For humour
to be effective, it must not be hurtful or offensive to others. Laughing
with ourselves and others, and not at others, is the key using humor effectively. In other words, make fun of the
situation, not the person. Humor can be used to
“break the ice” in a tense or serious situation. Humorous situations can uplift
the mood of individuals or groups.
Humor can also spread goodwill. Humor is a way of
unifying a group – a shared humorous experience increases the bonds between
families, friends, or co-workers – as it creates rapport with others. Ben Franklin
said it well, “Joy is not in things; it is in us.” Joke-telling is not the only
way to transmit humour.
Here are three tips to
get you going:
- Put humor in
your surroundings.
- Use humor as a
tool rather than as a weapon.
- Life doesn’t need to be boring nor dull.
Build humor into your family culture.
Adapted from Charlie
Rickman and Linda
J. Waybrigh. Humor – It
Works!!!. Extension Service.
1. Which one would be the best title for
the text?
r Humour in the classroom.
r World Laughter
Day.
r Humour Definitions.
r Using
Humor Effectively.
r Humour at School.
2. Decide if these statements are true or
false; then, justify your answer.
a. World
Laughter Day has come to stop fear and violence.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b. Laughter has no healing powers and
benefits.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c. Values such as peace, freedom,
compassion, kindness and tolerance will be promoted on Laughter Day.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d. Laughter increases productivity at
work.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Answer the following questions briefly,
in your own words as far as possible.
a. What are the necessary conditions for
humour to be effective?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b. What will people gather to do on
World Laughter Day?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c. What are people asked to do on
World Laughter Day?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d. What is the difference between laughing with ourselves and others and laughing at others?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4.
Complete the following sentences by quoting the appropriate word(s)
a). Humorous situations can
………………………………………………….……………………………..
b). Humor is
a way ……………………….………..………………………………………………………..
c). Ben Franklin said it well, “Joy is
not in things; ……….………………………………………………...
5. Tick the appropriate meaning of the words in bold.
a) For humor to be effective, it must not be hurtful or offensive
to others. (Paragraph 1, Line 1)
q Done by people
in authority.
q Unpleasant or insulting, and
likely to make people upset or embarrassed; #Inoffensive.
q Travelling away
from a particular place.
b) Humor can be used to “break the ice” in a tense or
serious situation. (Paragraph 2, Line 2)
q Making you feel nervous
and not relaxed, usually because you are worried about what is going to happen.
q The strong feeling you
get when you think someone has treated you badly or unfairly, that makes you
want to hurt them or shout at them.
q A feeling of
great happiness and excitement.
c) Humorous
situations can uplift the mood of individuals or groups. (Paragraph 2,
Line 2)
q To make someone feel happier or
more hopeful
q To show that you support something
such as an idea by what you say or do.
q To make
something difficult by adding details to it.
d) Humorous
situations can uplift the mood of individuals or groups. (Paragraph 2,
Line 2)
q The state of
being angry.
q The state of
being happy.
q The way that someone is feeling,
for example whether they are happy, sad, or angry.
e) It
creates rapport with others. …(Paragraph 3, Line 2)
q A small
attractive object.
q A very large
farm.
q A relationship
in which people like, understand, and respect each other.
5. Find in the text the
antonym of the following word.
a. Inoffensive # . …………………………….
6.
What does the underlined word in the text refer to?
a. It ( paragraph 1) :…………………….……………