Memories of a Memory Have you ever witnessed something amazing, shocking or surprising and found when describing the event that your story seems to change the more you tell it? Have you ever experienced a time when you couldn't really describe something you saw in a way that others could understand? If so, you may understand why some experts think eyewitness testimony is unreliable as evidence in scientific inquiries and trials. New insights into human memory suggest human memories are really a mixture of many non-factual things.

First, memory is vague. Imagine your room at home or a classroom you see every day. Most likely, you could describe the room very generally. You could name the color of the walls, the floors, the decorations. But the image you describe will never be as specific or detailed as if you were looking at the actual room. Memory tends to save a blurry image of what we have seen rather than specific details. So when a witness tries to identify someone, her brain may recall that the person was tall, but not be able to say how tall when faced with several tall people. There are lots of different kinds of "tall."

Second, memory uses general knowledge to fill in gaps. Our brains reconstruct events and scenes when we remember something. To do this, our brains use other memories and other stories when there are gaps. For example, one day at a library you go to quite frequently, you witness an argument between a library patron and one of the librarians. Later, when telling a friend about the event, your brain may remember a familiar librarian behind the desk rather than the actual participant simply because it is recreating a familiar scene. In effect, your brain is combining memories to help you tell the story.

Third, your memory changes over time. It also changes the more you retell the story. Documented cases have shown eyewitnesses adding detail to testimony that could not have been known at the time of the event. Research has also shown that the more a witness's account is told, the less accurate it is. You may have noticed this yourself. The next time you are retelling a story, notice what you add, or what your brain wants to add, to the account. You may also notice that you drop certain details from previous tellings of the story.

With individual memories all jumbled up with each other, it is hard to believe we ever know anything to be true. Did you really break your mother's favorite vase when you were three? Was that really your father throwing rocks into the river with you when you were seven? The human brain may be quite remarkable indeed. When it comes to memory, however, we may want to start carrying video cameras if we want to record the true picture.

Which line from the text best explains the main reason memories change?

Most likely, you could describe the room very generally.
The more a witness's account is told, the less accurate it is
The next time you are retelling a story, notice what you add
You may also notice that you drop certain details

Usatestprep 1) how might an article with the same information as this passage be used for a different purpose by a different author? a) the author of the new article might be celebrating the great variety and richness of the english language. b) the author of the new article might be demonstrating how travel affects the integration of new words into a language. c) the author of the new article might be trying to educate readers about how many foreign words are in the english language. d) the author of the new article might be arguing that the english language is being corrupted by the influence of foreign languages. reactivate 2) from steal this book, by abbie hoffman pay phones you can make a local 10 cent call for 2 cents by spitting on the pennies and dropping them in the nickel slot. as soon as they are about to hit the trigger mechanism, bang the coin-return button. another way is to spin the pennies counter-clockwise into the nickel slot. hold the penny in the slot with your finger and snap it spinning with a key or other flat object. both systems take a certain knack, but once you've perfected the technique, you'll always have it in your survival kit. if two cents is too much, how about a call for 1 penny? cut a 1/4 strip off the telephone book cover. insert the cardboard strip into the dime slot as far as it will go. drop a penny in the nickel slot until it catches in the mechanism (spinning will ). then slowly pull the strip out until you hear the dial tone. in the first paragraph of "steal this book," the term "technique" can best be defined as a) style of clothing b) necessary routine c) emotional control d) method of movement 3) which word or phrase from this article would a reader most likely be able to define without knowing the language from which it derived? a) parka b) regatta c) flamenco d) bon chance 4) which of these is true about the phrase bon chance? a) it means “good luck.” b) it means “boat race.” c) it comes from germany. d) it comes from england. 5) from steal this book, by abbie hoffman pay phones you can make a local 10 cent call for 2 cents by spitting on the pennies and dropping them in the nickel slot. as soon as they are about to hit the trigger mechanism, bang the coin-return button. another way is to spin the pennies counter-clockwise into the nickel slot. hold the penny in the slot with your finger and snap it spinning with a key or other flat object. both systems take a certain knack, but once you've perfected the technique, you'll always have it in your survival kit. if two cents is too much, how about a call for 1 penny? cut a 1/4 strip off the telephone book cover. insert the cardboard strip into the dime slot as far as it will go. drop a penny in the nickel slot until it catches in the mechanism (spinning will ). then slowly pull the strip out until you hear the dial tone. the tricks discussed in this passage from steal this book would not be of any if a) you have no dimes, only pennies. b) you have no pennies, only quarters. c) you have only two pennies. d) you have only one penny. 6)