Part D  A Pill to Forget

 

Vocabulary Preparation:

 

traumatic   adj. distressing; emotionally or psychologically upsetting 痛苦的；极不愉快的

permanently   adv. for ever 永久地

trauma  n. an emotional wound orshock often having long-lasting effects 创伤；外伤

reoccur   v. to happen, take place, or come about again 重现

conductor   n. a railway official in charge of a train 列车员

thud   n. a dull heavy sound 砰的一声；扑通一声

crackle   v. to make or cause to make a series of slight sharp noises, as ofpaper being crushed or of a wood fire burning 发出爆裂声

thump   v. to hit against something loudly 撞击；嘭地发出闷响

psychiatrist  n. a doctor who treats people suffering from mental illness精神科医生

propranolol   n. a drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris, arrhythmia, hypertension, andsome forms of tremor 心得安

medication   n. treatment with drugs or remedies 药物治疗

under way having started moving or making progress 在进行中

placebo  n. an inactive substance orother sham form of therapy administered to a patient usually to compare itseffects with those of a real drug or treatment, but sometimes for thepsychological benefit to the patient through his believing he is receivingtreatment 安慰剂

solidify   v. to make or become solid or hard 巩固；变得结实

hormone   n. a chemical substance produced in an endocrine gland andtransported in the blood to a certain tissue, on which it exerts a specificeffect 激素；荷尔蒙

adrenaline   n.a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress andincreases heart rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure, and raises the bloodlevels of glucose and lipids 肾上腺素

neurobiology   n. the study of the anatomy, physiology,and biochemistry of the nervous system 神经生物学

randomly  adv. in a random manner 随机地

venture   v. to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc. 敢于去（危险或令人不快的地方）

bump   v.to knock or strike with a jolt 撞；（尤指身体部位）碰上

overdrive   n.a state of intense activity 负担过度；工作过度

blush   v. to become red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed; tofeel ashamed or embarrassed about something （因尴尬或害羞）脸红；羞愧

 

 

Notes:

 

Bostonis the capital and largest city of the state ofMassachusetts, the most important city in New England, and one ofthe oldest cities in the US. The area's many collegesand universities make Boston an international center of higher education andmedicine. 波士顿（美国马萨诸塞州的首府和最大城市）

Harvard MedicalSchool (HMS) is the graduate medical school of HarvardUniversity. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hillneighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. 哈佛医学院

posttraumaticstress disorder (PTSD) is an anxietydisorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events thatthreatened or caused grave physical harm. It is a severe and ongoing emotionalreaction to an extreme psychological trauma.创伤后心理障碍症；创伤后精神压力症

Jell-O is abrand name belonging to US-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts,including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularityhas led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the USand Canada. 吉露牌果子冻

 

Exercise:Answer the following questions.

 

1.        “Many of us would pay topdollar for a pill that would enhance our ability to remember.” Would you liketo pay a big price to enhance your memory? Why or why not?

2.        A scientist finds a pill thathelps us to forget. Would you like to take the pill? Why or why not?

3.        “They’re caught up so much withthis past event that it’s constantly in their mind, they’re living it over andover and over as if it’s happening again, and they just can’t get involved inreal life.” Are there similar situations in your life? How do you try to pullyourself out of the past event?

4.         “It turns out our memories are sort of likeJell-O. They take time to solidify in our brains.” Recall one of the mostmemorable events in your life and try to explain how it impresses you.

5.        Will a pill that helps us toforget do harm to us? Why and why not?