B2 First (FCE) Reading Part 5 exercise 4

PART 5
You are going to read an article about human memory. For questions 1–6 choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

THE ILLUSION OF MEMORY

Many people intuitively believe that human memory works just like a video recorder. We assume that our eyes capture an event and our brain stores the footage perfectly on a mental hard drive ready to be replayed whenever we wish. However neuroscientists have repeatedly proven that this comparison is entirely false. Every time we recall a memory we are not simply pressing play on a recorded video. Instead we are actively reconstructing the event from fragmented pieces of information stored in different parts of the brain.

This reconstructive process means that our memories are highly vulnerable to distortion. Because our brains naturally want a complete and logical story they will automatically fill in missing details with what they assume must have happened. Over time the original facts become mixed with our current beliefs emotions and things we have learned since the event took place. We eventually become completely convinced that this modified version is the absolute truth.

A famous psychological experiment conducted in the 1990s dramatically illustrated this point. Researchers presented adult participants with a series of childhood stories supplied by their parents. Among the true stories the scientists secretly inserted a completely fabricated account of the participant getting lost in a shopping mall as a child. Astonishingly over a quarter of the participants not only 'remembered’ the fake event but also provided rich sensory details about the people who supposedly rescued them.

The implications of this phenomenon extend far beyond simple childhood nostalgia. In the legal system for instance eyewitness testimony is often considered the most compelling type of evidence. Juries tend to trust confident witnesses who swear they clearly remember the face of a suspect. Yet countless innocent people have been convicted based on genuine but completely false memories. The realization that our minds can so easily deceive us is deeply unsettling.

The human brain is undoubtedly an incredible organ. However it is crucial to recognize its limitations. Embracing the idea that our personal histories are slightly fictionalized versions of reality can actually make us more empathetic. It reminds us to be open to the fact that two people can experience the exact same event and walk away with two completely different but equally vivid memories.

1. In the first paragraph the writer compares human memory to a video recorder to

A) explain how technology helps us retain information B) show that cameras are less reliable than human minds C) illustrate a common misconception about the brain D) prove that we remember important events perfectly

2. What does the writer say about the reconstructive process in the second paragraph?

A) It involves piecing together fragments of past events B) It is a sign of a serious mental illness in adults C) It means we create a completely new past every day D) It works best when we are deeply asleep at night

3. What did the shopping mall experiment reveal according to the third paragraph?

A) Most people remember their childhood with perfect accuracy B) Children have much better and clearer memories than adults C) People can be easily convinced of events that never occurred D) Photographs are absolutely useless for triggering memories

4. Why does the writer mention eyewitness testimonies in court?

A) To highlight a serious real world consequence of flawed memory B) To show how clever criminals easily manipulate the truth C) To prove that lawyers are often dishonest and manipulative D) To suggest that courts should use more video camera evidence

5. What does the word 'its’ in the final paragraph refer to?

A) The human brain B) A false memory C) The video recorder D) The judicial system

6. The main purpose of the article is to

A) complain about the difficulties of studying neuroscience B) persuade readers to stop trusting their family members C) explain how our recall of the past is not completely reliable D) advertise a new technique to improve personal memory