有些人認為幽默感和開懷大笑是人類獨有的特質。但動物行為學傢們可能不同意這個觀點。有大量證據表明動物們像人類一樣喜歡互相逗樂，而且它們這樣做完全是出於好玩！聽 “隨身英語” 節目探討狗、黑猩猩、海豚和老鼠開玩笑的方式。
詞匯：laughter 笑聲
Laughter is a universal language for humans to connect with each other and form social bonds. Even as babies, we giggle when our parents pull funny faces, and then gradually learn to make others laugh as we grow up. But, is it a uniquely human experience? Scientists have observed behaviours in animals that suggest that your pets might be secret jokesters…
Have you ever seen dogs let people come close to their toy, and then playfully run away with it? Biologist Charles Darwin saw this as the dog’s version of a practical joke. Marc Bekoff, biology professor at the University of Colorado, also observed dogs playfully teasing each other by approaching slowly and then quickly running away. His work concluded that dogs just want to have fun, and he’s also said that animals may goof around as a way to cope with stress.
In a 2024 study, Isabelle Laumer and colleagues watched four ape species interact with each other and observed 18 distinct teasing behaviours. They saw young apes sneak up behind an adult, poke them to surprise them and then wait and watch the response, behaviour similar to that shown by human children. So, a sense of humour may have appeared early in our evolutionary timeline.
What about laughing? While playing, dogs sometimes produce a breathy snort that could sound like laughter. Dolphins let out sounds of joy when play-fighting. Rats make a joyful squeak similar to a giggle when they are tickled, says Jeffrey Burgdorf, professor at Northwestern University.
But, is a rat’s giggle really a sign of a sense of humour? Are the apes in Laumer’s study really joking around or just attention-seeking? What would be the evolutionary purpose of animals teasing and pranking? “In humans, humour can serve as like an ice-breaker, removing social barriers and strengthening relationships,” says Laumer. “We don’t know if it’s the same in apes or other animals, but it’s possible.”
詞匯表
laughter 笑，笑聲
giggle 咯咯地笑
pull a funny face 扮鬼臉
make (someone) laugh 逗（某人）笑
jokester 喜歡講笑話或開玩笑的人
playfully 鬧著玩地
practical joke 惡作劇
tease 戲弄，招惹
have fun 玩樂
goof around 瞎胡鬧
sneak up 悄悄靠近
poke （用手指）戳
sense of humour 幽默感
play-fight 玩耍打鬧
joyful 高興的
tickle 撓癢癢，胳肢
joke around 鬧著玩，開玩笑
prank 玩笑，惡作劇
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What are two ways dogs exhibit teasing behaviour?
2. What might be a reason for animals to goof around, according to Marc Bekoff?
3. True or False? Teasing behaviour shown by apes isn‘t seen in humans.
4. What causes rats to let out a joyful squeak in Jeffrey Burgdorf’s research?
5. What is the purpose of humour in humans, according to Laumer?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. I told Abdul a joke to _______.
pull a face sneak up on him play-fight him make him laugh
2. We get on very well and laugh a lot because we share the same _______.
goof sense of humour practical joke laughter
3. Tim _______ his dog by hiding behind the sofa and then calling his name.
poked snuck up tickled teased
4. Caterina has always been the office _______. She’s always telling funny stories.
jokester laughter pranker tickler
5. My brother always _______ me by hiding fake spiders in my bed.
pranks giggles jokes makes laugh
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What are two ways dogs exhibit teasing behaviour?
Dogs let humans come close to their toy, and then playfully run away with it. They also approach other dogs slowly and then quickly run away.
2. What might be a reason for animals to goof around, according to Marc Bekoff?
Marc Bekoff says that animals might goof around to cope with stress.
3. True or False? Teasing behaviour shown by apes isn‘t seen in humans.
False. Young apes show behaviour similar to that shown by human children.
4. What causes rats to let out a joyful squeak in Jeffrey Burgdorf’s research?
Rats let out a joyful squeak when they are tickled.
5. What is the purpose of humour in humans, according to Laumer?
Laumer says that humour can serve as like an ice-breaker, removing social barriers and strengthening relationships.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. I told Abdul a joke to make him laugh.
2. We get on very well and laugh a lot because we share the same sense of humour.
3. Tim teased his dog by hiding behind the sofa and then calling his name.
4. Caterina has always been the office jokester. She’s always telling funny stories.
5. My brother always pranks me by hiding fake spiders in my bed.
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