演奏音乐有益大脑吗？

Is playing music good for the brain?

常速 | 四级 | 605词 | 4min20s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. Why is making music considered a mental workout?

A. It strengthens emotional control.

B. It improves social communication skills.

C. It requires the brain to coordinate several abilities.

D. It mainly trains long-term memory.

Q2. What benefit did studies find among professional musicians?

A. They have more grey matter in some brain regions.

B. They seldom have memory problems as they age.

C. They can compose music much faster than others.

D. They have larger brains overall.

Q3. What is one possible advantage for children who begin instrument lessons young?

A. They are more likely to speak a second language without an accent.

B. The communication between their brain’s two hemispheres can be better.

C. They will get higher scores in all school subjects.

D. They can remember new words much faster than peers.

Q4. What can we infer about music activities and cognitive abilities?

A. Brass players usually outperform piano players in problem-solving tasks.

B. Different kinds of music activities may lead to different cognitive strengths.

C. Singers are generally weaker at planning tasks than woodwind players.

D. Learning more instruments will bring greater improvements to memory.

Q5. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Musical ability depends largely on genetics.

B. Listening to music is better than playing instruments.

C. Only professional musicians gain cognitive advantages.

D. Music practice may benefit the brain in many ways.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Is Playing Music Good for Your Brain?

Can playing music make your brain work better? Research suggests that it can, and you don’t have to be a professional musician to enjoy the benefits.

(Q1) Playing a musical instrument is like a workout for the brain. When you play music, your brain has to do several things at the same time. You need to listen carefully, read notes, control your fingers, and keep your attention on what you are doing. You may also need to remember a piece of music and express your feelings through it. All these activities give your brain a lot of practice.

(Q2) Studies have found that professional musicians have more grey matter in certain parts of the brain than people who do not play music. Grey matter is important for thinking, movement, and memory. Other research suggests that musicians may also have better memory and be better at planning and solving problems. However, scientists are still studying these effects, so more research is needed to understand them fully.

gray matter （脑的）灰质，中枢神经系统的重要组成部分

Music may be especially helpful for children. (Q3) Studies suggest that children who start learning an instrument at an early age may develop stronger connections between the two sides of their brains. Learning music may also help children learn a second language and improve their ability to understand information without using words. These skills can be useful both in school and in everyday life.

But what about people who start learning music when they are older? The good news is that it may still be beneficial. As people age, their memory and thinking skills can become weaker. However, some studies have found that older adults who continue to learn and practice an instrument may experience less decline in certain mental abilities. Other research has linked regular music practice with a lower risk of developing dementia, a condition that affects memory and thinking. Scientists do not yet know whether playing music directly protects the brain or whether people with better brain health are simply more likely to continue playing.

(Q4) The type of music activity may also make a difference. One study of older adults found that people who played the piano or brass instruments tended to have better working memory. Working memory helps us keep information in mind while using it. People who played woodwind instruments performed better on some tasks involving planning and problem-solving, while singers did better on tests of verbal reasoning. However, playing several instruments did not necessarily bring extra benefits.

Music can also improve how we feel. When we play an instrument, the brain’s reward system becomes active, helping us feel pleasure. The body may also release chemicals called endorphins, which can help reduce pain and make us feel good. In addition, playing music with other people, such as in a band or choir, can reduce stress and help people build friendships.

endorphin n. 内啡肽（一种体内生成的化学物质，能止痛并让人产生快感）

What if you cannot play an instrument? Simply listening to music may also be good for your brain. A recent study found that older adults who regularly listened to music had a lower risk of cognitive decline than those who did not listen regularly. Cognitive decline means a gradual loss of memory and other thinking abilities. However, this study could not prove that listening to music was the reason for the difference.

(Q5) Overall, research suggests that music can benefit the brain in several ways. It may help us improve our memory, develop thinking skills, manage stress, and stay mentally active as we grow older. You do not need to become a musical genius to enjoy these benefits. The key is to make music a regular part of your life, whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply listen.

Part III. KEY

Q1. C.【解析】细节题。题目出处为：“When you play music, your brain has to do several things at the same time. You need to listen carefully, read notes, control your fingers, ... All these activities give your brain a lot of practice.” 意为：“演奏音乐时，大脑必须同时进行多项活动，需要我们认真听，看谱，控制手指……所有这些活动会使我们的大脑得到大量训练。”因此，演奏音乐是一种脑力活动。正确答案为C。

Q2. A.【解析】细节题。题目出处为：“Studies have found that professional musicians have more grey matter in certain parts of the brain than people who do not play music. Grey matter is important for thinking, movement, and memory. ” 意为：“研究发现，职业音乐家大脑某些区域的灰质比不演奏音乐的人更多。灰质对于控制思维、运动、和记忆十分重要。”因此正确答案为A。

Q3. B.【解析】推理题。题目出处为：“Studies suggest that children who start learning an instrument at an early age may develop stronger connections between the two sides of their brains.” 意为：“研究表明，早早开始学习乐器的孩子，大脑左右半球之间会形成更强的联结。”因此正确答案为B，意为这些孩子大脑左右半球之间的联结会更佳，为同义表述。

Q4. B.【解析】推断题。题目出处：“The type of music activity may also make a difference. One study of older adults found that people who played the piano or brass instruments tended to have better working memory. … People who played woodwind instruments performed better on some tasks involving planning and problem-solving, while singers did better on tests of verbal reasoning.” 意为：“不同类型的音乐活动，带来的益处也会有所差异。一项针对老年人的研究发现，常演奏钢琴或铜管乐器的长者，其工作记忆能力往往更强……演奏木管乐器的人在涉及规划与问题解决的任务中表现更优，而歌手则在言语推理测试中更具优势。”由此可推断，不同类型的音乐活动可能带来不同的认知优势。因此正确答案为 B。

Q5. D.【解析】主旨题。题目出处为：“Overall, research suggests that music can benefit the brain in several ways. It may help us improve our memory, develop thinking skills, manage stress, and stay mentally active as we grow older.” 意为：“总体而言，研究表明音乐能从多个方面为大脑带来益处。它可能有助于我们改善记忆力，锻炼思维能力，调节压力，并在年岁渐长时保持思维活跃。”该句概括了全文的核心观点，因此正确答案为D。

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