Answer — Exercise 2
9.1 - Witness·Speakout Upper-Intermediate - Students' Book
Question
- -
- Read the article and find two examples of false memories.
- Read the article again. Are the statements 1-6 true (T) or false (F)? Underline any words / phrases that help you decide.
- Look at the article again. What do the six highlighted words refer to? Draw an arrow backwards or forwards to the word / phrase.
- Work in pairs and discuss. Who / What does the author blame for false convictions? Would you make a good witness?
Answer
b)
- Seeing a video of the bus exploding in the 2005 terrorist attacks in London.
- Seeing a white van or truck leaving several of the crime scenes during sniper attacks in the Washington DC area in 2002.
c)
- F 'Even in these days of DNA tests and other forensic techniques, witness testimony still plays an important part in court cases.'
- F '... forty percent of people claimed to have seen this nonexistent footage. but 'Some even went on to describe what happened in vivid detail' (i.e. some of the forty percent)
- T 'In many cases, an unreliable memory is not a problem. It just means we forget to send a birthday card ...'
- T 'In 1998, an American study calculated that in ninety-five percent of felony cases - the more serious crimes - witness evidence (in other words, people's memories) was the only evidence heard in court.'
- F '... witnesses reported seeing a white van or truck fleeing several of the crime scenes.'
- T 'In twenty percent of cases they pointed to a volunteer.'
d)
e)
The author blames the over-reliance on witness memories that are often inaccurate.