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Unit 1 Cuteness
Listening 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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Listening 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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