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Unit 1 Cuteness
Reading Comprehension
Most people will agree that puppies and kittens are cute, even if
those people are not especially animal lovers. When asked to explain why
they think a kitten or a puppy is cute, however, most people would probably
have trouble providing a clear explanation. It turns out, however, that there
is a clear scientific reason for why we find these animals to be cute. Cuteness
apparently depends on a few factors, some of which are physical and some of
which have to do with how these animals act. First, cuteness is most often
associated with animals or people that have small bodies when compared to
the size of their head and eyes, as is true with human babies and many baby
animals. When looking at actions, playfulness is seen as being cute. This is
again another characteristic of babies.
The reason for this is that some animals have evolved to be cute
when they are babies. This makes sure that they are cared for by their
parents. There is a significant amount of evidence for this theory. First of all,
animals that cannot care for themselves when they are born are mostly
mammals. Snakes, for example, do not need the care of their parents when
they hatch. But then, a baby snake isn't exactly cute. A kitten, which
certainly is cute, requires its mother's care for at least the first few months of
its life. Without that care, the kitten will almost certainly die.
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Reading Comprehension
Most people will agree that puppies and kittens are cute, even if
those people are not especially animal lovers. When asked to explain why
they think a kitten or a puppy is cute, however, most people would probably
have trouble providing a clear explanation. It turns out, however, that there
is a clear scientific reason for why we find these animals to be cute. Cuteness
apparently depends on a few factors, some of which are physical and some of
which have to do with how these animals act. First, cuteness is most often
associated with animals or people that have small bodies when compared to
the size of their head and eyes, as is true with human babies and many baby
animals. When looking at actions, playfulness is seen as being cute. This is
again another characteristic of babies.
The reason for this is that some animals have evolved to be cute
when they are babies. This makes sure that they are cared for by their
parents. There is a significant amount of evidence for this theory. First of all,
animals that cannot care for themselves when they are born are mostly
mammals. Snakes, for example, do not need the care of their parents when
they hatch. But then, a baby snake isn't exactly cute. A kitten, which
certainly is cute, requires its mother's care for at least the first few months of
its life. Without that care, the kitten will almost certainly die.
4
