A parent must be constant and even-handed in the imposition of burdens and
punishments and the distribution of liberties and rewards. In good times, a
parent who too quickly bestows rewards creates an expectation of future rewards
that he may be unable to fulfill during bad times. In bad times, a parent who
waits too long to impose
the punishment gives the impression that his response was forced, and the child
may interpret this as___________.

Which of the following represents the most logical continuation of the passage?

A) a signal from his parent that the parent is no longer interested in the
child's welfare
B) a sign of weakness in the parent that he can exploit
C) indicating a willingness on the part of the parent to bargain away liberties
in exchange for the child's assuming some new responsibilities.
D) an open invitation to retaliate
E) a symbol of his becoming an adult