Is it good to be afraid sometimes? SM and Jordy Cernik, two of the only people to ever have been diagnosed with an inability to feel fear, have warned that it is no blessing in disguise.
The woman who has no sense of fear
Frightfully important: A sense of fear is actually an advantage because it is a survival mechanism that helps you to recognise and avoid dangerous situations and therefore protects you from harm. Comprehension quiz
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What does “calcification” mean?
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Which word is the closest synonym for “boon”?
A: Advantage
B: Hindrance
C: Duty
D: Shame
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Which of the following conditions is a genetic disorder associated with the complete absence of fear?
A: Cushing’s syndrome
B: Attention deficit disorder
C: Urbach-Wiethe disease
D: Adrenalectomy
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According to the text, what bodily change made Jordy Cernik unable to experience fear?
A: Degeneration of the amygdala
B: Too much cortisol production
C: Removal of the adrenal glands
D: A rare genetic mutation
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As described in the article, which two of the following are ways scientists tested SM’s inability to feel fear?
A: Asking her to hold a tarantula
B: Taking her on a tour of a haunted house
C: Exposing her to sinister snakes and spiders
D: Making her sit exams
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The article ends by asking: “What might you change about your life if you could experience just one day without fear?” What is one thing you would do, and why?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1: The process of tissue hardening due to the deposit of calcium salts. 2: A, 3: C, 4: C, 5: B and C, 6: Your view!
1: The process of tissue hardening due to the deposit of calcium salts. 2: A, 3: C, 4: C, 5: B and C, 6: Your view!
Glossary
The Shard - The Shard, also referred to as the Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 72-storey mixed-use,pyramid-shaped skyscraper in London.
Adrenaline - A hormone made by the body in response to a stressful or threatening situation.
Calcification - The abnormal buildup of calcium salts in body tissues, causing them to harden and potentially disrupt normal bodily functions.
Degeneration - A process of decline from a better, higher, or more complex state to a worse, lower, or simpler one.
Traumatic - Events so overwhelming, distressing, or frightening that they can cause a lasting negative impact on a person's emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
Evolutionary - Relating to evolution, a process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics.