Page 41 - English Grammar - IX-X

get tough. A lie detector tests like the polygraph test can be of great help in such
circumstances. This is a scientifically proven way to detect lies and deception.

(3) There is a common misconception originating from crime thriller movies and courtroom
dramas that lie detector tests can be bypassed and they are not admissible in courts.
For many cases, civil and tribunal courts admit the results of polygraph tests. There
are scientific proofs of their reliability. They can form a very strong basis for proving
the unfaithfulness of your spouse, perjury, and falsification of records. These tests
measure the change in heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, and time of response.
These parameters enable this test to detect the deception.
(4) There is another misconception which is born out of thin air that lie detector tests
cannot be accurate. On the contrary, experts can conduct polygraph tests with great
accuracy. If you suspect anyone, then this test can be of great help to you.
(5) Some people believe that polygraph tests can only be conducted in case of crime
investigation. This is wrong. These tests are designed to detect deception. Anyone
suspecting deception, lies, or cheating can ask for them. If the person undergoing
the test has given consent, these tests are legal.
(6) Hugo Münsterberg, a Harvard psychologist, used a number of tools, including the
polygraph, to capture and interpret subjective emotions in the years leading up to
World War I. Münsterberg argued that the computer should be used in criminal law
because of its scientific neutrality and conclusiveness.
(7) Big commercial organisations and corporations have already started taking the help of
lie detector tests in conducting important tasks like appointing key members of the
organisation and internal investigations. This saves a lot of time and avoids mistakes.
Apart from that, these tests have also proved to be very beneficial for insurance
companies which need to find the validity of suspicious claims.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions.
1. The human brain has been called a riddle. Why?

(a) Because it is designed to detect deception.
(b) Because it can capture and interpret subjective emotions.
(c) Because it is very complex and can keep secrets very well.

(d) Because it has photographic memory.
2. What is a wrong notion about lie detector tests?
(a) These tests are used by insurance companies to dupe people.

(b) Lie detector tests cannot be accurate.
(c) These tests give accurate results.
(d) Lie detector tests are a way to capture criminals through wrong means.
39