of such tasks?
M:(7)Developmental tasks may take different forms, such as acquisition of language and toilet training. Anything that interrupts the development of these important skills may interfere with developing a healthy self-concept.
W: But what about a child who is older when he is adopted? What effect does adoption have on a toddler?
M: Even if a toddler has been in one foster home since birth and has therefore attached himself to his foster mother, he will likely experience a series of reactions when separated from this caregiver—protest, despair, and detachment—unless his experience is monitored to help him handle the change. Consider a toddler adopted at the age of 18 months who has lived in the same foster home since birth. When he is placed with an adoptive family,(8)he is likely to experience separation anxiety from his foster mother, who can be regarded as symbolically abandoning him as his own biological mother did.
W: It’s sure to say his transition to living an adoptive home may be difficult, isn’t it?
M: Yes, he is past the crucial age of 7 to 12 months.
W: Why do you call this period the crucial age?
M: This period is crucial because at this time an infant may sustain the most severe damage to his mental and physical development if deprived of mothering by one significant individual.
W: Then it is essential that(9)the adoptive family offer as much affection and security as possible to reassure the child that he is safe, that they are reliable sources of loving care, and that they will help him through this difficult stage.
M: One thing we need to note is that sometimes a child may continue to suffer from separation anxiety in spite of these actions. Although he may not mind the actual separation from his mother when he goes to play school or day care,(10)he may become obsessed by the time when his mother is supposed to pick him up at day care or kindergarten: tardiness may provoke fears about car accidents or death.
W: An adopted child, then, has at least an average chance of successful individuation, assuming he is adopted by loving parents. Thank you, Sean. Thanks for talking with us.
M: My pleasure.
6. What do we know about a child’s relationship with his mother?
7. What problem may adopted children have?
8. What do we know about adopted children according to the interview?
9. Which of the following is INCORRECT about the negative effects of adoption?
10. What do we know about a child suffering from separation anxiety?