41. Aphasics

People who have lost the ability to understand or use words 1) ____ brain damage are called aphasics. Such patients can be extremely good at something else. From the changing expressions on speakers’ faces and the tones of their voices, 2) ____.

Doctors studying the human brain have given a number of examples of this 3) ____ power of aphasics. Some have even compared this power to that of a dog with an ability to find out the 4) ____ hidden in the baggage.

Recently, scientists carried out tests to see if all that was said about aphasics was true. They studied 5) ____. Some were normal; others were aphasic. It was proved that the aphasics were far ahead of the normal people in 6)___ false speeches---in most cases, the normal people were fooled by words, but the aphasics were not.

Some years ago, Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote in his book about his experiences with aphasics. He 7) ___ a particular case in a hospital. Some aphasics were watching the president giving a speech on TV. Since the president had been an actor earlier, making a good speech was no problem for him. He was trying to put his feelings into every word of his speech. But his way of speaking 8) ___. They didn’t seem to believe him. Instead, they 9) ____. The aphasics knew that the president did not mean a word of what he was saying. He was lying!

Many doctors see aphasics as people who are not completely normal because they lack the ability to understand words. However, according to Dr. Sacks, they are more 10) ____ than normal people. Normal people may get carried away by words. Aphasics seem to understand human expressions better, though they cannot understand words.

Notes:

Aphasic: someone affected by aphasia or inability to use or understand language 失语的