Ways to Improve Your Memory

A good memory is often seen as something that comes naturally, and a bad memory as something that cannot be changed, but actually there is a lot that you can do to improve your memory. However, it does mean taking responsibility and making an effort. Here are the experts’ top tips.

1. We all remember the things we are interested in and forget the ones that bore us. This no doubt explains the reason why schoolboys remember football results effortlessly but struggle with dates from their history lessons! Take an active interest in what you want to remember, and focus on it consciously. One way to make yourself more interested is to ask questions – the more the better.

2. Repeating things is the best way to remember things for a short time, e.g. remembering a phone number for a few seconds. ‘Chunking’ or grouping numbers would be impossible for most of us to remember: 1492178919318483. But look at them in ‘chunks’, and it becomes much easier: 1492 1789 1931 8483.

3. Another way to make something more memorable is to think about something visual associated with it. Design a mental picture and the stranger the picture the better you will remember it! If an English person studying Spanish wanted to remember the Spanish word for duck, ‘pato’, he/she could associate it with the English verb ‘to pat’ and imagine a picture of someone patting a duck on the head.

4. To remember long lists, try inventing a story which includes all the items you want to remember. In experiments, people were asked to remember up to 120 words using this technique and when they were tested afterwards, on average they could remember ninety percent of them.

5. If we organize what we know in a logical way then when we learn more about that subject we understand that better, and so add to our knowledge more easily. Make well-organised notes. Be sure things are clear in your mind. If not, ask questions until you understand!

6. Many experts believe that listening to classical music, especially Mozart, helps people to organize their ideas more clearly and so improves their memory. Sadly, rock music does not have the same effect.

7. If you do not want to lose your memory as you get older you need to keep your brain fit, just like your body: ‘use it or lose it’ is the experts’ advice. Logic puzzles, crosswords and mental arithmetic are all good ‘mental aerobics’.

8. Physical exercise is also important for your memory, because it increases your heart rate and sends more oxygen to your brain, and that makes your memory work better. Exercise also reduces stress, which is very bad for the memory.

9. The old saying that ‘eating fish makes you brainy’ may be true after all. Scientists have discovered that the fats found in fish like tuna, sardines and salmon – as well as in olive oil – help to improve the memory. Vitamins C and E (found in fruits like oranges, strawberries and red grapes) and vitamin B (found in lean meat and green vegetables) are all good ‘brain food’, too.

10. Caffeine may not be too good for you, but like exercise, it increases your heart rate and sends more oxygen to your brain. A cup of coffee really does help you concentrate when you sit down and study. And if you don't like coffee, don’t worry – experts believe that chewing gum has the same effect!

6 According to the first paragraph a good memory is ________.

A a “gift” of nature at birth

B something inherently invariable

C a result of your self-perfection

D something that changes from time to time

7 What does the author mean by saying that “you need to keep your brain fit” (line 31)?

A You need to attend a gym.

B You need to go on a special diet.

C You need to undergo special medical treatment.

D You need to exercise your mind regularly.

8 Which of the following can be inferred from the text?

A To be in good shape means to have a good memory.

B For improving your memory you need to make some efforts.

C You have to follow the experts’ ten tips to improve your memory.

D Listening to any kind of music helps you to improve your memory.

9 According to the text, which of the following is true of ways to improve your memory?

A There are only ten ways to improve your memory.

B You need to use special associations to improve your memory.

C You can follow your own program to improve your memory.

D “Mental aerobics” is the best way to improve your memory.

10 When discussing the ways of improving the memory, the author mentions all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A Eating high-calorie food makes your memory better.

B An excellent memory is not a God-given talent, it’s hard work.

C You can choose the most suitable way to improve your memory.

D Brainwork and physical exercise are both important for improving the

memory.

11 According to the text, which of the following statements is true?

A To help your memory eating tuna is better than eating tomatoes.

B Chewing gum is not advisable if you want to improve your memory.

C Fatty meat is a good ‘brain food’ as it sends oxygen to your brain.

D Reducing stress is very bad for the memory.

Task 3

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