Lesson
Dogs Respond to Human Smiles
Read this news story in English at three levels, easy, standard, and advanced (B1–C1) — with vocabulary and a comprehension quiz.
A new study shows dogs react positively to smiling faces, indicating they can distinguish between human emotions.
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Standard — Natural English
53 words · ~1 min readEasy version (A2–B1)
Dogs can understand human feelings. A study found that when dogs see smiling faces, a part of their brain lights up. This part is linked to rewards, like treats. Dogs can tell happy faces from sad or angry ones but not between different negative emotions.Standard version (B1–B2)
A recent study reveals that dogs respond positively to human smiles. Researchers found that when dogs see happy faces, a part of their brain associated with rewards becomes active. This suggests that dogs can recognize positive emotions, even from strangers. However, they do not differentiate between various negative emotions like anger or fear.Advanced version (C1–C2)
A groundbreaking study has demonstrated that dogs exhibit a positive response to human smiles, activating a reward-related area in their brains. Conducted with 14 dogs, the research revealed that while dogs can distinguish between happy and negative emotions, they do not differentiate among various negative feelings such as anger, fear, or sadness. This finding underscores the unique bond between humans and dogs, shaped by thousands of years of cohabitation and interaction, enabling dogs to interpret human emotions effectively.Lesson audio
Standard level
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Test your understanding
01What part of the dog's brain lights up when it sees a smiling face?
02Can dogs distinguish between different negative emotions?
03How many dogs participated in the study?
04What is the main focus of the research conducted by Cuaya and Hernández-Pérez?
Discussion
How do you think dogs perceive human emotions compared to other animals?
Vocabulary
reward word
something given in recognition of service or achievement
“The dog's brain lights up when it sees a reward.”
emotion word
a strong feeling such as happiness or anger
“Dogs can recognize human emotions like happiness and sadness.”
distinguish word
to recognize or point out a difference
“Dogs can distinguish between happy and negative emotions.”
research word
a careful study to find out facts or principles
“The research showed how dogs respond to human faces.”
cognition word
the mental action of acquiring knowledge and understanding
“The study of canine cognition reveals how dogs interpret human behavior.”