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"Why are yawns contagious? We asked a scientist"
by Teresa Carey

Why do we yawn?

There is no scientific consensus on why we yawn. One theory argues that when humans are tired, we stop taking deep breaths, which causes a build-up of carbon dioxide in the body, said Douglas Parham, a speech scientist at Wichita State University. A yawn might be a special kind of respiration, Parham said. It builds up oxygen quickly, while expelling carbon dioxide, even more than a deep breath.

Excess carbon dioxide and other chemical changes, such as a drop in oxygen or increase in a compound called adenosine, could also act as “yawn gates,” said James Giordano, a neuroethicist and neuroscientist at Georgetown University. These chemicals send out a signal that triggers a yawn. By yawning, we compress the muscles of the face, driving oxygen-enriched blood to the brain, Giordano said.

Other proposals state the purpose of yawning is to cool the brain, or to stretch internal organs like tissues and lungs, helping the body to liven up.

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Question
Use the passage from “Why are yawns contagious? We asked a scientist.” to answer the question.

Effect: We yawn.

Cause: to quickly expel carbon dioxide

Cause: to drive oxygen-enriched blood to the brain

Cause: to stretch internal organs

Cause: ?

Cause: ?

Based on the information in the passage, which cause completes the graphic organizer? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

to build up oxygen
to build up oxygen

to cool the brain
to cool the brain

to increase the frequency of deep breaths
to increase the frequency of deep breaths

to increase adenosine levels
to increase adenosine levels

to compress facial muscles
to compress facial muscles
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Answer 1

To complete the graphic organizer regarding the causes of yawning based on the passage, the two correct answers are:

1. to build up oxygen - This cause relates to the explanation that a yawn may serve to quickly increase oxygen in the body when deep breathing has diminished due to tiredness.

2. to cool the brain - This cause aligns with one of the theories presented about yawning serving a purpose related to brain temperature regulation.

The other options do not directly correlate with the explanations given in the passage.