厭惡能讓人記憶深刻

黃連英 鐘翠頻

Many of our memory systems are driven by one single， powerful urge： to survive. We seem to be hard-wired to remember routes， so we can navigate our local environments safely. We’re also naturally talented at recognizing faces. Ever since we lived in groups， we humans have needed to know who’s “part of the pack”， and who isn’t， as a vital part of staying safe.

And we’re excellent at remembering things that might put our wellbeing at risk. A recent research study showed that we’re remarkably accurate at recalling anything connected with infection. “Negative feelings can nudge your brain，” says our memory expert， Jonathan Hancock. Even imaginary dangers can sharpen our memory skills.

In the study， volunteers were shown a set of objects that they would be tested on later. But there was a twist. Some of the items were held by a researcher who was said to have COVID. And guess what？ Those “infected” objects proved to be significantly easier to recall. None of the volunteers would ever have to touch those things themselves. But their minds still prioritized them， locking in the information for later—just in case it could keep them safe.

And it’s a reflex （反射作用） that you can use to your advantage. When you’ve got something important to remember， why not “tag” it with one of those unpleasant feelings that your brain can’t help holding on to？ Worried about forgetting the milk from your shopping list？ Picture the bottle， and imagine opening it only to discover that it’s weeks out of date. Think about how it would look—and smell！ Thanks to the power of disgust， you’ll have a much better chance of remembering the fresh milk you need.

Don’t try this technique too often， though， or you’ll end up always feeling on edge！ But， in those moments when your memory needs a boost， a small bit of revulsion （反感） can be very healthy for your recall.

（材料出自Reader’s Digest，有刪改）

1. Why can we remember faces？

A. To show the talent. B. To be more sociable.

C. To train our memory. D. To get rid of dangers.

2. What can we infer about a better memory of buying milk？

A. It’s second to none to make a shopping list.

B. It’s beneficial to recall the pretty milk bottle.

C. It’s alternative to draw a picture of delicious milk.

D. It’s effective to imagine the smelly milk out of date.

3. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. Unpleasant feelings can boost our memory.

B. Imaginary dangers can benefit us completely.

C. Those “infected” objects may be hard to recall.

D. People may touch the items with infection to keep safe.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear？

A. Sports. B. Health.

C. Literature. D. Entertainment.

【參考答案】

1. D。解析：細節理解題。根據文章第一段最后一個句子“...as a vital part of staying safe.”，我們可知，自從我們開啟集體生活，我們人類就需要知道誰是“群體的一部分”，這是保持安全的重要組成部分。因而，我們能記住人們的面孔，是為了保持安全，遠離危險。故選D。

2. D。解析：推理判斷題。根據文章第四段最后一個句子“Thanks to the power of disgust， you’ll have a much better chance of remembering the fresh milk you need.（多虧了厭惡的力量，你更有可能記住你需要的鮮奶。）”，我們可知，想象過期的臭牛奶，對更好地記住買鮮奶是有效的。故選D。

3. A。解析：主旨大意題。根據文章第二段，我們可知，我們非常善于記住那些可能危及我們健康的事情。比如，一項研究表明，我們在回憶任何與感染有關的東西時都非常準確。由此推測，本文應該是告訴我們“消極的情緒會刺激我們的大腦，有利于增強人們的記憶”。故選A。

4. B。解析：推理判斷題。根據篇章首句“Many of our memory systems are driven by one single， powerful urge： to survive.（我們的許多記憶系統都是由一種強大的沖動驅動的：生存。）”和尾句“But， in those moments when your memory needs a boost， a small bit of revulsion can be very healthy for your recall.（在你的記憶需要增強的時候，一點點的厭惡對你的回憶是非常有益的。）”，我們可知，本文最有可能出現在一份報紙的健康版塊。故選B。