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 itwork its magic?Science does not yet have all the answers.
What are two things that make humans differentfrom animals?One is language,and the other is music.It is true that someanimals 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 alsotrue that humans,not animals,have developed musical instruments.1
Music is strange stuff.It is clearly differentfrom language.However,people can use music to communicate things — especiallytheir emotions.When music is combined with speech in a song,it is a verypowerful form of communication.But,biologically speaking,what is music？
If music is truly different from speech,then weshould process music and language in different parts of the brain.Thescientific evidence suggests that this is true.
Sometimes people who suffer brain damage losetheir ability to process language.However,they don't automatically lose theirmusical abilities.For example,Vissarion Shebalin,a Russian composer，had a stroke in 1953.It injuredthe left side of his brain.He could no longer speak or understand speech.Hecould,however,still compose music until his death ten years later.On theother hand，sometimesstrokes cause people to lose their musical ability,but they can still speakand understand speech.This shows that the brain processes music and languageseparately.
By studying the physical effects of music on thebody，scientistshave also learned a lot about how music influences the emotions.But why doesmusic have such a strong effect on us?That is a harder question to answer.Geoffrey Miller,a researcher at University College,London,thinks that musicand love have a strong connection.Music requires special talent,practice,andphysical ability.That's why it may be a way of showing your fitness to besomeone's mate.For example,singing in tune or playing a musical instrument requiresfine muscular control.You also need a good memory to remember the notes.Andplaying or singing those notes correctly suggests that your hearing is inexcellent condition.Finally,when a man sings to the woman he loves （or viceversa）,it may be away of showing off.
However,Miller's theory still doesn't explain whycertain combinations of sounds influence our emotions so deeply.For scientists，this is clearly an area that needsfurther research.
練習(xí)：
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.Scientistsdoes 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 betterthan a lot of people）?？梢钥闯鲇行﹦游飼?，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 — especiallytheir 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(xué)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(fēng)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 astrong connection.這句說明Miller對音樂和愛（情感）的關(guān)系進行了研究，他得出的結(jié)論是：音樂和愛有密切的關(guān)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(xué)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(xué)家不能全部解釋音樂對人類的影響。
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 itwork its magic?Science does not yet have all the answers.
What are two things that make humans differentfrom animals?One is language,and the other is music.It is true that someanimals 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 alsotrue that humans,not animals,have developed musical instruments.1
Music is strange stuff.It is clearly differentfrom language.However,people can use music to communicate things — especiallytheir emotions.When music is combined with speech in a song,it is a verypowerful form of communication.But,biologically speaking,what is music？
If music is truly different from speech,then weshould process music and language in different parts of the brain.Thescientific evidence suggests that this is true.
Sometimes people who suffer brain damage losetheir ability to process language.However,they don't automatically lose theirmusical abilities.For example,Vissarion Shebalin,a Russian composer，had a stroke in 1953.It injuredthe left side of his brain.He could no longer speak or understand speech.Hecould,however,still compose music until his death ten years later.On theother hand，sometimesstrokes cause people to lose their musical ability,but they can still speakand understand speech.This shows that the brain processes music and languageseparately.
By studying the physical effects of music on thebody，scientistshave also learned a lot about how music influences the emotions.But why doesmusic have such a strong effect on us?That is a harder question to answer.Geoffrey Miller,a researcher at University College,London,thinks that musicand love have a strong connection.Music requires special talent,practice,andphysical ability.That's why it may be a way of showing your fitness to besomeone's mate.For example,singing in tune or playing a musical instrument requiresfine muscular control.You also need a good memory to remember the notes.Andplaying or singing those notes correctly suggests that your hearing is inexcellent condition.Finally,when a man sings to the woman he loves （or viceversa）,it may be away of showing off.
However,Miller's theory still doesn't explain whycertain combinations of sounds influence our emotions so deeply.For scientists，this is clearly an area that needsfurther research.
練習(xí)：
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.Scientistsdoes 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 betterthan a lot of people）?？梢钥闯鲇行﹦游飼?，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 — especiallytheir 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(xué)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(fēng)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 astrong connection.這句說明Miller對音樂和愛（情感）的關(guān)系進行了研究，他得出的結(jié)論是：音樂和愛有密切的關(guān)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(xué)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(xué)家不能全部解釋音樂對人類的影響。