Read the following passage about the benefits of singing and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 23 to 30.
Have you ever wondered why people often catch themselves singing while having a shower or making dinner? Or why karaoke has been popular since it appeared in the 1980s? We still have to understand a lot about the effects of music on our brain, but many studies already show it is good for our mind and our body alike.
All types of singing can make you feel better, but group singing has the best effects on people’s lives. Singing in a group in front of a crowd builds confidence, which explains why joining a choir can decrease anxiety in depressed patients. When you sing, it’s nearly impossible to think about other things. Since you must focus on what you are doing, singing stops you being worried about stressful situations.
Singing can also improve speech development. Children learn to speak faster if they regularly sing from an early age and they are often better at communicating through language. When you sing you need to remember words and tunes, so this activity is also an excellent way to learn a foreign language and make your pronunciation sound more natural.
You can also improve your physical health when you sing. Since you need to breathe properly, when you sing you breathe out more carbon dioxide and take in more oxygen, which makes your body fitter and stronger against illnesses. So if you decide to take up a new hobby, singing could be the best way for you to have fun, make new friends and improve your health at the same time.
(Adapted from Ready for B1)
