Read the following passage and answer the question below. Human memory is far more complex and less reliable than most people assume. Contrary to the common belief that memory works like a video recording, capturing events exactly as they happened, psychologists have found that memories are reconstructed each time they are recalled. This means that small details can change, merge with other memories, or even be entirely fabricated without a person's awareness. Factors such as stress, the passage of time, and suggestions from other people can all distort how an event is remembered. This phenomenon has significant implications, particularly in legal settings where eyewitness testimony is often treated as highly reliable evidence. Researchers studying memory now emphasize the importance of corroborating eyewitness accounts with physical evidence, since even confident and detailed memories can be inaccurate. Understanding the reconstructive nature of memory has reshaped how courts and investigators evaluate testimony. Question: According to the passage, what happens each time a memory is recalled?
- A. It is copied perfectly
- B. It becomes permanently fixed
- C. It is reconstructed and may change ✓
- D. It is erased and replaced
Correct answer
C. It is reconstructed and may change
Explanation
The passage states that memories are reconstructed each time they are recalled, allowing details to change.