环球英语 — 176：The Man Without a Memory

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight¹. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Deborah Wearing opens the door. Her husband Clive quickly stands up. He is very happy. He laughs and opens his arms to hold her. He says that she is the first person he has seen in years. He tells her that it is as if he has just awoken from a deep sleep. But this is not true. Clive has not been sleeping for years. And it has not been a long time since he saw his wife. His wife visited him yesterday. But Clive cannot remember yesterday. In fact he cannot remember what happened 3 minutes ago.
What might a life like that be like? Today’s Spotlight is about Clive Wearing, the man without a memory.
Voice 2
It was the morning of March 27, 1985. Clive Wearing woke from sleep. His wife Deborah began talking to him. But Clive did not know what was happening. He could not remember his wife’s name. Deborah called the doctor. She was very worried. The doctor said that Clive was sick with influenza². He just needed more sleep.
Voice 1
So Clive stayed at home that day. He went to sleep and Deborah left for work. But when Deborah returned home, Clive was gone. Deborah was afraid. She knew that something was very wrong. Where had he gone? Finally, a police officer called. Clive had left their home. He was out walking the city streets. He did not know where he was, or who he was. No one knew what was wrong.
Voice 2
Clive and Deborah went to the hospital. After many tests, the doctor told them what was wrong. A common virus³ had damaged Clive’s brain. Clive was suffering from encephalitis. Encephalitis happens when a virus infects the brain. The brain grows larger. But it does not have room to expand in the head. It crushes⁴ against the bones of the skull⁵. Clive’s encephalitis was caused by a common kind of herpes virus. This virus usually causes wounds⁶ on the mouth. But in Clive, the virus spread to his brain.
Voice 1
By the time doctors understood the problem, it was too late. The virus had permanently⁷ damaged the areas of Clive’s brain that control memory. Clive could no longer form new memories. He could not remember many things from his past. But he could remember his wife. He knew who Deborah was and he knew that he loved her.
Voice 2
Memory is an important part of living a normal life. Memory is important for more than just remembering past events. Memory helps us understand the things around us. Healthy people create new memories every second. Our brains store information about what we see, feel, taste, smell, and experience. By remembering these things, we know where we are, who we are and what we are doing. But Clive’s brain cannot store memories in this way.
Voice 1
Clive cannot remember anything for longer than a few seconds. He always believes that he has just woken from being unconscious⁸. It is as if he thinks he has been sleeping for years. He always says the same things. He tells his wife:
Voice 3
“I have not heard anything, seen anything, smelled anything, felt anything, touched anything. It is like being dead. I have not been awake the whole time.”
Voice 2
It can be difficult to talk with Clive. Clive’s memory is so short that he forgets questions as he is giving the answer. But although Clive cannot remember most things, Deborah says that he does remember some things. Before becoming sick, Clive was a skilled⁹ musician and music director¹⁰. He played music and also directed¹¹ singers in groups. One day Deborah took Clive to the hospital church. Deborah remembers that day.
Voice 4
“I picked up some music and held it open for Clive to see. I started to sing one of the lines. He started singing the other part with me. I suddenly recognized what was happening. He could still read music. He was singing. His brain was still able to understand music. Singing was in many ways easier than talking.”
Voice 1
Clive was able to follow music and play the piano. The music moved his mind through the song. When he plays music, he seems normal again.
Voice 2
Each experience for Clive is a new one. Each face is new, even if the person has been with Clive for years. In Clive’s mind, he is always surrounded by people he does now know. He does not know where he is or how he got there. But whenever he sees his wife, he feels happy. He feels safe. Deborah is the only person he knows.
Voice 1
Clive’s memory loss¹² has also changed Deborah. Especially at first, Clive depended completely¹³ on Deborah. She would have to answer the same questions again and again. When she was gone, he was very afraid. And she missed the relationship that they had before. In 1992, a new home opened for people with brain injuries. At the home, Clive received special care and treatment for his memory problem. He began to feel more comfortable and less afraid.
Voice 2
Clive was trying to understand his new life. But Deborah was also trying to understand her new life, without Clive. She felt lost, and alone. But she did find peace. One night, she called a friend who was a Christian¹⁴. She asked for prayer¹⁵.
Voice 4
“I didn’t even think I liked Christians¹⁶. Yet there I was, alone in my flat and wondering why am I here? What am I doing? I love this man but I can’t live with him and I can’t live with anybody else. During the call I felt like this force was with me. I was drained¹⁷ and it was like life pouring into me.”
Voice 1
After that night, things improved for Deborah. She became a Christian too. Three years later, Deborah and Clive shared their marriage vows¹⁸ again. They promised again to love and care for each other.
Voice 2
Clive has improved a little. He does not have any memory, but he can learn some new things. He recognizes his home. He talks more with the people around him. He still plays music. But the thing that Clive understands best is his love for Deborah. And although Clive has a serious illness, Deborah still loves Clive too.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

