Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions Most people can remember a phone number for up to thirty seconds. When this short amount of time elapses, however, the numbers are erased from the memory. How did the information get there in the first place? Information that makes its way to the short term memory (STM) does so via the sensory storage area. The brain has a filter which only allows stimuli...
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Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions
Most people can remember a phone number for up to thirty seconds. When this short amount of time elapses, however, the numbers are erased from the memory. How did the information get there in the first place? Information that makes its way to the short term memory (STM) does so via the sensory storage area. The brain has a filter which only allows stimuli that is of immediate interest to pass on to the STM, also known as the working memory.
There is much debate about the capacity and duration of the short term memory. The most accepted theory comes from George A. Miller, a cognitive psychologist who suggested that humans can remember approximately seven chunks of information. A chunk is defined as a meaningful unit of information, such as a word or name rather than just a letter or number. Modern theorists suggest that one can increase the capacity of the short term memory by chunking, or classifying similar information together. By organizing information, one can optimize the STM, and improve the chances of a memory being passed on to long term storage.
When making a conscious effort to memorize something, such as information for an exam, many people engage in "rote rehearsal". By repeating something over and over again, one is able to keep a memory alive. Unfortunately, this type of memory maintenance only succeeds if there are no interruptions. As soon as a person stops rehearsing the information, it has the tendency to disappear.
When a pen and paper are not handy, people often attempt to remember a phone number by repeating it aloud. If the doorbell rings or the dog barks to come in before a person has the opportunity to make a phone call, he will likely forget the number instantly. Therefore, rote rehearsal is not an efficient way to pass information from the short term to long term memory. A better way is to practice "elaborate rehearsal". This involves assigning semantic meaning to a piece of information so that it can be filed along with other pre-existing long term memories.
Encoding information semantically also makes it more retrievable. Retrieving information can be done by recognition or recall. Humans can easily recall memories that are stored in the long term memory and used often; however, if a memory seems to be forgotten, it may eventually be retrieved by prompting.
The more cues a person is given (such as pictures), the more likely a memory can be retrieved. This is why multiple choice tests are often used for subjects that require a lot of memorization.
How do theorists believe a person can remember more information in a short time?
A. By repeating it
B. By drawing it
C. By organizing it
D. By giving it a name
1 A quarrel is only over when both sides can forgive and ________.
A. forget B. remember C. miss D. think
2 The ________ food industry is making good progress in developing more healthy
alternatives.
A. quick B. fast C. speedy D. rapid
3. An ankle injury meant she ________ the opportunity to run in the qualifying heat.
A. got B. had C. missed D. took
4 Her books have brought ________ joy to millions of people.
A. many B. large C. big D. great
5 This newspaper has a ________ number of subscribers.
A. large B. big C. tall D. high
6 Last year his father gave him a new car - a very ________ car.
A. fast B. quick C. slow D. gentle
7 I have a ________ feeling that she is not there; there is no smoke from the chimney.
A. healthy B. strong C. powerful D. mighty
8 Someone suggested that we play a party game to ________ the ice.
A. make B. stop C. break D. take
9 Getting involved at this stage would ________ more harm than good.
A. have B. take C. make D. do
10 If you want to ________ a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.
A. keep B. have C. do D. get
11 You'd better zip up your jacket so you don't ________ a cold.
A. do B. catch C. take D. keep
12 After dinner she told me a ________ story about her pet.
A. low B. high C. tall D. giant
13 Now ________ calm everyone, the police are on their way.
A. keep B. have C. do D. take