Laughter is good for you Unit 1 Laughter is good for you Reading

When we talk about Charlie Chaplin, what kind of image will appear in your mind? He always wears a small black hat, very wide trousers and a moustache, and carries a stick that he swings in the air as he walks.

What is your impression of Charlie Chaplin’ style? In his films, he’s always the little man and is in much trouble. However, he uses his sense of humor to teach people that there are ways to face your problems if you are able to laugh.

Do you like watching Charlie Chaplin’s films? Why or why not? Do you think he was a successful comedian?

Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television. The United Kingdom has a long heritage of stand-up comedy, which began in the music halls of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Make jokes about humorous things in everyday life Types of stand-up Make jokes about humorous things in everyday life observational prop Use props to tell jokes Use bodies to make jokes physical Act or speak like a well-known person impressionist

Do you know Billy Crystal?

Billy Crystal (1948 - ) is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian, and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes When Harry Met Sally ... and City Slickers. He has hosted the Academy Awards nine times, most recently at the 84th Academy Awards (The Oscars) in 2012.

Billy Crystal Opens Oscars With Jokes

Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. Practice Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy.

A comedian puts on glasses, changes his or her voice and pretends to be someone else. ? Impressionist

A comedian walks on stage. As she introduces herself, she falls down. ? Physical

A comedian says, ‘My Grandmother started walking 1 km a day when she turned 60. She’s 89 now, and we don’t know where she is!’ ? Observational

A comedian stands on the stage and holds a banana to his ear A comedian stands on the stage and holds a banana to his ear. He says, ‘Hello? Hello? I’m sorry I can’t hear you. Something must be wrong with my phone.’ ? Prop

Read the passage quickly and answer the questions. 1. What is the article about? 2. After starting as a stand-up comedian, what did Billy Crystal go on to do later in life? 3. What is laughter good for? Stand-up comedy. He went on to act in films. Our health.

Read again and answer the questions. 1. What is the main idea of the first part? It mainly talks about what stand-up is. 2. How many types of stand-up comedy are mentioned in the article? Four.

3. How do different stand-up comedians perform? Some comedians make jokes about people’s behavior or things happening in daily life; Some comedians rely on visual humor; Some comedians do something while making jokes about what they are doing; Some comedians speak or act famous people to make fun of them.

4. How many times has Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards? Eight times. 5. What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous? He is very quick thinking and is often able to come up with new jokes about the people and things around him.

6. Who were Bob Hope and George Burns? They were two famous comedians who lived to be 100 years old and kept working until nearly the end of their lives.

Choose the best answers according to the article. 1. A stand-up comedian _____ while performing. A. enjoys laughing B. enjoys making fun of himself C. usually makes fun of the audience D. has prepared a lot of jokes in advance C

2. At the 2004 Academy Awards, a very old actor ______ at first. A. was asked to make a silent speech B. turn off the microphone on purpose C. made the audience laugh D. couldn’t make himself heard D

A 3. What does the word ‘appropriate’ in Para. 4 probably mean? A. proper B. clear C. foolish D. interesting

4. We can infer from the 5th paragraph comedians are expected to ______. A. enjoy a very long life B. work till the end of life C. have no plans to stop work D. perform stand-up A

Discussion Do you think being a good comedian is very challenging? Why or why not? Are comedians born gifted? What are good comedians required to do?

Have enough courage to perform in front of the audience. Practise a lot to perfect their routine. Be able to read their audience’s thoughts to know exactly what they would like to see. Watch as many comedies as they can to gather ideas. Fully prepare before going on stage.

Would you want to become a comedian? Why or why not? When you are in low spirits, what do you do to become happy? Besides laughter, what are other factors that can help people live longer?