The Roman writer Seneca once commented: "All things are cause either for laughter or weeping." It is understood that laughing and crying are closely related emotional responses to some kind of outside stimulation.

　Almost everything that can be seen may be perceived as humourous by someone, no matter how serious the intent. A horror film may cause an audience to laugh because its dramatic effects are exaggerated or seemingly ridiculous. Visual humor frequently relies on transforming the normal or serious into the unexpected or absurd. Humor in the form of words may be either written or spoken. One of the most common kinds of verbal humour is the play on words.

　This type includes puns, riddles, and some limericks (funny poems). Of all types of verbal humor, the joke is probably the most popular. The joke may be as short as a one-liner, or it may be a long and complex story with a surprise ending. Many jokes depend for their success on the unexpected, or bringing together two ways of thinking about the same thing that would not normally occur to someone. Others depend on exaggeration, insult, or absurdity.

　However, something humorous does not necessarily amuse everyone. Sometimes the reason is cultural. Each society has its own notion of what is comic. An American viewing a British comedy on stage or television may find little to laugh at because the origin of the humour is not understood. The foreigner does not know what the rest of the audience finds funny. Even within one culture there are different responses to humour. Young children, teenagers, and adults do not laugh at the same things.

四．课前预习

翻译下列单词，词组

1. 直到现在 2.忧愁的，沮丧的 3.对...满足

4. 穷的，缺少的 5. 款待，使欢乐

6. 对某事感到惊讶 7. 有胡子的无家可归的男人

8. 切断，断绝 9. 担任主角，主演

10. 磨破的，穿旧的 11. 失败 12. 挑出；辨别出

13. 搜寻，寻找 14. 一双皮鞋 15. 令人信服的

16. 做平凡的日常工作 17. 使某人确信某事

18. 克服所有的困难 19. 在...边缘 20. 杰出的

五．阅读导学

1. Let students read the following jokes and find their punchlines. (Answers may vary)

1) Policeman: Why did you have to break into the same shop three times?

Thief: Well, I stole a dress from that shop but my wife didn't like it. So I had to go back and change it twice!

2) Teacher: You say that John Jones has a cold and cannot come to school today. Who am I speaking to?

Voice: Oh, this is my father.

3) Policeman: You can't park here.

　Driver: Why not?

　Policeman: Read the sign.

Driver: I did. It says, "Fine for parking!"