# Young children's sense of identity: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 4, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 4, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | G | dabbed some red powder on the noses of children who were playing in front of a mirror, and then observed how often they touched their noses |
| 15 | C | Many parents spend a lot of time, particularly in the early months, copying their infant's vocalizations and expressions. |
| 16 | G | This recognition occurs around their second birthday. |
| 17 | D | Empirical investigations of the self-as-subject in young children are, however, rather scarce because of difficulties of communication |
| 18 | H | Although it may be less marked in other societies, the link between the sense of 'self' and of 'ownership' is a notable feature of childhood in Western societies. |
| 19 | E | social roles (such as student, brother, colleague) and characteristics which derive their meaning from comparison or interaction with other people (such as trustworthiness, shyness, sporting ability) |
| 20 | D | it is impossible to conceive of a self arising outside of social experience |
| 21 | B | Cooley (1902) suggested that a sense of the self-as-subject was primarily concerned with being able to exercise power. |
| 22 | E | the intensity of the frustration and anger in their disagreements increased sharply between the ages of 1 and 2 years |
| 23 | C | leads to a growing awareness that they are distinct from other people |
| 24 | mirror | can change the reflection in the mirror. |
| 25 | communication | rather scarce because of difficulties of communication |
| 26 | ownership | the link between the sense of 'self' and of 'ownership' is a notable feature of childhood in Western societies. |

## Why these answers are right

**14. G.** You need a paragraph that explains how a study was carried out. Paragraph G describes Lewis and Brooks-Gunn putting red powder on children's noses in front of a mirror and counting how often they touched their noses. That step-by-step procedure is a research method, so the answer is G.

**15. C.** Imitation means copying. Paragraph C explains that infants learn about their effect on the world when others mimic them, and that parents spend much time copying their baby's sounds and expressions. This links imitation to a growing sense of self, so the answer is C.

**16. G.** The question wants the age when children recognize a still image of themselves. Paragraph G says children can recognize themselves visually without seeing contingent movement, and this happens around their second birthday. Recognition without movement is a static image, so the answer is G.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/young-childrens-sense-of-identity/answers).

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