When this short amount of time elapses, however, the numbers are erased from the memory. How did the information get there in the first place? Information that makes its way to the short term memory (STM) does so via the sensory storage area. The brain has a filter which only allows stimuli that is of immediate interest to pass on to the STM, also known as the working memory. There is much debate about the capacity and duration of the short term memory. The most accepted theory comes from George

Most people can remember a phone number for up to thirty seconds. When this short amount of time elapses, however, the numbers are erased from the memory. How did the information get there in the first place? Information that makes its way to the short term memory (STM) does so via the sensory storage area. The brain has a filter which only allows stimuli that is of immediate interest to pass on to the STM, also known as the working memory.
There is much debate about the capacity and duration of the short term memory. The most accepted theory comes from George A. Miller, a cognitive psychologist who suggested that humans can remember approximately seven chunks of information. A chunk is defined as a meaningful unit of information, such as a word or name rather than just a letter or number. Modem theorists suggest that one can increase the capacity of the short term memory by chunking, or classifying similar information together. By organizing information, one can optimize the STM, and improve the chances of a memory being passed on to long term storage.
When making a conscious effort to memorize something, such as information for an exam, many people engage in "rote rehearsal". By repeating something over and over again, we are able to keep a memory alive. Unfortunately, this type of memory maintenance only succeeds if there are no interruptions. As soon as a person stops rehearsing the information, it has the tendency to disappear. When a pen and paper are not handy, you might attempt to remember a phone number by repeating it aloud. If the doorbell rings or the dog barks to come in before you get the opportunity to make your phone call, you will forget the number instantly. Therefore, rote rehearsal is not an efficient way to pass information from the short term to long term memory. A better way is to practice "elaborate rehearsal". This involves assigning semantic meaning to a piece of information so that it can be filed along with other pre-existing long term memories.
Encoding information semantically also makes it more retrievable. Retrieving information can be done by recognition or recall. Humans can recall memories that are stored in the long term memory and used often. However, if a memory seems to be forgotten, it may eventually be retrieved by prompting. The more cues a person is given (such as pictures), the more likely a memory can be retrieved. This is why multiple choice tests are often used for subjects that require a lot of memorization.
1 According to the passage, how do memories get transferred to the STM?
A They stem from the long term memory.
B They are filtered from the sensory storage area.
C They get rearranged when they enter the brain.
D They enter STM via the nervous system.
2 How can a person remember more information in a short time according to modern theorists?
A By organizing it.
B By repeating it.
C By giving it a name.
D By writing it down on paper.
3 Why does the author mention a dog's bark?
A To exemplify poor memory.
B To analyze a type of interruption.
C To compare human memory with dogs' memory.
D To illustrate the lack of efficiency of rote rehearsal.
4 Which of the following is true about retrieving information?
A Elaborate rehearsal contributes to information retrieval.
B The most efficient way of retrieving information is to assign semantic meaning to the information.
C It's impossible to retrieve forgotten information without picture prompts.
D Encoding information is more efficient than chunking it.
5 Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A One's memory capacity can be enhanced by rote rehearsal.
B Putting information down is suggested to improve memory.
C Providing sufficient prompts helps information retrieval.
D Multiple choice exams are the most difficult.