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Practice Listening: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #4654 Short Memory
Instructions ›
Listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
There have been numerous cases of people claiming to possess a photographic memory. For example, Akira Haraguchi recited from memory the first 83,431 decimal places of pi, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. An incredible achievement, I agree, but other examples of so-called photographic memory such as that of Elizabeth Stromeyer, are more dubious. She claimed that she could recall poetry written in a language that she did not understand years after she had first seen the poem. Unlike in the first case, the methods and procedures that were used to test Stromeyer could be considered questionable, and the fact that she never repeated the experiment makes me doubt it even further.

What is the speaker's opinion about the subject of photographic memory?

* Listen to the recording and select the correct answer

Result:

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Option 4: "Claims of photographic memory should be subjected to close scientific observation."

Explanation: The speaker expresses doubt about the validity of some claims of photographic memory, particularly those that lack rigorous testing, like Stromeyer's. This indicates that they believe such claims should be closely examined, aligning perfectly with this option.

Option 1: "It is impossible for a person to remember large numerical figures or foreign language poems."

Explanation: The speaker does not claim that it is impossible to remember large numerical figures or foreign language poems. Instead, they provide examples of individuals with photographic memory, indicating that while some cases are impressive, others are questionable. This option misrepresents the speaker's view.

Option 2: "The existence of photographic memory has been undisputedly proven in a number of cases."

Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that there are cases of photographic memory, such as Akira Haraguchi's, but they also express skepticism about other claims, particularly Elizabeth Stromeyer's. This indicates that the existence of photographic memory is not undisputed, making this option incorrect.

Option 3: "Only a few people have a photographic memory and it is limited to remembering numbers."

Explanation: The speaker does not limit photographic memory to only a few individuals or to remembering numbers. They mention both numerical and poetic memory, suggesting a broader scope. This option inaccurately narrows the definition of photographic memory.

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