The Biology of Music(B级)
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.
词汇：
automatically adv.自动地 note n.音符
stroke n.中风
注释：
1.It is also true that humans，not animals，have developed musical instruments：人研制出了乐器，而动物则不能。develop：研制，例如：Scientists are developing new drugs to treat cancer.科学家们正在研发新药用以治疗癌症。
练习：
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
答案与题解：
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).可以看出有些动物会唱歌，而不只人类会唱歌。
2.A第三段的第三句：However，people can use music to communicate things—especially their emotions.这句清楚表明，人们可以用音乐来表达情感。
3.B第四段说明：科学证明人们用大脑的不同区域处理语言和音乐。在第五段，作者用Vissarion Shebalin的例子进一步说明人脑处理语言和音乐的位置不同，Shebalin中风以后不能讲话也听不懂别人的话，但他却能创作乐曲。
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.这句说明Miller对音乐和爱(情感)的关系进行了研究，他得出的结论是：音乐和爱有密切的关联。
5.C文中没有提及创作乐曲是否困难。
6.B第六段有一句：You also need a good memory to remember the notes.此句说明必须具备好的记忆力记音符才能唱得符合调子。
7.A最后一段讲的是：科学家们需要做更多的研究才能解释为什么有些声音影响我们的情感会如此之深。也就是说，科学家不能全部解释音乐对人类的影响。
译文：第十篇 音乐生物学
人们把音乐作为一种高效的交流方式，在爱情中它也可能会起到重要的作用。但是音乐是什么?它又是如何起到神奇的效果?科学界还没有给出答案。
哪两项事物使得人类不同于动物?一个是语言，另一个是音乐。当然一些动物会唱歌(并且许多鸟唱得比很多人都好听)，但是，动物的歌声是有限的，比如鸟类和鲸鱼。同样，是人类而不是动物开发出了乐器。
音乐是个奇怪的东西，它与语言有明显的不同。但是，人们能够用音乐去传达——尤其是情感。当音乐与歌曲中的语言结合在一起的时候，它就是一种强有力的表达方式。但是，从生物学来讲，音乐是什么?
如果音乐与语言真的不同，那么我们应该在大脑的不同区域内对音乐和语言进行加工处理，科学证据也证实了这一点。
有时，受过脑损伤的人会丧失他们处理语言的能力。但是，他们不会自动地丢失音乐才能。比如，维沙翁·舍巴林，一位苏联作曲家，在1953年得了中风。他的大脑的左半边受到损害，他再也不能说话或是理解别人的话，但是他仍然能够谱曲，直到十年后他离开人世。另一方面，中风有时会使人们丧失音乐能力，但是他们仍然能够说话也能听懂别人的话。这就说明大脑是分别加了处理音乐和语言的。
通过研究音乐在人身体上的物理效应，科学家也了解到许多关于音乐是如何影响情感的。但是，为什么音乐对我们有如此强烈的影响?这是一个更难回答的问题。伦敦大学学院的研究员杰弗里·米勒认为音乐和爱有紧密的关，音乐需要特殊才能、练习和体能。这也许是一种方式让你展示你适合做某人的伴侣。比如，按调唱歌或者弹奏乐器需要有很好的肌肉控制力。你也需要有好的记忆力来记住音符。能正确地演奏或者唱出这些音符也证明你的听力也非常好。所以，当一个男人唱给他心爱的女人时(反之亦然) 音乐就可能成为一种展示的方式。
然而，米勒的理论仍然不能解释为什么声音的特定结合可以深深地影响我们的情感。对于科学家来说，这显然是一个需要深入研究的领域。
