The changing sound of whale song


BBC Lingohack

tunes – melodies, usually easy to remember

singing from the same song sheet – (idiom) showing unity and agreement; co-operating

embellishments – elements added to something to make it more attractive, interesting or exciting

start from scratch – start from a point where nothing has been done

musical repertoire – list of songs a singer or musician knows how to sing or play


1. Ask and answer the questions

  1. What are humpback whales known for?
  2. How does the signature song of humpback whales evolve over time?
  3. What is a “revolution event” in relation to humpback whale songs?
  4. What did researchers find about the new songs that replace the old ones during a “revolution event”?
  5. What does the study suggest about the learning capabilities of humpback whales in terms of complexity and new material?

2. Summary sample.


3. Record your answer


4. Transcript