Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Why Do We Yawn?

AsapSCIENCE

4.6M views 12 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When do you usually yawn the most: in the morning, in class/at work, or at night?
Do you think yawning is mainly about being tired, or could it have another purpose?
Have you ever yawned just because you saw someone else yawn?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Why Do We Yawn?

Yawning across animals + early human yawns (00:00 – 00:39)

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1. What is one reason mentioned for why snakes yawn?

To cool their brains
To realign their jaws after a meal
To breathe in more oxygen
To communicate fear

2. When do babies begin to yawn, according to the video?

Right after birth
During the first trimester
During the second trimester
Around age 4 to 5

3. What idea about yawning in adults is questioned by new research?

Yawning is only learned by watching others
Yawning is a mating ritual
Yawning helps you display anger
Yawning draws more oxygen into the lungs to make you feel less tired

Why Do We Yawn?

Yawning as brain cooling + temperature experiment (00:39 – 01:21)

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1. What do scientists now believe yawning has developed as a way of doing?

Physiologically cooling your brain
Strengthening the lungs
Reducing hunger after meals
Improving eyesight

2. Which change is mentioned as part of how yawning helps cooling?

It increases blood flow
It decreases heart rate
It slows facial muscles
It lowers your blood sugar

3. In the study, participants with warm packs on their head yawned about how often while watching others yawn?

9% of the time
1% of the time
41% of the time
50% of the time

Why Do We Yawn?

Contagious yawning: empathy, closeness, and mirror neurons (01:21 – 02:31)

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1. Contagious yawning is most likely linked to what?

Hunger
Better breathing
Empathy
Memory

2. Around what age does contagious yawning begin in children, according to the video?

12 to 13
1 to 2
4 to 5
8 to 9

3. What do mirror neurons do, according to the explanation?

They control body temperature directly
They stop us from copying other people
They fire when we do an action, see it, or even hear about it
They only fire when we are asleep

Why Do We Yawn?

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1. What is the main modern explanation the video gives for why humans yawn?

To cool the brain
To bring in extra oxygen
To improve hearing
To show dominance in social groups

2. Why might people yawn more when they are exhausted or sleep deprived?

Their brain temperature can increase
Their eyes become dry
Their lungs need more training
Their jaw muscles get weaker

3. Which factor does the video suggest increases your chances of copying someone’s yawn?

Being socially or genetically close to the person
Watching a comedy video
Listening to loud music
Eating a large meal

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Why Do We Yawn?

Do you think the brain-cooling explanation for yawning makes sense? Why or why not?
Is yawning contagious for you? What situations make it more likely to happen?
Should people try to stop themselves from yawning in public (for example, in meetings or class), or is it normal and acceptable?
If yawning is linked to empathy, what does that suggest about social relationships and communication?