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　　Not all memories are sweet．Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences．Wars and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional(精神上的)scars．Often they appear again in dreams．

　　Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories．The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience．They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase(抹去)the effect of sad memories．

　　In November, some scientists tested a drug(藥)on people in the US and France．The drug stops the body producing chemicals(化學(xué)品)that fix memories in the brain．So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased．

　　The research has caused plenty of argument．Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it．

　　Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers’ troubling memories after war．They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories．

　　“Some memories can destroy people’s lives．They come back to you when you don’t want to have them in a dream．They usually come with very sad emotions．” said Roger Pitman, a scientist of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School．“This could relieve(減輕)a lot of that suffering．”

　　But those who are against the research say that it is very dangerous to change memories because memories give us our identity(特質(zhì))．They also help us all get away from the mistakes of the past．

　　“All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were terrible at the time but make us who we are．I’m not sure we want to erase those memories,” said Rebecca Dresser．

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Dear Amy,

　　I couldn’t read your two e-mails until today because my computer was broken．I’m sorry to hear about your problem, but I’m glad you’re feeling better and are recovering(康復(fù))．I’m surprised that in China someone’s liver(肝臟)matched yours! This is really a moving story– a stranger donated part of his liver to a girl he doesn’t even know!

　　You’re right．We shouldn’t care too much about our weight．I’m happy you stopped taking those weight-loss pills．From your photo I can see you are now looking very well in the hospital．To keep slim is important, especially for an actress, but nothing is more important than health．Your doctor’s advice is indeed very good– exercise for at least half an hour every day and eat lots of fruit and vegetables．

　　It’s not only in your country．It’s the same here with us Chinese– many people are always going on diets or taking weight-loss pills, which are often dangerous．But in fact, some of them are not overweight(超重)at all．I hope these people can learn something from your story．Hope you will leave hospital as soon as possible．

Love

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