走到世界任何一個國傢，不論是在辦公室還是在教室裡，幽默總能使大傢輕松愉快的工作、學習，開心地度過每一天。研究人員調查瞭快樂的工作環境給人帶來的益處有哪些。本期《隨身英語》分享幽默的“功效”。
課文內容
Vocabulary: humour 詞匯: 幽默
Everybody likes to laugh sometimes, whether at a funny joke, an amusing incident or a hilarious photograph or sound. Comedians who parody well known people always tickle my funny bone! The great thing is that once we’ve had a good laugh, we feel happier. It would seem therefore, that bringing a bit of humour into more serious situations might be good for us.
Places like a humourless office or a tense classroom could sometimes do with a good dose of laughter. I know that in my workplace, a bit of hilarity can go a long way towards making it a more enjoyable place to spend eight or so hours a day. Seeing the funny side of things can certainly lift our spirits and that in turn can make us feel better about what we’re doing.
Maybe we should get inspiration from Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada. When he walks around the firm’s Ontario headquarters he shares his sense of humour to bond with his staff. He says “It can help people feel more relaxed, more comfortable and thus be more effective at what they do.” Humour can be used by teachers in the classroom too. It’s a good way to break the ice with students and create a more relaxed atmosphere which is good for learning, as long as everyone doesn’t spend all their time in hysterics!
But we have to be careful; not everyone laughs at the same things. While some of us may admire a work colleague or fellow student for their clever and well-told joke, others may consider them sarcastic, offensive or just an idiot! According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia’s Wharton School, a worker or boss who successfully uses humour is seen as both confident and competent, which in turn increases his or her status. He says “Being funny is taking a risk, and being risky shows confidence.” His study ‘Risky Business: When Humour Increases and Decreases Status’ also found that someone who tells inappropriate jokes is also seen as confident but they’re also regarded as incompetent.
So telling the right jokes in the office or classroom can spread some happiness but if you still think working and studying is no laughing matter, take note of a study published in The Journal of Behavioural and Applied Management in 2006, that found for healthcare workers, emotional exhaustion was significantly lower among those who experienced greater levels of fun at work. And other research has discovered that teams who share more jokes gave more supportive and constructive statements to each other – and that’s no joke!
詞匯表
amusing 引人發笑的，好笑的
hilarious 非常滑稽的
parody 滑稽地模仿
tickle someone’s funny bone 令某人發笑
humourless 缺乏幽默感的
dose 一劑
hilarity 歡樂，歡鬧
the funny side （事物）有趣的一面
lift somebody’s spirits 提高某人的興致
inspiration 靈感
sense of humour 幽默感
bond 親近，團結
break the ice 打破沉默、冷場
hysterics 狂笑
sarcastic 諷刺的，挖苦的
offensive 令人不愉快的，討厭的
competent 有能力的
inappropriate 不恰當的，不合適的
no laughing matter 嚴肅的事情，不是開玩笑的事
supportive 鼓勵的，支持的
constructive 積極的，有用的
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. How does Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada, try to get along with his employees?
2. According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia’s Wharton School, how does a worker have to use humour if he or she is to appear confident and competent?
3. True or false: A study found health workers got greater levels of emotional exhaustion when they had fun at work.
4. Which word used in the article means ‘respect and approve of someone or their behaviour’?
5. How competent is someone seen as when they tell inappropriate jokes?
2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. Everyone was laughing at the comedian, but I didn’t find his type of humour very ______.
amusement amused amusing hilarity
2. The famous actor was arrested at midnight in his underpants – but has since said he sees ______ of the case of mistaken identity.
sense of humour the funny side no laughing matter break the ice
3. I think my boyfriend was being ______ when he said I’ve put on weight; he knows I’m pregnant so that’s not funny!
sarcastic supportive hilarious competent
4. When you want to make new friends, it’s a good idea to invite them for coffee to ______.
break the ice breaking the ice break ice break the ice
5. The radio presenter was reduced to ______ by an unfortunate rude slip of the tongue while trying to read the news!
amusing hysterics humour parody
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. How does Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada, try to get along with his employees?
He uses his sense of humour (he tells jokes) to bond with his staff.
2. According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia’s Wharton School, how does a worker have to use humour if he or she is to appear confident and competent?
A worker or boss who successfully uses humour is seen as both confident and competent.
3. True or false: A study found health workers got greater levels of emotional exhaustion when they had fun at work.
False: A study published in The Journal of Behavioural and Applied Management in 2006, that found for healthcare workers, emotional exhaustion was significantly lower among those who experienced greater levels of fun at work.
4. Which word used in the article means ‘ respect and approve of someone or their behaviour’?
admire. (Some of us may admire a work colleague or fellow student for their clever and well told joke.)
5. How competent is someone seen as when they tell inappropriate jokes?
Not competent at all. (“Someone who tells inappropriate jokes is also seen as confident but they’re also regarded as incompetent.”)
2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. Everyone was laughing at the comedian, but I didn’t find his type of humour very amusing.
2. The famous actor was arrested at midnight in his underpants – but has since said he sees the funny side of the case of mistaken identity.
3. I think my boyfriend was being sarcastic when he said I’ve put on weight; he knows I’m pregnant!
4. When you want to make new friends, it’s a good idea to invite them for coffee to break the ice.
5. The unfortunate radio presenter was reduced to hysterics by an unfortunate rude slip of the tongue while trying to read the news!
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