Memory Alpha
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Memory Alpha

A memory test was a Federation computer-run performance and evaluation tool used to test the memory of previously incapacitated individuals. The questions asked by the computer were based on its knowledge of the individual's background, skills and species.

In 2286, Spock took a memory test on Vulcan, following his "rebirth" on the Genesis Planet, as part of retraining his mind.

Test questions[]

Spock's test consisted of questions displayed on three transparant screens, and read out in turn by a computer voice. Answers were given both vocally and by keyboard, and several questions could be answered at the same time, especially as the tempo went up. The following questions were asked in Spock's memory test:

The questions are shown, as much as possible, in the order in which they were answered or if their answering was not shown in the order they first appeared.

Q) Where were the first conclusive advances made on toroidal space-time distortion and by whom?

Memory test question, Cambridge
A) At Cambridge, Massachusetts, Earth, in 2052 b.....

The scene was cut off at this point, but according to the script the rest of the answer was "(b)y Ralph Seron"

Q) Who said, "Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide"?

A.) T'Plana-Hath, matron of Vulcan philosophy.

Q) What is the molecular formula of yominum sulfide crystals?

A)
Yominum sulfide structure
K4Ym3(SO73Es2)

Q) Solve:

A)
Chess, globe-memory test
"White Queen to section 5, grid 6." (top left)
"Queen takes Knight." (top right)
"Rook takes Queen." (bottom left)
"White pawn to section 5, grid 7, pawn takes Rook. Checkmate." (bottom right)

Q) What significant contribution to bioengineering was made on the Loonkerian outpost on Klendth?

A) The universal atmospheric element compensator.

Q) Evaluate and conclude: A starship's sensors indicate it is being pursued so closely that it occupies the same space as its pursuer.

Constitution class, parallex matter echo

While Spock seemingly answered the question, the answer was not seen or heard on-screen. According to the script the answer was : "The warp drive regulators are creating a parallex matter echo"

Q) Identify object and its cultural significance.

Klingon mummification glyph
A) Klingon mummification glyph

The script had a longer version of this answer : "A Klingon mummification glyph from the earliest part of the Zanxthkolt Dynasty".

Q) What were the principal historical events on the planet Earth in the year 1987?

Memory test question, 1987
A) (two answers were given) Computers cloned from carrotsNew York Times is last magazine to close doors.

When the scene cut to the screen, the answers were already being typed in, allowing for the possibility that Spock entered more events before entering the carrot cloning one. According to the script, Spock should be seen typing, but things would be going too fast for the viewer to see the answer. Note that the movie was filmed, released and set in 1986.

Q) What was Kiri-kin-tha's first law of metaphysics?

A) "Nothing unreal exists."

Q) Adjust the sine wave of this magnetic envelope so that anti-neutrons can pass through it but anti-gravitons cannot.

A)
Magnetic envelope, sine wave

Q) What is the electronic configuration of gadolinium?

This is another answer that was not shown on screen. The script has Spock typing, in one second, 5s22s22p63d104s24p64d104f75s25p64d16s2

Wikipedia in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadolinium shows the electron configuration of Gadolinium as "1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f7 5d1 6s2". In Spock's script answer (expanded to be more readable as "5s2 2s2 2p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f7 5s2 5p6 4d1 6s2") the 4d10 orbital is listed correctly with 10 electrons. However, the end sequence "4d1 6s2" in the script should have been "5d1 6s2". The script answer lists orbitals out of sequence (begins with 5s2) and is also missing the 1s2, 3s2, 3p6 orbitals.

The final question given was: Q) How do you feel?

Spock, however, did not understand the question, regarding it as irrelevant. It was then explained to him by his mother, Amanda Grayson, that because he was half-Human and the computer was aware of that fact, it was going to ask his "Human side" that question. Subsequently, after careful consideration and in light of experiences of Earth in the year 1986, Spock came up with a possible answer to the question – "I feel fine" – which he told Sarek to convey to Amanda. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Background information[]

Some questions were presented in a different order in the script. In addition to cut answers or parts of answers, a few questions were given in the script which were not shown on-screen :

Between the question regarding T'plana-Hath and the 3-dimensional chess problem:

Q) What significant legal precedent arose from the peace pact between Argus and Rigel IV?

A) All beings may not be created equal yet shall be given equal opportunity and treatment under the law.

Between the question regarding the Loonkerian outpost innovation and the question on toroidal space-time distortion:

Q) What is this a model of?

A) A three dimensional theoretical representation of a four dimensional time gate as proposed by the Andorian scientist, Shres.

The script also specified that the screens would go silent, and then display "Memory test satisfactory" before moving on to the final question. In the movie, the final question was directly after the previous ones.

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