Speed Reading — Music and Genes - Level 3 — 300 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

We all love to move (or groove) to music. At the very least, we cannot resist tapping our foot or nodding our head when we hear music. New research suggests that moving our body to musical beats is genetic. Our dancing ability is in our genes. Parents pass their sense of rhythm down to their children. The study is from the Vanderbilt University in the USA, and the genomics and biotechnology company 23andMe. Researchers found 69 genes that affect how people react to musical rhythms. The researchers said different genes affect our ability to move in sync with music beats. They said the genes work in similar ways to those for other biological rhythms, such as breathing, walking and sleeping.

The researchers used bio-data from over 600,000 people in their research. Researcher Dr David Hinds said: "The large number of…study participants offered a unique opportunity…to capture even small genetic signals." He added: "This research represents a leap forward for scientific understanding of the links between genetics and musicality." Researcher Dr Reyna Gordon said: "Rhythm is not just influenced by a single gene. It is influenced by many hundreds of genes." She added: "Tapping, clapping and dancing in synchrony with the beat of music is at the core of our human musicality." The research could one day help doctors use music and rhythm to make us healthier.

Comprehension questions
  1. What does the article say we like to groove to?
  2. What does the article say we nod to music?
  3. What kind of company is 23andMe?
  4. How many genes did researchers find that affect our rhythm?
  5. What rhythms besides sleeping and walking do our genes also affect?
  6. How many people were part of the research?
  7. What kind of leap does the research in the article represent?
  8. What did a researcher say rhythm is not just influenced by?
  9. What is tapping, clapping and dancing at the core of?
  10. What might doctors use in the future as part of their healthcare?

Back to the beat of music lesson.

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