Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget b

Not all memories are sweet. Some people spendall their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and trafficaccidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Oftenthey relive these experiences in nightmares（噩梦）.

Now American researchers think they are closeto developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill isdesigned to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope itmight reduce, or possibly wipe out, the effect of painful memories.

In November, experts tested a drug on peoplein the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing (释放) chemicals that fix memories in thebrain. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects ofmemories may be reduced, not that the memories are wiped out. They are not sureto what degree people’s memories are affected.

The research has caused a great deal ofargument（争议）. Some thinkit is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead topills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They saythat there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.

"Some memories can ruin people's lives.They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream ornightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions," said RogerPitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This couldrelieve a lot of that suffering."

But those who are against the research saythat maybe the pills can change people’s memories and changing memories is verydangerous because memories give us our identity (特质). They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.

"All of us can think of bad events inour lives that were terrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not surewe want to wipe those memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medicalethicist.

1. The passage is mainly about              .

A. a new medical invention              B.a new research on the pill

C. a way of wiping out painful memories D. anargument about the research on the pill

2.The drug tested on people can            .

A. cause the brain to fix memories          B.stop people remembering bad experiences

 C. stop body producing certainchemicals   D. wipe out the emotional effects of memories

3.We can infer from the passage that           .

A. people doubt the effects of the pills       

B. the pill will certainly stop people'semotional memories

C. taking the pill will do harm to people'sphysical health

D. the pill has already been produced andused by the public in America

4.Which of the following does Rebecca Dresseragree with in the last paragraph ?

A. some memories can ruin people's lives.          

B. people want to get rid of bad memories.

C. experiencing bad events makes us differentfrom others.

D. the pill will reduce people's sufferingsfrom bad memories.

5.You may probably read the passage in a__________

A. guidebook   B. medical magazine      C.textbook   D. science fiction

试题答案

【答案】

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.C

5.B

【解析】略