II. While Reading Tasks
Vocabulary-Word Inference
1. On a late winter day in 1922, the sound of a gun shot resounded with a loud boom…
resound |riˈzound|-verb- [ no obj. ] (of a sound, voice, etc.) fill a place with sound; be loud enough to echo: another scream resounded through the school.
2. What was extraordinary was the question the boy turned to ask his mother…
extraordinary |ikˈstrôrdnˌerē, ˌekstrəˈôrdn-|adjective-very unusual or remarkable: the extraordinary plumage of the male | [ with clause ] : it is extraordinary that no consultation took place.
3…synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon in which one or more sensory modalities are linked.
neurology |n(y)o͝oˈräləjē|-noun-the branch of medicine or biology that deals with the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system. -neurological |-rəˈläjikəl|adjective.
4. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist known for his ability to garner important insights into the nature of perception…
garner |ˈgärnər|-verb [ with obj. ] gather or collect (something, esp. information or approval): the police struggled to garner sufficient evidence.
5. The study of synesthesia has historically been marked by such misconceptions.
misconception |ˌmiskənˈsepSHən|-noun-a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding: public misconceptions about AIDS remain high.
6. 19th century romantics and early 20th century surrealists were intrigued…
surrealism |səˈrēəˌlizəm|-noun-a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.-surrealist noun& adjective.
7…since the impressionistic perceptions of synesthetes seemed to jibe with the generally fluid and emotional sense of reality…
perception |pərˈsepSHən|-noun-the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses: the normal limits to human perception.
jibe 2 |jīb|-verb [ no obj. ] informal-be in accord; agree: the verdict does not jibe with the medical evidence.
8…synesthesia is biologically-based, perceptually real…
biological |ˌbīəˈläjikəl|(abbr.: biol. )-adjective-of or relating to biology or living organisms. Biologically |-ik(ə)lē|adverb
9. Less common, but still prevalent, is the linking of color with touch or taste with touch.
prevalent |ˈprevələnt|-adjective-widespread in a particular area at a particular time: the social ills prevalent in society today.
Questions for Reading Comprehension
True / False
- F- Edgar Curtis is a three- year-old with synesthesia.
- T- David Eagleman, is a neuroscientist…
- T- Synesthesia, is a neurological phenomenon in which one or more sensory modalities are linked.
- F- The study of synesthesia has historically been marked by misconceptions.
- T-… synesthetes were seen as especially sensitive to typical memory associations…
- F-Today, we understand that synesthesia is internal, automatic, involuntary, and unconscious.
- F- Less common, but still prevalent, is the linking of color with touch or taste with touch.
- T-Synesthesia is experienced from birth, so synesthetes are often unaware that there’s anything unusual…
- T-It was recently shown to be heritable, and researchers at the Laboratory for Perception are tracing the genes for it right now.
- T-Most synesthetes… have lived their whole lives…without suspecting that they’re seeing reality differently than someone else.
Grammar Focus
Identifying Parts of Speech
Adjectives: scientific, neurological, sensory, idiosyncratic, important.
IV. Listening Activity
Video: Seeing Sound, Tasting Color: Synesthesia
While Listening Tasks
1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-a, 5-c, 6-b, 7-a, 8b.
Note: You Tube has a transcript for this interview on the same page.
:
