Profile: Toshiyuki Mita

Hi. I'm Toshiyuki Mita. I'm 18 years old. I like sports!! I like to play soccer and to study business and to play the guitar.

I want to be a physical therapist, because I like sports and my parents' job is like my dream.

I like to read nonfiction and fiction. Since nonfiction narrates truth, I can learn much from it. On the other hand, fiction is an imagined or made-up story, so I think reading fiction helps me use my imagination.

Profile: Kumiko Takahashi

My name is Kumiko Takahashi. I was born on May 22, and I'm 19 years old now. I like reading all kinds of books, listening to music, watching movies, and dancing. Some of my treasures are my family and my friends. I want to travel all around the world in the future. It's one of my dreams.

I'd like to read newspapers and novels, because if I can read newpapers, I can learn more about the world.

Profile: Kazuki Nishiyama

My name is Kazuki Nishiyama. I'm 20 years old.

I like listening to music, singing songs and playing beat box. I was a member of an a cappella vocal group, and I played beat box there in Japan.

I listen to all kinds of music, but I like Japanese-pops the best. Japanese lyrics can express delicate emotions.

I like reading magazines of apparel to keep me updated on new fashions.

Profile: Kana Ito

My name is Kana Ito. I'm from Japan. I'm 24 years old. I like playing basketball. My favorite foods are Chocolate, ice cream, and coffee. I want to read comic books because I like comedy.

Profile: Takaaki Niikura (Nick)

I'm Takaaki Niikura (Nick). I'm 24 years old and from Japan. I like many kinds of sports, for instance, baseball, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Now I'm a smoker, but I want to be a non-smoker. Everyone please cheer me up. I've had a variety of experiences since I've been in America. I want more and more.

Finally, I want to live in Hawaii after my retirement!!!

Thank you.

Vocabulary: "The Biology of Music," p. 6

Paragraph 1:

language: the use of words to communicate, to express thoughts or feelings

(A language can be a body of words used and understood by one community; for example, English is a language; Japanese is a language.)

Paragraph 2:

strange: unfamiliar, different, unknown or foreign

stuff: material out of which something is made or formed

nevertheless: yet, still, even so (a connecting word) Another way to express the same meaning as the second and third sentences would be this: “Although music is clearly different from language, people can still use music to communicate things …”

Paragraph 3:

distinct: not the same as something else, individual, marked out

brain: mass of nerve tissue inside the skull (what is inside your head)

(note: plural form, brains = intelligence, understanding, intellect)

evidence: anything that helps to prove something

suggests: calls to mind, makes one think that something may be true

(Can you explain the difference between prove and suggest?)

Paragraph 4:

processing: acting or operating on something for a specific purpose

process (noun) = any phenomenon that shows a continuous change in time

stroke: a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which can result in a loss of mental or physical abilities, or death

independently: without influence or control by another person, event or thing – by itself or by oneself

Paragraph 5:

fitness: suitability for something

(physical fitness: a healthy state or condition of the body that allows a person to be physically active)

in top condition: physically fit, in the best physical condition or state

show off: do something to attract attention to yourself
(Sometimes this has a slightly critical meaning, for example: “He’s just a show-off!” indicates the person is a bit conceited or egotistical in trying to attract attention.)