Do you know that some people have memories that are completely wrong? They remember things that never happened. Sometimes, many people have the same wrong memory. When this happens, it’s believed that it is because of the Mandela Effect.
People first noticed the Mandela Effect in 2013. That year, Nelson Mandela passed away. However, thousands of people remembered him dying in the 1980s. They described watching his funeral on TV. But in fact, Mandela lived to be 95 years old. How could that be? How could so many people have the same wrong memory?
Most experts explain the Mandela Effect using brain science. When we make memories our brains keep them in groups. Each group includes memories that are similar to each other. Sometimes, our brains mess up. They mix two similar memories together. That’s why people thought Nelson Mandela died in the 1980s. They knew he was imprisoned (坐牢) during the 1980s. For some reason, they mixed his imprisonment with his death.
That would explain why so many people in 2013 thought Nelson Mandela was already dead. But would it explain why all those people gave similar descriptions of his funeral? Could all those people have mixed up the same two memories?
Another theory about the basis for the Mandela effect originates from quantum physics (量子物理学) and relates to the idea that rather than one timeline of events, it is possible that alternate realities or universes are taking place and mixing with our timeline. In theory, this would result in groups of people having the same memories because the timeline has been changed as we shift between these different realities. You aren’t alone if you think this sounds a little unrealistic.
There are many other examples of the Mandela Effect. Have you ever seen the Mona Lisa? Many people remember the woman in the painting with a frown or was straight-faced. If you look at the Mona Lisa today, you'll find she’s smiling. Do you know where New Zealand is in relation to Australia? However, there is a community of people who claim to remember New Zealand being northeast instead of southeast.
Are these wrong memories the result of mixed memories, or is there another explanation? Without further science research, we can’t say for sure!
【小题1】The Mandela Effect refers to a phenomenon ________.| A．created by the former South African president Nelson Mandela |
| B．describing how some people have worse memory than others |
| C．about a large number of people watching Mandela's funeral on TV |
| D．where many people have the same wrong memory about something |
| A．By making comparison. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By drawing conclusions. |
| A．Our brains may mix similar memories together sometimes. |
| B．People might make up stories with imagination sometimes. |
| C．Things from other universes might be mixing with our timeline. |
| D．All the explanations don’t sound reasonable or realistic. |
| A．science journal | B．advertisement |
| C．book review | D．magazine article |
