Unit 20 Humour Pre-reading Reading Post-reading

Home Revision Pre-reading Skimming Skipping Listening Oral practice Pair work Language points Exercises

Revision Read the following sentences as quickly as possible. 1. A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk. 2. Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick. 3. She sells sea shells by the sea shore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Pre-reading Do you know who these comedians are? What makes them funny? Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy Mr. Bean Dustin HoffmanMa Ji Do you know other comedians who are funny in the same way?

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy The comic duo of the 1930s “Laurel and Hardy.” the thin one is called Stan Laurel, while the stout one is called Oliver Hardy. They are funny because they are each other’s opposites: one fat and one thin; one is clever and one is silly etc.

Mr. Bean Although Mr. Rowan Atkinson acts as different comic characters he is most famous around the world as Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean is funny because he makes funny faces, he acts silly, he seems to be quite stupid, and the things he does are strange.

Dustin Hoffman Dustin Hoffman in the film Tootsie (1982). In this film Hoffman acts the role of a woman, and many people agree that his performance was so good that you often can’t tell the difference. But in the film of course there all kinds of funny moments.

Ma Ji Ma Ji is a well-known artist of crosstalk shows in China. His numerous crosstalk shows always make his audience roar with laughter.

Skimming Why are some of Shakespeare’s comedies not so funny for us? How long has the tradition of crosstalk existed in China? Some of Shakespeare’s plays are not so funny for us because we don’t understand the language and word play that Shakespeare used. The tradition of crosstalk has existed in China for more than 2,000 years.

Skipping Give three examples of techniques that writers of comedies often use to make people laugh. 1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3. _____________ cross-dressing stereotypes word play

Listening True (T) or False (F) 1. Camedies are music plays that make people laugh. 2. Word play is a way to create fun in comedies. 3. Clowns use some words to make people laugh. 4. Both body language and face are important in comedians’ shows. 5. A crosstalk show has two speakers making many jokes and funny conversations. Keys: F, T, F, T, T

Oral practice Can you describe a clown in your own words? What does a clown look like?

A clown is a funny person, usually dressed up in wide clothes of very bright colours, such as red and yellow. They often wear a big coloured wig. Their face is covered with white make-up, and their mouths and eyes are made to look very big using red and other coloured make-up. Clowns often have a big red nose. All of their clothes, including their shoes are usually over-sized.

Pair work Compare Western and Chinese comedy shows. What do they have in common? How are they different? Western comedyChinese comedy

Language points make funny be famous for make fun of It sounds funny to… not at all make-up act out have in common with date back to a flow of make use of

Exercises 1. He hates to be _____. A. make fun of B. making fun of C made fun of D. made fun 2. The castle ____ the 16 th century. A. is dated to B. dates from C. dated from D. is dating back to 3. It is ____ to have cold drinks on such a hot day. A. a fun B. funny C. fun D. funs Keys: C, B,C

4. Our losses should be ____ with more loans, otherwise we won’t be satisfied. A. made in B. made out C. made for D. made up 5. He put his whole heart into ____ ways ____ the quality of the products. A. think of; of improve B. think up; to improve C. thinking of; improving D. thinking up; of improving Keys: D, D

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