Question

read the passage and then answer the question. a typical human baby is born with around 300 bones, but by the time that baby reaches adulthood, it will have only 206. initially, such a notable diminution in the number of bones may seem counterintuitive—shouldnt a skeleton need more bones, not fewer, as it grows? the explanation lies in the way bones grow and develop. with age, the human skeleton undergoes a process of bone fusion. newborns bones are spongy and give way to pressure because they are made primarily of cartilage. these malleable bones make it easier for a newborn to pass through the narrow birth canal. over time, however, the bones gain more calcium and join together, forming the 206 bones that make up an adults skeletal structure. what is the meaning of malleable as used in the passage? poorly made thin or narrow able to be bent or reshaped easily broken

Explanation:

The passage states that newborns' bones are spongy, made primarily of cartilage, and "give way to pressure." This implies flexibility. "Malleable" in this context relates to the ability to change shape under pressure. The option "able to be bent or reshaped" aligns with this description as it reflects the flexibility of the bones (due to being made of cartilage) that allows the baby to pass through the birth canal. The other options ("poorly made", "thin or narrow", "easily broken") do not match the context of bones adapting to pressure (as described by "give way to pressure" and the role in birth canal passage).

Answer:

able to be bent or reshaped