第十篇：The Biology of Music

Humans use music as a powerful way to communicate. It may also play an important role in

love. But what is music, and how does it work its magic? Science does not yet have all the

answers.

What are two things that make humans different from animals? One is language, and the other is music. It is true that some animals can sing ( and many birds sing .better than a lot of people). However,the songs of animals, such as birds and whales, are very limited. It is also true that humans, not animals ,have developed musical instruments.

Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. However, people can use music to communicate things -- especially their emotions. When music is combined with speech in a song, it is a very powerful form of communication. But, biologically speaking, what is music?

If music is truly different from speech, then we should process music and language in different parts of the brain. The scientific evidence suggests that this is true.

Sometimes people who suffer brain damage lose their ability to process language. However, they don't automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian

composer, had a stroke in 1953. It injured the left side of his brain. He could no longer speak or

understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the

other hand, sometimes strokes cause people to lose their musical ability, but they can still speak and understand speech. This shows that the brain processes music and language separately.

By studying the physical effects of music on the body, scientists have also learned a lot about how music influences the emotions. But why does music have such a strong effect on us? That is a harder question to answer. Geoffrey Miller, a researcher at University College, London, thinks that music and love have a strong connection. Music requires special talent, practice, and physical ability. That's why it may be a way of showing your fitness to be someone's.mate. For example, singing in tune or playing a musical instrument requires fine muscular control. You also need a good memory to remember the notes. And playing or singing those notes correctly suggests that your hearing is in excellent condition. Finally ,when a man sings to the woman he loves (or vice versa), it may be a way of showing off.

However ,Miller's theory still doesn't explain why certain combinations of sounds influence our emotions so deeply. For scientists, this is clearly an area that needs further research.

注釋：

1.It is also true that humans，not animals，have developed musical instruments：人研制出了樂器，而動物則不能。develop：研制，例如：Scientists are developing new drugs to treat cancer.科學家們正在研發(fā)新藥用以治療癌癥。

練習：

1. Humans,but not animals, can sing.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

2. People can use music to communicate their emotions.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned.

3. We use the same part of the brain for music and language.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

4. Geoffery Miler has done research on music and emotions.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

5. It's hard for humans to compose music.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

6. Memory is not an important part in singing in tune.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

7. Scientists does not know all the answers about the effects of music on humans.

A Right

B Wrong

C Not mentioned

答案與題解：

1.B 第二段的第三句：It is true that some animals can sing(and many birds sing better than a lot of people).可以看出有些動物會唱歌，而不只人類會唱歌。

2.A第三段的第三句：However，people can use music to communicate things—especially their

emotions.這句清楚表明，人們可以用音樂來表達情感。

3.B第四段說明：科學證明人們用大腦的不同區(qū)域處理語言和音樂。在第五段，作者用Vissarion Shebalin的例子進一步說明人腦處理語言和音樂的位置不同，Shebalin中風以后不能講話也聽不懂別人的話，但他卻能創(chuàng)作樂曲。

4.A 第六段的第四句：Geoffrey Miller，a researcher at University College，London，thinks that

music and love have a strong connection.這句說明Miller對音樂和愛(情感)的關系進行了研究，他得出的結論是：音樂和愛有密切的關聯(lián)。

5.C文中沒有提及創(chuàng)作樂曲是否困難。

6.B第六段有一句：You also need a good memory to remember the notes.此句說明必須具備好的記憶力記音符才能唱得符合調(diào)子。

7.A最后一段講的是：科學家們需要做更多的研究才能解釋為什么有些聲音影響我們的情感會如此之深。也就是說，科學家不能全部解釋音樂對人類的影響。

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（責任編輯：vstara）

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