Introduction
You have probably heard the saying, “Laughter is the
best medicine.” Many medical studies show that laughter has both physical and
mental benefits, but in today’s fast-paced stressful world, there is definitely
a lack of laughter. People get so caught up in the have-to do’s
and should-do’s that they forget to lighten up. Laughter and humor are two powerful tools that can help people cope and
get through threatening situations. Looking at life’s situations with a sense
of humor and laughter provides perspective and helps
keep things in balance when life seems unfair.
The Benefits of Laughter
There are
limits to what we really know about laughter. There have been many theories to
explain the link between laughter and health. Laughter is often part of a
bigger picture, the social picture. Health benefits can come from having fun
with family and friends, and laughter just naturally goes along with that.
While no one really knows the precise connection, we do know that it improves
your quality of life.
Why Do People Laugh?
Philosopher
John Morreall believes that laughter came about as a
gesture of shared relief at the passing of danger. Many researchers believe
that the purpose of laughter is related to human connections. Laughter happens
when people feel comfortable with each other. With more laughter comes more
bonding. Robert Provine, professor of psychology and
neuroscience at the University of Maryland Baltimore
County, believes that laughter is a social function. People are 30 times more
likely to laugh in social settings than when they are alone. Laughter isn’t a
learned behaviour; it’s instinctual. People who are born blind and deaf still
laugh and infants laugh before they are two months old. Before humans used
speech, laughter was a simpler method of communication.
Finding Things Funny
Each of us has our own unique sense of humor.
What people find funny seems to be most significant to age. Young children are
constantly discovering new things that may seem ridiculous and surprising to
them and so they laugh. They also laugh, much to their parents’ dismay, at
toilet jokes and cruelty to others. Pre-teens and adolescents often use humor as a tool to protect themselves or feel superior. As
people mature, humor becomes more developed as they
learn more. As adults gain more experiences, their sense of humor usually centers around the issues that stress them out. Other factors that
affect humor are culture and the community that
people come from.
What You Get When You Laugh
Laughter has many psychological
benefits. Laughter lets people harmlessly release negative emotions such as anger,
sadness, and fear. While we are working at surviving, laughter can help us
maintain our perspective. The next time you feel like you are losing control,
allow yourself a little “humor time.” If you can find
what’s funny in a situation, your upsets may not seem as important as they once
did.
Nancy Recker..
‘Laughter Is Really Good Medicine’. Family and Consumer
Sciences.
COMPREHENSION
1.
Try to find the main idea in each section.
(A) Introduction: …………………………………………………………………..…………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(B) The benefits of Laughter:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(C) Why do people laugh?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(D) Finding
Things Funny
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(E) What you
get when you laugh
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Decide if these statements are true or
false, then, justify your answer.
a. We know almost everything about laughter.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
b. Laughter occurs when there is comfort in
terms of relationships with others.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
c. Laughter remains the same even if
people grow up.
Truer Falser
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d. culture and the community are two factors
that do not affect humour.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
e. Having “humor time”
makes you lose control over yourself.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Answer the following questions briefly,
in your own words as far as possible.
a. What does laughter crate?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
b. What do Pre-teens and adolescents
use humour for?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Complete the following words. Their
meanings are given for guidance.
a) Lau……………………………. : The act or sound of laughing.
b) Ligh…………………………… : To become more
relaxed and less serious.
c) Hu…………………………….. : The ability
to find things funny, the way in which people see that some things are funny or
the quality of being funny.
d) Bon……………………………. : The process by which a close
emotional relationship is developed.
e) Rid……………………………. : Stupid or unreasonable and deserving
to be laughed at.
f)
Dis…………………………….. : A feeling of unhappiness and
disappointment.
g) Cru……………………………. : Cruel behaviour or a cruel action.
h) Rel……………………………. : A feeling
that you are free from something unpleasant.
i)
Up…………………………….. : To make someone worried, unhappy or
angry.
j)
Fu…………………………….. : Humorous; causing laughter.
5. Use the words above to make meaningful sentences.
1.……………………………………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………………………………
3……………………………………………………………………………………………
4……………………………………………………………………………………………
5……………………………………………………………………………………………
6……………………………………………………………………………………………
7……………………………………………………………………………………………
8……………………………………………………………………………………………
9……………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Fin in the text the antonyms of the following words
Word |
# |
Antonym |
1. Fair |
a)…………………………………………….. |
|
2. Uncomfortable |
b)…………………………………………….. |
|
3. Insignificant |
c)…………………………………………….. |
|
4. Immature |
d)…………………………………………….. |