新编大学英语课文原文doc.doc

: .
1] The joy of laughing at a funny story is
universal , probably as old as language itself. But, what is it that
funny
[2] As one who has enjoyed humor since I first recognized it, I've made an attempt to explain and
discuss humor with students in such diverse cultures as Latin America and China. I've done some serious
thinking about funny stories. It has been a labor of love [N] ![3] Why is it that several students in a class will fall
out of their chairs laughing after I tell a joke while the rest of the students look as if I've just read the weather report? [N] Obviously some people are more sensitive to humor than others. And, we recognize that some people tell jokes very well while others struggle to say something funny. We've all heard people say, "I like jokes, but I can't tell one well, and I can never remember them." Some people have a better sense of humor than others just as some people have more musical talent, mathematical talent, etc. than others. A truly funny person has a joke for every occasion, and when one is told, that triggers an entire string of jokes from that person's memory bank. [N] A humorless person is not likely to be the most popular person in a group. It is reasonable to say that the truly humorous individual is not only well liked, but is often the focus of attention in any gathering. [4] Even some animals have a sense of humor. My wife's mother often visited us for extended stays. [N] She normally didn't like dogs, but she fell in love with Blitzen [N] — a female Lab [N] we had, and the relationship was mutual . Even when young, Blitzen would tease Grandma by very selectively carrying one of her bedroom slippers into the living room where Grandma sat in her favorite, comfortable chair. Blitzen pranced just beyond the reach of Grandma until Grandma was tempted to leave her chair to get the slipper from Blitzen. When Grandma left her chair, Blitzen would