Many parents believe that they should begin to teach their children to read when they are (6) ____ more than toddlers. This is fine if the child shows a real interest but forcing a child could be counter-productive if she isn't ready.

Choose the correct word that best fits each space

Many parents believe that they should begin to teach their children to read when they are (6) ____ more than toddlers. This is fine if the child shows a real interest but forcing a child could be counter-productive if she isn't ready. Wise parents will have a (7) ____ attitude and take the lead from their child. What they should provide is a selection of (8) ____ toys, books and other activities. Nowadays there is plenty of good (9) ____ available for young children, and of course, seeing plenty of books in use around the house will also (10) ____ them to read.

Of course, books are no longer the only source of stories and information. There is also a huge range of videos, which can reinforce and extend the pleasure a child finds in a book and are (11) ____ valuable in helping to increase vocabulary and concentration. Television gets a bad review as far as children are concerned, mainly because too many children spend too much time watching programmes not intended for their age (12) ____. Too many television programmes induce an incurious, uncritical attitude that is going to make learning much more difficult. However, (13) ____  viewing of programmes designed for young children can be useful. Just as adults enjoy reading a book after seeing it serialised on television, so children will pounce on books which (14) ____ their favourite television characters, and videos can add a new (15) ____ to a story known from a book.

(6) _______

• A. scarcely
• B. rarely
• C. slightly
• D. really