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Breathing is something you do all day long, without even thinking about it. However, you might be doing it wrong. Research shows that the way you breathe affects the amount of oxygen you take in, as well as how you think and feel.

So which is it? Do you breathe through your nose or your mouth? Some health experts recommend people breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth. Others say that people should just focus on breathing easily, paying no attention to their mouth or nose preference. But mouth breathing has also been connected with bad breath, snoring (´òºôàà), high blood pressure and bad teeth.

Nose breathing may affect how memories are stabilized (Îȶ¨) in our brains, according to Swedish researchers. During their study, participants smelled 12 different smells and then were asked to breathe either through their nose or mouth for an hour afterwards. Then, they were presented with the original set of smells and a new set. Those who smelled with their nose remembered the smells better.

A research team recognized the differences in brain activity that occurred when seven epilepsy (ñ²ðï) patients breathed through their nose or through their mouth. The team found three areas of the brain where activity is connected with breathing. These areas showed more changes in brain activity only when volunteers breathed through their nose.

So, should mouth breathers change their breathing habits? If you're happy with the way you breathe and if you aren't experiencing any health problems, be yourself and just keep your own way. But if you think it might be time for a change, focus on breathing through your nose until it becomes a habit. It might help you survive an emergency.

1£®What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A£®Your life style.

B£®How you breathe.

C£®How you think and feel.

D£®The oxygen you take in.

2£®What did Swedish researchers find?

A£®Nose breathing may improve memory.

B£®Mouth breathing causes health problems.

C£®Nose breathers are not sensitive to smells.

D£®Mouth breathers have a good sense of taste.

3£®What is the effect of nose breathing according to the research in Paragraph 4?

A£®It helps one to stay healthy.

B£®It cures bad breath and snoring.

C£®It makes one's brain more active.

D£®It improves one's sense of smell.

4£®What does the author think of nose breathing?

A£®It's hard to get used to.

B£®It's suitable for everybody.

C£®It's what people have to do.

D£®It's what people can benefit from.