M6U1 Reading Stand-up for your health!

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

Rowan Atkinson (black-haired, bug-eyed, and weak-chinned ), a well-known British comedian, is famous for the character Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean is funny because he makes funny faces, he acts stupidly, he seems to be quite silly, and the things he does are strange.

Billy Crystal

1.What is special about stand- up comedy? Stand-up is special because the comedian is right there in front of the audience and may talk directly to audience members.

2. What are the four main types of stand-up? They are observational, prop, physical, and impressionist.

C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. A comedian stands on 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 Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

A comedian puts on glasses, changes his or her voice and pretends to be someone else. Impressionist C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

A comedian walks on stage. As she introduces herself, she falls down. Physical Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. 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 Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

3. How many times has Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards? 4.When did Billy Crystal begin practising stand-up? Eight times. He began practising stand-up when he was a child.

5.What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous? His outstanding ability to improvise.

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

7. What does your brain do when you laugh? 8. What is the English idiom about laughter mentioned in the text? It sends chemicals that are good for you into your body. Laughter is the best medicine.

Which of the following is the style of prop? A. jokes in everyday life B. visual humour C. body action D. imitation of a well-known person Reading comprehension:

What does the word ‘ routine ’ in Para. 3 probably mean? A. roadB. performance C. linesD. style

What does the word ‘ improvise ’ in Para. 4 probably mean? A. perform without permission B. perform without preparation C. act well D. act fast

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

7.What does the word ‘ appropriate ’ in Para. 4 probably mean? A. properB. clear C. sillyD. enjoyable

8.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

Fill in the blanks according to the text. (1) One of the most well-known and well-loved types of ________ is called stand-up. There are different ______ of stand-up comedy. The main _____ are observational, prop, physical and impressionist. There has always been _______ in them to make people watching them laugh. comedy styles four humour

(2) Billy Crystal, a famous stand-up ________, has hosted the Academy Awards ____ times. Each time, he performs his stand-up _______ in front of millions of people when the show is broadcast ____ on TV. His outstanding ability to ________has impressed people around the world. comedian 8 routine live improvise

(3) Doctors have discovered that people who laugh a lot live ____ after researching what _____ stand-up and other forms of comedy have on us. When we laugh, our ____ sends chemicals around the body that are good for us. _______ helps the body stay healthy, as the saying goes, ‘ Laughter is the best ________ ’. longer effect brain Laughing medicine

Write a funny story. Relevant exercises in Assessment book.

What does a clown look like?