The Inner World of Newborn Babies Reading Answers

The Inner World of Newborn Babies Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. The Inner World of Newborn Babies Reading Answers must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, question types include: Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? And Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

The Inner World of Newborn Babies Reading Answers offers a comprehensive overview of newborn babies, though physically limited, that display advanced cognitive, emotional, and social abilities such as imitation, crying patterns, memory, and preferences, which shape early bonding and future development. To practice similar reading tests, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

A.Despite their limited physical abilities, newborn babies possess an astonishing range of mental and behavioural responses. Researchers in developmental psychology have spent decades exploring how infants think, feel, and respond to stimuli in their early days of life. Far from being passive observers, newborns show signs of awareness, emotional sensitivity, and the beginning stages of social interaction.

B.One of the earliest signs of cognitive ability in infants is imitation. Just hours after birth, babies can mimic facial expressions such as tongue protrusion or mouth opening. This behaviour suggests that humans are born with an instinctive ability to connect with others. Neuroscientists believe this is linked to the activation of mirror neurons—special brain cells that help individuals understand and replicate the actions of others.

C.Crying, one of the most recognisable aspects of newborn behaviour, serves as a vital survival tool. It is the primary method through which infants communicate hunger, discomfort, or a need for closeness. Interestingly, babies not only cry for physical needs but also in response to emotional changes. For example, research has shown that newborns can detect the emotional tone in a caregiver’s voice, leading to more intense crying if the tone is perceived as negative.

D.Although crying may seem like an uncontrollable response, it follows patterns that vary across cultures. A study comparing babies in Japan, Germany, and the United States found that cultural differences in parenting styles could influence how often and how long infants cry. For instance, in cultures where babies are held more frequently, they tend to cry less overall.

E.Newborns are also capable of memory and recognition. Studies have demonstrated that within days of birth, babies can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar smells. Breastfed infants, for instance, prefer the scent of their mother’s milk over formula. Additionally, they can recognise the face of their caregiver, usually by the end of the first week. This early memory formation plays a significant role in bonding and emotional security.

F.Another surprising feature is early preference. Even in their first month, babies show a liking for sweet tastes and soft, melodic sounds. This explains why lullabies are often calming, while loud or harsh sounds may provoke distress. Light sensitivity also develops quickly, and infants typically prefer looking at high-contrast patterns or human faces, which stimulate brain activity.

G.Despite remarkable advances in understanding infant cognition, much remains unknown. The infant brain is incredibly adaptable, and its early experiences shape future learning, behaviour, and emotional health. Ongoing studies using brain imaging like fMRI are helping scientists decode how newborns perceive the world around them—paving the way for improved childcare and early education practices.

Questions 14-20

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

14. Some babies can imitate facial gestures like ………………………. soon after birth.

Answer: tongue protrusion

Supporting statement: "Just hours after birth, babies can mimic facial expressions such as tongue protrusion or mouth opening."

Keywords: tongue protrusion, mimic, facial expressions

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 2

Explanation: Babies can imitate gestures soon after birth, showing early social and cognitive ability.

15. The brain cells that help babies copy others are called ……………….

Answer: mirror neurons

Supporting statement: "Neuroscientists believe this is linked to the activation of mirror neurons—special brain cells..."

Keywords: mirror neurons, brain cells, copy actions

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 4

Explanation: Mirror neurons help babies understand and replicate others’ actions, forming the basis of imitation.

16. Crying helps babies signal a need for ……………………

Answer: closeness

Supporting statement: "Crying… is the primary method through which infants communicate hunger, discomfort, or a need for closeness."

Keywords: crying, communicate, closeness

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 2

Explanation: Babies cry not only for physical needs but also to seek emotional connection and comfort.

17. The emotional tone of a ………………….. can influence how a baby reacts.

Answer: caregiver’s voice

Supporting statement: "Research has shown that newborns can detect the emotional tone in a caregiver’s voice…"

Keywords: caregiver’s voice, emotional tone, influence

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 4

Explanation: Babies react differently depending on the emotional tone in their caregiver’s voice.

18. Parenting approaches may affect the frequency of ……………………

Answer: infant crying

Supporting statement: "Cultural differences in parenting styles could influence how often and how long infants cry."

Keywords: parenting styles, crying frequency

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 2

Explanation: Parenting style and culture affect how often and how long babies cry.

19. Newborns can tell the difference between various …………………….

Answer: familiar smells

Supporting statement: "Studies have demonstrated that within days of birth, babies can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar smells."

Keywords: familiar smells, distinguish, newborns

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 1

Explanation: Babies can recognise familiar scents like mother’s milk, aiding bonding and security.

20. Babies generally enjoy sounds that are ……………………… and smooth.

Answer: melodic sounds

Supporting statement: "Even in their first month, babies show a liking for sweet tastes and soft, melodic sounds."

Keywords: melodic sounds, preference, calming

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 1

Explanation: Babies prefer soothing, melodic sounds such as lullabies, which help calm them.

Questions 21-26

Write: TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN

21. All newborns cry for the same amount of time regardless of their culture.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Cultural differences in parenting styles could influence how often and how long infants cry."

Keywords: cry, culture, frequency

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 2

Explanation: Babies do not cry the same in all cultures; parenting practices affect crying time.

22. Babies have a natural preference for their mother's milk over formula.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Breastfed infants… prefer the scent of their mother’s milk over formula."

Keywords: mother’s milk, preference, formula

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 2

Explanation: Babies naturally prefer their mother’s milk, showing an inborn preference.

23. Loud noises usually comfort crying newborns.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "…while loud or harsh sounds may provoke distress."

Keywords: loud sounds, distress, not comforting

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 2

Explanation: Loud noises cause distress, meaning they do not comfort newborns.

24. Newborns can recognise their father's voice better than strangers.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: No comparison is made about newborns recognising their father’s voice.

25. Babies like looking at strong visual contrasts.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Infants typically prefer looking at high-contrast patterns or human faces…"

Keywords: high-contrast patterns, preference

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 3

Explanation: Babies enjoy looking at strong contrasts and faces, which stimulate their brains.

26. Brain imaging has improved our understanding of infant development.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Ongoing studies using brain imaging like fMRI are helping scientists decode how newborns perceive the world…"

Keywords: brain imaging, infant development

Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 2

Explanation: Brain imaging has advanced the study of newborn cognition and development.

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