WEEK 10 – HOMEWORK – PRACTICE 2

Mysteries of the Mind

Oliver Sacks is a neurologist, a doctor who treats disorders of the nervous system, who has written several
books about his most unusual patients and how they adapt to their illnesses. Dr. Sacks thinks of his writings
as following the 19th-century tradition of "clinical anecdotes." This is a literary style that describes patients'
case histories in an informal way. Sacks writes about his cases with very little clinical detail. Instead he
relates the personal experiences of his patients. What is interesting about his cases are how his patients adapt
to their situation, and in many ways thrive in spite of terrible medical obstacles.

One of Sack's most famous books is titled Awakenings. In it, he tells the story of several patients who
survived the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, a kind of sleeping sickness. This disease attacks
the brain. It left its victims dead and alive at the same time; they became speechless and motionless, as if they
had fallen asleep but could not wake up. Most of its victims died during the epidemic, but some survived in
this statue-like state for decades. In 1969, Sacks experimented with a new drug called L-Dopa, and achieved
amazing results. After being given the drug, Sack's patients experienced an explosive "awakening." In
Awakenings, Sacks recounts these patients' adjustments as they try to re-enter a world that had moved on for
more than 40 years while they were sleeping.

Sacks has written that "Neurological patients are travelers to unimaginable lands." In his 1995 book, An
Anthropologist on Mars, Sacks describes the "travels" of some of his most unusual patients. The title story in
the book is about Dr. Temple Grandin, a woman with autism. Autism is a developmental disorder that affects
a person's ability to communicate, have positive social interactions, and have interests and imagination. In
spite of having autism, Grandin has been able to get a Ph.D. and have a successful career. She describes her
thoughts and feelings as being similar to "thinking like a cow" because she is more comfortable with thinking
in images rather than language.

Another case study in the book is about Carl Bennett, a surgeon with Tourette's Syndrome. Tourette's is a
neurological disorder that causes a person to move and speak without any control. Throughout the day,
Bennett kicks, flings his arms, and generally can't stop moving. However, his movements completely stop as
soon as he steps into an operating room and he becomes an extremely competent surgeon. When the operation
ends, the movement begins immediately.

Another fascinating case is artist Franco Magnani. Magnani was born in a small town in Italy, and has not
been back there in many years. However, he can remember every single detail of the town with great
accuracy. He has a three-dimensional picture of his hometown in his head and he paints it over and over
again.

These are just some of the cases that Oliver Sacks describes with sensitivity and insight. He is not just a
doctor but a chronicler of the human condition in all its wonder.

____ 1. What is the main topic of the passage?

a. Tourette's Syndrome
b. Oliver Sack's writing style
c. Oliver Sacks and some of his patients
d. modern medicine

____ 2. What is Oliver Sacks?

 a. a fiction writer c. a surgeon
b. a patient d. a neurologist

____ 3. What is interesting about Sack's patients?

a. they can not be helped c. they don't take any medicine
b. they adapt to their situations d. they write books

____ 4. What do victims of encephalitis lethargica do?

a. they are in a sleep-like state and don't wake up
b. they move without any control
c. they paint the same picture many times
d. they have trouble communicating with other people

____ 5. Who is a surgeon?

a. Oliver Sacks c. Temple Grandin
b. Franco Magnani d. Carl Bennett

____ 6. When was the sleeping sickness epidemic?

a. 1969 c. 1995
b. 1917-1928 d. the 19th century

____ 7. What is the title of one of Sack's books?

a. L-Dopa c. Awakenings
b. Clinical Anecdotes d. Thinking Like a Cow

____ 8. What disorder does Carl Bennett have?

a. Tourette's Syndrome c. encephalitis lethargica
b. autism d. sleeping sickness

____ 9. When did Sacks write An Anthropologist on Mars?

a. 1969 c. 1917
b. 1928 d. 1995

____ 10. What has Dr. Temple Grandin been able to do?
a. become a farmer
b. get a Ph.D.
c. write a book
d. survive encephalitis lethargica