Answer key: Erase Memories

Lesson: 2014: Erase Unwanted Memories

II. While Reading Activities

Vocabulary

Word Inference

  1. zapped  |zap| informal- verb ( zaps, zapping , zapped )-destroy or obliterate: zap the enemy’s artillery before it can damage your core units
  2. ambitious |amˈbiSHəs|-adjective-having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed: his mother was hard-working and ambitious for her four children.
  3. estranged |iˈstrānjd|-adjective-(of a wife or husband) no longer living with their spouse.
  4. tinkered-|ˈtiNGkər|-verb [ no obj. ]-attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often to no useful effect: he spent hours tinkering with the car.
  5. phobia |ˈfōbēə|-noun-an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something: he had a phobia about being under water | a phobia of germs | a snake phobia.
  6. altered |ˈôltər|-verb-change or cause to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way: [ with obj. ] : Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage
  7. disrupt |disˈrəpt|-verb [ with obj. ]-interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or problem: a rail strike that could disrupt both passenger and freight service.
  8. relaxant |rəˈlaksənt|-noun-a drug used to promote relaxation or reduce tension: a muscle relaxant.
  9. triggering |ˈtrigər|-verb [ with obj. ]cause (an event or situation) to happen or exist: an allergy can be triggered by stress or overwork.
  10. randomly |ˈrandəm|-adjective-made, done, happening, or chosen without method or conscious decision: a random sample of 100 households.

Source: New Oxford American Dictionary

Reading Comprehension

True /False/NA-Statements

  1. NA This process can work on children who have had bad experiences.
  2. F- In an experiment, patients were first shown a troubling story, a week later they were reminded about it and given electroconvulsive therapy.
  3. F- The experiment recalls the plot of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
  4. T- The hope is that one day it may be possible to eliminate a person’s unwanted memories linked to smoking, drug-taking or emotional trauma.
  5. NA-All countries are doing research on this project.
  6. F- Before this, scientists used to think that once a memory took hold in the brain, it was permanently stored and couldn’t be altered.
  7. T- One experiment involved 39 patients who were undergoing electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression.
  8. T- In ECT treatment, patients get a muscle relaxant and an electrical current is passed to part of their brains, triggering a brief seizure.
  9. F- A lot more work needs to be done. It isn’t clear whether the memory erasure is temporary or permanent.
  10. NA People will have to pay fee for this treatment.

 Grammar Focus

Structure and Usage

I-2-In an experiment, patients were first shown a troubling story.

II-3-About a decade ago, scientists made a surprising discovery.

III. 1–Their test subjects were 39 patients undergoing therapy.

 IV. Listening Activity   

Video Clip:  Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Sentence  Fill-ins -Multiple Choice

  1. b. Clementine
  2. a. How far you going?
  3. b. Do you ever shop  at Barnes and Nobles?
  4. c. he would have remembered her
  5. c. her hair color changes a lot.
  6. a. hair colors
  7. b. her name
  8. c. Clementine
  9. a. merciful
  10. c. Clementine