Memory & Meaning
This term names the act of bringing a past event back into the mind; a short answer: one word.
recall - remember
Which verb from the list means “to bring a memory back to someone’s mind” (one word)?
remind (or recall/evoke depending on phrasing).
Which noun from the list refers to the mental faculty that stores and retrieves experiences (one word)?
mind
Which adjective on the list describes something that creates strong feelings or images (one word)?
evocative
Describe briefly (1–2 sentences) how “nostalgia” might change the way a person remembers an event.
Sample: Nostalgia can make people emphasize warm or idealized parts of an event, so the remembered version feels more positive than the original.
Which verb means “to intentionally keep a thought or memory out of your conscious mind” (one word)?
suppress
Define “recollections” in one sentence, using your own words.
Sample: “Recollections” are specific memories or remembered details about events.
Which adjective means it lasts a long time and is hard to forget (one word)?
lasting
Give an example (one sentence) of a real-life situation where a memory can be described as “unforgettable.”
Sample: The birth of puppies is often unforgettable.
Use the verb “reminisce” in a single sentence that shows its meaning.
Sample: “Grandparents love to reminisce about the summer they spent on the coast.”
Explain how “nostalgia” can be both positive and negative for someone’s mood (2–3 sentences).
Sample: Nostalgia can be positive by providing comfort and connection to the past, but negative if it leads to sadness or longing for things that can’t be recovered.
In one sentence, explain why a memory might be described as both “evocative” and “unforgettable.”
Sample: A memory can be evocative because it triggers vivid images or feelings, and unforgettable because it leaves a lasting emotional impression that is hard to erase.
Explain the difference between a memory that is “lasting” and one that fades quickly (2–3 sentences).
Sample: “Lasting” implies a memory remains accessible across long periods; one that fades quickly becomes harder to access and may lose detail
Compare “evoke” and “recall”: how are they similar and how are they different? (2–3 sentences)
Sample: Both evoke and recall involve bringing something to mind; evoke often refers to triggering an emotional response or image, while recall emphasizes actively retrieving factual details.
Give two different examples (one sentence each) showing how “mind” and “recollections” can be used in the same paragraph about memory.
Sample sentences: “Her mind wandered through recollections of the summer.” “His recollections lived vividly in his mind years later.”
Provide an example (2 sentences) of an “evocative” object and explain why the object fits the adjective.
Sample: An old photograph can be evocative because it brings back specific sights, sounds, and emotions from a past event; it fits because it triggers sensory and emotional recall.
Read this short scenario and answer: A person remembers only parts of their childhood home and fills in missing details over time from photos and stories. What two processes or terms from the board help explain how the person reconstructs the memory? (Answer in 2–3 sentences.)
Sample answer: “Recollections” and “evoke/recall” — photos and stories evoke recollections and help recall missing details.
Describe a short scene (2–3 sentences) in which someone first tries to suppress a memory and later is reminded of it by an object; identify which verbs from the list apply at each stage.
Sample: Stage 1: suppress — the person tries to suppress the memory; Stage 2: an old toy evokes the memory and reminds or recalls it. Accept answers naming suppress, evoke, remind, recall, or reminisce with correct context.
Read this prompt and respond in 2–3 sentences: A person feels strong nostalgia when they smell a certain food from childhood. Explain how the noun terms on the board connect the emotional experience to memory retrieval.
Sample: Smell can evoke recollections, causing the mind to experience nostalgia; recollections surface and the person is reminded of the past.
Write a short (3–4 sentence) reflective response: Choose an experience from your life and explain why that memory is “lasting” or “unforgettable.” Use at least two adjectives from the board and one noun and one verb from the board in your response.
Sample reflection includes use of words like “lasting” and “unforgettable,” noun such as “nostalgia” or “recollections,” and a verb like “evoke” or “reminisce.” (Teacher should expect personal details; ensure student used required parts of speech.)