PART A: ULTIMATE MEMORY
1. Upsides of Extreme Mempry
“I never forget dates. I can tell you the birthdays of my classmates from primary and
secondary schools”.
“I've remembered proverbs and quotations that teachers/professors have used, and
applied them to my assignments and exams, which earned me better grades.”
“You remember what you read and study faster and more accurately than those who
don’t have a good memory. Plus, you have far greater recall.”
Here are some advantages of having excellent memory
Academic Excellence: Individuals with a super memory may excel in academic pursuits
as they can quickly and accurately recall information from textbooks, lectures, and other
learning materials. This can lead to better performance in exams and a deeper
understanding of subjects.
Additionally, people with an extraordinary memory may find it easier to learn new skills,
as they can quickly absorb and retain information, leading to a more rapid acquisition of
expertise in different domains.
Professional Success: A powerful memory can be a significant asset in various
professions, especially those that require vast amounts of information to be retained. This
could include fields such as law, medicine, and academia, where the ability to recall
details accurately is crucial
Effective Communication: People with super memory might be adept at recalling
names, faces, and details about others, making them excellent communicators. This skill
can contribute to building strong social and professional networks.
Problem Solving: Enhanced memory can facilitate better problem-solving skills by
allowing individuals to draw upon a broader range of information and experiences when
faced with challenges.
2. Downsides of Extreme Memory
The up sides seem fairly obvious but what about the down sides? These people complain
about having poor attention, and if the had experienced any trama they continue to recall
it. All in all, they all say their super memory is more of a burden than a gift.
Some poeple struggle from depression and anxiety, which is believed to be linked to the
inability to let certain things go. Here are there opinions about the disadvatges of having
super memory
“Whenever I see a date flash on the television (or anywhere else for that
matter) I automatically go back to that day and remember where I was, what I
was doing, what day it fell on and on and on and on and on. It is non-stop,
uncontrollable, and totally exhausting.”
“I consider myself lucky in that I’ve had a pretty good life, so I have a lot of
happy, warm and fuzzy memories I can think back on, but I do tend to dwell on
things longer than the average person, and when something painful does
happen, like a break-up or the loss of a family member, I don’t forget those
feelings.”
“I’m not great with names, or with mundane details like whether I brushed
my teeth today or where I put my keys,” says DeGrandis. “My mind is always
moving and filled with so many other things, and maybe that contributes,
ironically, to a poorer short-term memory.”
“You recall way too much about your life that causes you tremendous guilt. I
remember so many bad things I did from the time I was five years old until I quit
doing bad things about ten years ago. As a result, I have a guilt burden that most
people can’t even imagine. By the way, the things I consider bad for me wouldn’t be
considered bad for most people today. It’s just that I have a higher standard for
myself, but don’t impose that same standard on anyone else”
3. Memory Champions
Some people accomplish impressive feats of memory not because of a radical difference
in cognitive functioning relative to other people, but through training and the use of
techniques for enhancing memory. The examples of these memory champions suggest
that even relatively ordinary minds can take memory to extraordinary levels.
What is a memory athlete?
A memory athlete is someone who participates in memory competitions, which can
involve a variety of tests of memory ability. Competitors train their ability to recall
information with the aid of mental techniques called mnemonics.
Some of the feats performed by memory champions include memorizing long strings of
digits, series of random words, sequences of cards in decks, and names and faces.
Memory champions regularly set new world records: In 2019, for example, a contender
memorized a sequence of 335 random words in 15 minutes. Another memorized 1,168
digits in the same amount of time.
4. Techniques / Tips for Better Memorization
(https://sarconline.sdes.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2017/07/9_Types_of_Mnemonics_NF1.p)
Music Mnemonics
How many lyrics to songs do you remember? How did you come to remember them?
Music is a powerful memory technique and it can work just as well in school, also. Many
learners have made songs out of information when a list of items must be learned.
Advertising on radio and TV uses this technique to help potential customers remember
their products when shopping. You can make a song or jingle using any type of music you
choose for any list of items. Music Mnemonics work best with long lists. For example,
some children learn the ABC’s by singing the “ABC” song. Other children learn all the
states in alphabetical order using the “50 Nifty United States” song
Spelling Mnemonics
Here is an example of a spelling mnemonic: A principal at a school is your pal, and a
principle you believe or follow is a rule.
Connections Mnemonics
In this type of mnemonic, the information to be remembered is connected to something
already known. For example: To remember how to say the word “sedentarty”, leaners can
make a connection with pharse “send them to me” they both both sound similar in
pronunciation
Note Organization Mnemonics
The way textbook and lecture notes are organized can inhibit learning and recall or
promote it. In the sense that the organization of notes can promote recall, it is a memory
device.
Name Mnemonic:
the 1st letter of each word in a list of items is used to make a name of a person or thing.
An example is: a. ROY G. BIV = colors of the spectrum (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green,
Blue, Indigo, Violet.)
PART B: SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT ULTIMATE
MEMORY
1. Why do some people have good memories while others just don’t?
It may sound funny but I think some people are born absent-minded while others have
excellent memories. This is because memory skills are somewhat of a talent or related to
each person’s genes. However, I believe people can remember things more easily and
longer if they boost their memory each day by studying and practicing some brain
exercises.
Absent-minded (a): Đãng trí
To have excellent memory: Có trí nhớ tốt
Boost one’s memory: Cải thiện trí nhớ
Brain exercise: Bài tập luyện tập cho não bộ
2 Why do more people rely on cell phones to memorize things?
I think this is because they don’t have good memories so it’s always more convenient if
there’s a smart device that can help remind them of what they need to do other than
trying to memorize things themself. For example, there are many reminder apps on the
phone that you can set time and an alarm will go off. What a life-saver!
Go off: Đổ chuông (báo thức)
Life-saver (n): Vật cứu cánh/Thứ cứu rỗi cuộc đời
3 Are you good at memorizing things?
I gotta say I have a terrible memory. I’m quite forgetful and tend to be reliant on other
people or reminder apps and other reminding tips to help me remember things. But
what’s funny is although I have sticky notes everywhere in the house, I still forget my
car key several times when I go out.
To have a terrible memory: Có một trí nhớ tệ/kém
Forgetful (a): hay quên
Reliant on (a): phụ thuộc vào cái gì đó/ai đó
Sticky note: giấy nhớ
4 Have you ever forgotten something that was important?
Yes, I have. About 2 or 3 months ago, I was halfway to the test center when I realized I
didn’t bring along my identification card. I’m sure every IELTS test taker knows
how crucial it is for them to confirm their identity to the examiner if they want to sit for
the test. As soon as I realized I left my ID card at home, I was luckily able to get back
home to grab it and return to the test center on time and my examination went on very
smoothly.
Crucial (a): Quan trọng
Sit for the test: Thực hiện bài thi
(Source: synthesized from the Internet and ChatGPT)
