Scribd
Upload
47 views2 pages

Texto Selectividad JUNIO 2001

1. A plant researcher discovered that different plants and herbs have their own unique musical melodies based on the molecular structure of their proteins. 2. The researcher, Dr. Long, used a computer program to convert the protein sequences into musical notes. To her surprise, the sequences formed coherent tunes rather than random notes. 3. Dr. Long has recorded the tunes from various common plants onto a 25-minute CD called "Music of the Plants". Each organism can produce multiple musical compositions based on its different proteins.

Uploaded by

berofugo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
47 views2 pages

Texto Selectividad JUNIO 2001

1. A plant researcher discovered that different plants and herbs have their own unique musical melodies based on the molecular structure of their proteins. 2. The researcher, Dr. Long, used a computer program to convert the protein sequences into musical notes. To her surprise, the sequences formed coherent tunes rather than random notes. 3. Dr. Long has recorded the tunes from various common plants onto a 25-minute CD called "Music of the Plants". Each organism can produce multiple musical compositions based on its different proteins.

Uploaded by

berofugo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Texto Selectividad JUNIO 2001

Scientist discovers music of the plants

Different plants and herbs have their own unique pre-programmed musical
melodies, a plant researcher has discovered.
Linda Long has turned the molecular structure of proteins found in common
herbs into musical compositions. Dr. Long, 32, a research scientist at Exeter
University, enlisted the help of a mathematician friend to design a computer
program that let her input the protein sequences and convert them into sound.
To her astonishment she discovered that the sequences formed a tune
rather than a random sequence of musical notes. Dr. Long, a musician and
composer as well as a scientist, said, "Basically the notes from different
molecules within the proteins naturally form relaxing melodies. I had no control
over it. It is organic music derived from natural sources found in all of life".
Dr. Long has now turned the tunes created by proteins from various common
plants into a 25- minute CD called Music of the Plants. She added: 'The melodies
really are quite relaxing and calming and the exciting thing is that the tunes are
protein-specific. If an organism contains 100 proteins then you could produce
100 musical compositions from that organism. I did the first piece to show how I
could translate the protein structure to notes in order to produce musical note
sequences which are melodic, rather than random notes with no musicality,
"When I entered the details into the computer, I heard a note sequence, so I
accompanied what I heard with a composed background arrangement to fully
complement the 'protein melody’ “.

Adapted, The Times, 28/02/01


Question 1: Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and
write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Dr. Long did all the work herself.
b) Dr. Long was really sure that the sequences would be melodic,
c) A single organism has more than one possible musical composition.
d) The protein gives all the musical information included on the CD.
Question 2: Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) How did Dr. Long obtain all the music she has recorded on the CD?
b) What was surprising about the results of the experiment and what
possible explanation does Dr. Long give for this?
Question 3 Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the
words and definitions given.
a) Introduce data into a computer (paragraph 2).
b) Instead of (paragraph 3).
c) Pieces of information (paragraph 4).
Question 4: Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) "When I entered the details into the computer, I heard a note sequence". Said
Dr. Long.
Dr. Long said that on … she …
b) Dr. Long has now turned the tunes she created by proteins from
various common plants into a 25-minute CD.
The tunes created by proteins …
c) To her astonishment, Dr. Long discovered that the sequences
formed a tune rather than random musical notes. Dr. Long was …
Question 5: Write a short essay (about 100 words) on the following topic:
Would you buy the CD described in the text? Why or why not?

You might also like