3 virus   

n.病毒，滤过性微生物，毒害，恶毒；（一个能够复制、感染其他程序或破坏操作系统的程序）

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a virus infection.他受到病毒感染。
• There is a virus going round the world.世界上流行着一种病毒性疾病。

4 crushes   

压碎，压坏( crush的第三人称单数 )； 破坏； 镇压； 榨

参考例句：

• The housewife crushes out juice from oranges. 那个家庭主妇常榨柳橙汁。
• This machine crushes wheat grain to make flour. 这台机器把麦粒辗压成面粉。

5 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

6 wounds   

n.创伤( wound的名词复数 )；伤口；伤痕；（心灵上的）伤v.使受伤，伤害( wound的第三人称单数 )；使（心灵）受伤，伤感情；偷盗( swipe的过去式和过去分词 )；卷绕

参考例句：

• It took a long time for the wounds to heal. 伤口过了很长时间才愈合。
• They've been trying hard to lick their wounds these years. 这几年，他们一直在努力求得失败后的复原。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

8 unconscious   

adj.失去知觉的，不省人事的；无意识的，不知不觉的

参考例句：

• She was unconscious but her heart was still beating.她已经不省人事，但脉搏还在跳。
• He was unconscious of his mistake.他没意识到自已的错误。

9 skilled   

adj.(in)熟练的，有技能的；需要技能的

参考例句：

• Unskilled workers usually earn less money than skilled workers.无技能的工人通常比有技能的工人挣钱少。
• She was skilled enough in French to translate a novel.她法语娴熟，足以翻译小说。

10 director   

n.主管，导演；主任；理事；董事；处长

参考例句：

• The director has taken the visitors off to his office.经理把客人带到他办公室去了。
• The new director is easy to get along with.新来的主任很好处。

11 directed   

adj.有指导的；有管理的；定向的；被控制的v.（用建议、指示、有益的情报等）指导( direct的过去式和过去分词 )；导演（戏剧或电影）；指示方向；把…对准（某方向或某人）

参考例句：

• The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 消防队员把水柱喷向燃烧着的楼房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The general directed that the prisoners should be set free. 将军命令释放囚犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 loss   

n.损失，遗失，失败，输，浪费，错过，[军]伤亡，降低

参考例句：

• His death was a great loss to the country.他的逝世对这个国家是一大损失。
• Because of the continued loss,the factory closed down.由于连续亏损，工厂关闭了。

13 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

14 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

15 prayer   

n.祈祷，祈求，请求，恳求；祷文，祷告者，恳求者

参考例句：

• We heard the calling of the bells to prayer.我们听见了召唤祈祷的钟声。
• Everyone in church knelt in prayer.教堂里每个人都跪着祈祷。

16 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

17 drained   

v.（使）流干， （使）逐渐流走( drain的过去式和过去分词 )；喝光，喝干；使（精力、金钱等）耗尽

参考例句：

• His face was drained of all colour and animation. 他面如死灰。
• She suddenly felt totally drained. 她突然感到精疲力竭。

18 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。