Final answer:
Given her family's competitive/independent orientation, eight-year-old Laura would be most likely to engage in activities that nurture her competitiveness and independence, such as playing the position of pitcher on a co-ed Little League team.
Step-by-step explanation:
If eight-year-old Laura has been socialized in a family with a competitive/independent orientation, she would most likely engage in activities that foster these values. Given the options provided, Laura would be most likely to participate in playing the position of pitcher on a co-ed Little League team. This activity aligns with a competitive spirit, showcases independence, and requires cooperation within a mixed-gender group setting. Competitive sports often encourage self-reliance, discipline, and personal achievement, which are characteristics reinforced by a competitive and independent family upbringing.
Furthermore, activities like learning to play a musical instrument or participating in family bands, while valuable, tend to emphasize familial cooperation and shared endeavors more than individual competition. Similarly, reading to a sight-impaired relative represents a compassionate, service-oriented activity that does not necessarily align with a competitive/independent orientation. Finally, defying one parent over the other does not reflect a competitive/independent activity but rather a complex family dynamic or potential conflict.