When was the armoured tank first used? The tank first came into use in 1916 during World War I. The British developed this fighting vehicle to try and break the deadlock that had occurred between the two sides fighting in France. Neither foot soldiers nor cavalry could survive the murderous rain of bullets that marked any action, but a heavy armoured vehicle armed with powerful guns and moving on caterpillar tracks...

What is Eastern music like? Eastern music is completely different from the classical and popular music of Europe and America. It uses notes in another way, and the instruments are unlike those of the West. Another big difference is that most Eastern music is not written down, but made up as the player performs the music. Most Western music is written down and is played exactly the same way every time...

What does ballet dancing portray?   In ballet, the movements of the dancers interpret the sound of the music. Often a ballet has a story, and the dancers act out the story. Instead of words, they use their bodies and move their hands and faces to portray actions and feelings. The ballet may be set to music that already exists, but sometimes the music is written especially for the ballet. It...

What is flamenco music? Flamenco music is the music of the gypsies of Spain. It is played on the Spanish guitar and is often very thrilling and exciting. The music is not written, but played on the spur of the moment. People sing and dance to the music, often clicking castanets to its rhythm. The dancers wear elegant costumes, and stamp and shout to the music in their excitement.

How could Beethoven write music if he was deaf? Beethoven was not alone in being able to compose music without using the piano or any other instrument. Many composers can hear the music in their heads and write it down immediately without playing it. It is quite easy to recognise pairs of notes by comparing them to a well-known sound or tune. For example, the cuckoo always sings two notes that...

Who was Attila the Hun?   The Huns were tribes of warlike people who originated in central Russia. They were very fine horsemen and, in about Ad 400, set about conquering neighbouring peoples and building up their power. In AD 434, they gained a great leader, Attila. Attila the Hun had great plans for his marauding tribesmen. At that time, the Roman Empire was crumbling and had divided into two parts,...

How do bats catch their food?   Bats like a the Microchiropterans find their food, and their way about, by echo- location. By making high-pitched squeaks, the sound waves which bounce back from objects tell them what is in their path. If an object is close, then the sound comes back quickly, if it is further away it takes longer. To trap these returning echos, the bats have large ears and...

How do bats’ wings differ from birds’ wings?   Only birds, insects and bats can truly fly, although quite a few other animals can glide through the air. Birds’ bodies are covered in feathers, and on their wings are feathers called flight feathers which are specially shaped to allow the bird to fly gracefully; these feathers are often coloured to help conceal the bird from its enemies or help it attract...