Question

read the passage. synesthesia: mixed - up senses we generally think of our senses as having completely separate functions. this is a logical assumption; after all, we cant see with our ears or taste with our eyes. for people with synesthesia, however, senses can be conflated or mixed together. in fact, the word synesthesia, derived from greek, literally means “sensations together.” this combining of senses causes interesting sensory experiences. for example, some synesthetes (people who experience synesthesia) imagine tasting a particular flavor whenever they hear a certain sound. others “hear” a sound in their minds whenever they touch a certain object. the most common types of synesthesia involve colors. in one common subtype, for instance, synesthetes associate different colors with different letters of the alphabet. typically, synesthetes are not bothered by their synesthesia; in fact, many enjoy it. what is the main, or central, idea of the passage? people with synesthesia may hear a sound when they touch an object. people with synesthesia experience a fusing of different senses.

Explanation:

The passage explains synesthesia, a condition where senses are conflated and people experience mixed - sensory associations, like associating colors with letters or sounds with tastes.

Answer:

The main idea of the passage is to describe synesthesia, a condition where people have mixed - up senses.