That Strange Feeling: The Science of Déjà Vu

Almost everyone has felt that eerie sensation of living through a moment before, even though they know it's impossible. This phenomenon, known as déjà vu, has intrigued scientists for decades, who are only now beginning to piece together the (1) …1. A — puzzle1. B — challenge1. C — question1. D — problem behind it. One theory suggests the brain occasionally picks (2) …2. A — out2. B — in2. C — up2. D — through on a mismatch between perception and memory, creating a false sense of familiarity. Researchers have found that déjà vu tends to crop (3) …3. A — over3. B — out3. C — up3. D — round more frequently in younger adults than in older ones. (4) …4. A — Therefore4. B — However4. C — Moreover4. D — Alternatively, its frequency appears to decline sharply after the age of twenty-five, according to several large surveys. Scientists have even managed to (5) …5. A — awaken5. B — arouse5. C — induce5. D — evoke a state of déjà vu in volunteers under tightly controlled laboratory conditions, using carefully designed word-association tasks. Although unsettling, most researchers agree the sensation simply (6) …6. A — stems6. B — results6. C — arises6. D — reflects a brain constantly checking its own accuracy. Far from being a paranormal warning sign, déjà vu may come (7) …7. A — across7. B — up7. C — about7. D — along as evidence of a mind working exactly as it should, quietly (8) …8. A — glancing8. B — peering8. C — scanning8. D — gazing for errors in real time.