題組內容

II. Open-ended Questions (70%)
(I) Rewrite and Cloze-test Design (20%)
Consider your most recent high school graduation. Have you ever wondered why almost everyone’s social media posts commemorating this event look remarkably identical? We all capture the exact same slow-motion hat toss, strike indistinguishable poses with friends, and apply the exact same nostalgic filters. You might genuinely believe you are simply preserving a deeply personal milestone. However, according to media researcher José van Dijck, a much more fascinating, invisible dynamic is actually at play.
Van Dijck introduces the concept of "mediated memories" to explain this phenomenon. She argues that the digital devices and social applications we rely on are not merely neutral observers quietly recording our lives. Instead, they actively shape how we remember our experiences. When you select a trending visual filter, add a popular background song, or fit a video into a strict time limit, the technology is already guiding your memory. You are no longer just capturing raw reality; you are conforming to a predetermined cultural template where app design explicitly dictates what is valuable enough to save.
This digital template represents a major shift from how we previously documented our lives. While keeping a handwritten diary or arranging a physical photo album was once a purely private act of reflection, modern platforms blur the line between personal memory and public performance. Every time we curate a post for our feeds, we are trying to strike a delicate balance. We are attempting to capture our authentic inner emotions while simultaneously molding them to perfectly fit the visible expectations and aesthetics of our wider social circles.
Because of this constant public curation, we can no longer view human memory as a dusty, internal filing cabinet storing isolated facts. As van Dijck suggests, remembering is now an active, collaborative process shaped by both programmed technology and cultural influence. Memory is continuously rewritten by the tools we use to capture it. So, the next time you scroll through your phone’s photo gallery, remember: you are not merely reviewing an objective personal history. You are looking into a complex mirror that reflects the digital rules and social norms of the society you inhabit.

1. Rewrite the text into a passage around 200 words. (12%)