無論你是喜歡唱卡拉OK，還是喜歡在洗澡時引吭高歌，事實證明，唱歌對身心健康有益。獨唱和合唱都有助于控制呼吸、增加肺活量、減輕壓力，還能改善你的心情！本期節目介紹唱歌的好處。

詞匯：singing 唱歌

Whether you love to belt out tunes at karaoke or just sing in the shower, it turns out that singing can be good for both physical and mental health. And you don't even have to be good at it!

The physical and mental advantages of singing are caused by a combination of factors, according to Baishali Mukherjee from the World Federation of Music Therapy. He told BBC Future, "The physical exertion involved in singing – filling of our lungs, the firm control of our vocal cords, the movements of our mouth and body – is among the reasons why it can boost our mood." Hitting all the notes involves breathing control and the use of the diaphragm. This can lead to an increase of oxygen intake and lung capacity.

Also, apparently, singing in a group brings just as many benefits as singing solo. It has been estimated that over 2.2 million people in Britain now regularly sing in a choir. A choir can be amateur or professional and is made up of people who sing together, often in harmony with different people singing different parts, such as soprano or tenor, according to their vocal range.

A 2022 University of Vienna study found that choral singing enhances feelings of trust and bonding among a group, which can help with depression and loneliness. And, aside from mood-boosting, other proven mental health benefits of singing include a lowering of stress and anxiety levels due to the release of endorphins – the so-called 'happy hormones'.

So, whether you are a confident vocalist or not, give singing a go! You don't need an instrument because that's you. And yes, you might forget the lyrics or sound a little out of tune, but remember, there are a wealth of positives.

詞匯表

belt out 引吭高歌
tune 曲子，旋律
karaoke 卡拉OK
sing 唱歌
exertion 力氣
vocal cord 聲帶
hit all the notes 唱準所有的音符
breathing control 呼吸控制
diaphragm 橫隔膜
singing solo 獨唱
choir 合唱團
amateur 業余的，非職業的
in harmony 和聲
soprano 女高音
tenor 男高音
vocal range 音域
choral 合唱的
vocalist 歌手
instrument 樂器
lyric 歌詞
out of tune 走調的，音不準的

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What leads to an increase of oxygen intake and lung capacity when singing?

2. How many people are estimated to sing in a choir in the UK?

3. True or False? People who sing in choirs are professional vocalists.

4. How can singing in a choir help depression and loneliness?

5. Why can stress and anxiety levels be lowered when you sing?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My friends and I go to _______ regularly – we love it!

karaoke                   diaphragm                 instrument                     exertion

2. I can't _______ of this song. It's too high for my voice.

belt out                    sing                            hit all the notes              boost

3. He's never sung _______ in front of an audience – he's too shy!

vocal range              choir                          solo                                lyrics  

4. Everyone in the group is an _______. They just sing as a hobby.

amateur                   tenor                          soprano                          choral

5. They sound so beautiful when everyone sings together _______.

out of tune               in harmony                 tune                               control

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What leads to an increase of oxygen intake and lung capacity when singing?
Breathing control and use of the diaphragm.

2. How many people are estimated to sing in a choir in the UK?
It has been estimated that over 2.2 million people in Britain now sing regularly in a choir.

3. True or False? People who sing in choirs are professional vocalists.
False. A choir can be amateur or professional.

4. How can singing in a choir help depression and loneliness?
A 2022 University of Vienna study found that choral singing enhances feelings of trust and bonding among a group, which can help with depression and loneliness.

5. Why can stress and anxiety levels be lowered when you sing?
Because of the release of endorphins – the so-called 'happy hormones'.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My friends and I go to karaoke regularly – we love it!

2. I can't hit all the notes of this song. It's too high for my voice.

3. He's never sung solo in front of an audience – he's too shy!

4. Everyone in the group is an amateur. They just sing as a hobby.

5. They sound so beautiful when everyone sings together in harmony.