Ludwig van Beethoven is remembered as one of the most famous composers in history. He wrote some of the world’s greatest classical music. Beethoven lived only 57 years. He died in 1827.
　　Recently, tests confirmed (确定) that Beethoven died of severe lead (铅) poisoning.（中毒） A research team in the USA examined pieces of bones belonging to Beethoven. They found a large amount of lead in the pieces, or bone fragments. （碎片）They said the lead levels were equal to those found in pieces of his hair in earlier studies.
　　Genetic tests confirmed the bone fragments and hair came from Beethoven. The researchers also examined bone fragments from someone else who lived during the same period. Both were from the top of the head, or skull. The fragments from Beethoven had more lead than those from the other person.