Question

\why are yawns contagious? we asked a scientist\ by teresa carey
why are yawns contagious?
what is known is that the behavior is contagious. the likelihood of yawning increases six fold, according to one study, after seeing someone else yawn.
as for yawn contagion, giordano said it may be related to a phenomenon called social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others. other behaviors fall into this category, such as scratching, leg crossing and laughing.
giordano said this behavior could be linked to mirror neurons in the brain.
use the passage from \why are yawns contagious? we asked a scientist.\ to answer the question.
drag each excerpt from the passage to indicate whether it is a claim (effect) or a reason (cause).
(1 point)
claim (effect) reason (cause)
\the likelihood of yawning increases sixfold\
\a phenomenon of social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others\
\seeing someone else yawn\
\yawn contagion\

Explanation:

To determine if an excerpt is a claim (effect) or a reason (cause), we analyze the relationship:

• Claim (effect): Statements that describe what happens (the result).
• "The likelihood of yawning increases sixfold" describes the result of seeing someone yawn.
• "yawn contagion" is the phenomenon (effect) we are explaining the cause of.
• Reason (cause): Statements that explain why the effect happens.
• "a phenomenon of social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others" explains why yawns are contagious (links to social mirroring).
• "seeing someone else yawn" is the cause that leads to the increased likelihood of yawning.

Answer:

Claim (effect)

• "The likelihood of yawning increases sixfold"
• "yawn contagion"

Reason (cause)

• "a phenomenon of social mirroring, where organisms imitate the actions of others"
• "seeing someone else yawn"