Scientists know more about how we forget

Some people are very forgetful, while others can remember everything they have done.
Scientists know a lot about how our brains store and remember facts and experiences. There
is little research on how or why the brain forgets things. A new study looks at forgetting. A
team of researchers from the USA studied the brain's process of forgetting things. The
researchers are cognitive neuroscientists. They study the brain and how it thinks and works.
Their work may help people who have memory problems. It may also help those with
depression and dementia. The lead scientist, Marie Banich, said: "It may sound surprising
that people can control what and how they forget."

Professor Banich said forgetting is important. She said it keeps the brain working smoothly.
Her research found ways that people remove information from their brain. She said: "We
have control over the ability to remove information from…our thoughts." This is important
because it means we can focus on more important tasks. However, although we can control
what and how we forget, the act of forgetting needs a lot of effort. Another researcher,
Sara Festini, agreed. She said: We've found that intentionally forgetting no-longer-relevant
information from the mind is beneficial, but it doesn't happen automatically." Researchers
will now look at why we forget recent events, like where we left our keys.

1.- Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY
the evidence from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

1. The article says we are all forgetful. T / F (F), Some people are very forgetful, while
others can remember everything they have done.

2. Scientists know a lot about how the brain forgets things. T / F (F), Scientists know a lot
about how our brains store and remember facts and experiences.

3. The scientists' research may help people who are depressed. T / F (T), It may also help
those with depression and dementia.

4. A researcher said it's not surprising that we can control what we forget. T / F

(T), The lead scientist, Marie Banich, said: "It may sound surprising that people

can control what and how they forget."

5. A professor said forgetting helps the brain work smoothly. T / F (T),

Professor Banich said forgetting is important. She said it keeps the brain

working smoothly.

6. The act of forgetting needs a lot of effort. T / F (T) ,The act of forgetting needs a lot of
effort.
7. Forgetting unimportant information doesn't happen automatically. T / F

(T), Forgetting no-longer-relevant information from the mind is

beneficial, but it doesn't happen automatically.

8. Researchers say everyone forgets where they leave their keys. T / F

(T), Researchers will now look at why we forget recent events, like where

we left our keys.

2.-ANSWER the questions below. COPYING form the text (1.5 points)

1. What does the opening sentence say some people are? Some people are very forgetful.

2. How much research is there on how the brain forgets? Scientists know a lot about how our
brains store and remember facts and experiences.

3. What process did a team of scientists study? A team of researchers from the USA.

4. What might the research help besides dementia? It may also help those with depression
and dementia.

5. How did a researcher say people controlling what they forget sounded?

6. What did the professor say is important? It may sound surprising that

people can control what and how they forget.

7. What can we focus on by forgetting? Her research found ways that people remove
information from their brain.

8. What does the act of forgetting require? We can control what and how we forget, the
act of forgetting needs a lot of effort.

9. From where is no-longer-relevant information forgotten? From the mind.

10. What does the last sentence say people sometimes forget? Researchers will now look at
why we forget recent events, like where we left our keys.

3.- FIND a word or expression in the text that means... (1 point)

a. Hardly ( L 1-4): A new study looks at forgetting.

b. Principal ( L 4 - 8): Professor Banich.

c. Take away ( L 9 - 12 ): From their brain.

d. Energy ( L 9 - 14): Needs a lot of effort.

e. Investigator ( L. 9 -14): Sara Festini.

f. Occur ( L 13-16): Recent events.

4- READ this conversation and COMPLETE it. Write the numbers (1-8) and complete each
sentence on your exam paper. (1.5 points)
Making plans for the weekend

Laurie: What are your plans for this weekend?

Christie: I don’t know.

Laurie: (1) You want to go to the Cinema? Cinemax 26 on Carson Boulevard is showing Annie.

Christie: When do you want to go, Saturday or Sunday?

Laurie: (2) We can go on Sunday?

Christie: Yes, in fact I prefer that to Sunday. Do you want to go out to eat first?

Laurie: That sounds like a good idea. (3) Where we can go to eat?

Christie: Let’s go to Summer Pizza House. We haven’t gone there for a long time.

Laurie: Yes, it should be good because Summer Pizza House always has the best pizza in town.

(4) When the movie starts?

Christie: Well, the movie is shown at 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Laurie: (5) So late ? We can meet at Summer Pizza House at noon. That will give us plenty of time to enjoy
our pizza.

Christie: My cousin Karen’s visiting me. (6) She can come too? I hate to leave her home alone.

Laurie: Karen’s in town? Yes, bring her along.

Christie: (7) Really? She never stops talking and last time you ended up with a headache.

Laurie: True! But that was three years ago, I suppose she’s learnt to behave herself.

Christie: Well, I wouldn’t be so sure.

Laurie: Anyway, (8) It's all talked about, so tell her to come.
5.-Read the following situations and WRITE what you would say in or about each one to show that
you understand the context of the situation. Write between 20 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

25) You are the witness of a terrible accident. Call the police and inform them about it.

Hey, please come right away they ran over a girl, quick please!

26) You met an old friend after a long time.

Hey, Erika how long, are you just as beautiful since the last time I saw you, do you want

to go for a drink?

27) Your little cousin is playing with a lighter. Tell him not to do it.

Hey, you shouldn't play with that, it's plugged in and has a lot of electricity, you can get
electrocuted.

28) Arrange with your friends a travel to Rome next summer. Hey, emma, erika, for next summer
we could go on a month of vacation to Rome, do you think it?