1、Unit 1 Laugh out loud! Developing ideas Warm up Activity 1: Read the short introductions to Mark Twain and Lin Yutang and share what else you know about them with the class. Warm up More detailed information about Mark Twain. Mark Twain (pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910), was an Amer
2、ican writer, journalist and humorist, who won a worldwide audience for his stories of the youthful adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri, of a Virginian family. He was brought up in Hannibal, Missouri. After his fathers death in 184
3、7, he was apprenticed to a printer and wrote for his brothers newspaper. He later worked as a licensed Mississippi river-boat pilot. The Civil War put an end to the steamboat traffic and Clemens moved to Virginia City, where he edited the Territorial Enterprise. On February 3, 1863, “Mark Twain” was
4、 born when Clemens signed a humorous travel account with that pseudonym. In 1864 Twain left for California, and worked in San Francisco as a reporter. He visited Hawaii as a correspondent for The Sacramento Union, publishing letters on his trip and giving lectures. He set out on a world tour, travel
5、ing in France and Italy. His experiences were recorded in 1869 in The Innocents Abroad(傻子出国记), which gained him wide popularity, and poked fun at both American and European prejudices and manners. The success as a writer gave Twain enough financial security to marry Olivia Langdon in 1870. They move
6、d next year to Hartford. Twain continued to lecture in the United States and England. Between 1876 and 1884 he published several masterpieces, Tom Sawyer (1881) and The Prince And The Pauper (1881). Life On The Mississippi appeared in 1883 and Huckleberry Finn in 1884. In the 1890s Twain lost most o
7、f his earnings in financial speculations and in the failure of his own publishing firm. To recover from the bankruptcy, he started a world lecture tour, during which one of his daughters died. Twain toured New Zealand, Australia, India, and South Africa. He wrote such books as The Tragedy of Puddnhe
8、ad Wilson (1884), Personal Recollections Of Joan of Arc (1885), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court (1889) and the travel book Following The Equator (1897). During his long writing career, Twain also produced a considerable number of essays. The death of his wife and his second daughter darke
9、ned the authors later years, which is seen in his posthumously published autobiography (1924). Twain died on April 21, 1910. More detailed information about Lin Yutang. Chinese writer, philosopher, translator, and poet, Lin Yutang (1895 - 1976), wrote more than 35 books in English and Chinese, and b
10、rought the classics of Chinese literature to western readers. In 1919, at the age of 23, he received a half-tuition scholarship to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He married at this time and moved with his wife to the United States. At Harvard he worked toward his doctorate in
11、 comparative literature and counted literary scholar and editor Bliss Perry and humanist Irving Babbitt as his professors. Next to T.S. Eliot, Lin has been called the most influential of Babbitts students. Lin was perhaps the only writer to feature Babbitt in one of his own poems, having mentioned h
12、im in “Autobiographical Poem of the Author at Forty,” written in Chinese, and again forty years later in his Memoirs of an Octogenarian. Lin did not finish his degree at Harvard; instead he moved to Le Creusot, France, to study with other Chinese and to work for the Young Mens Christian Academy (YMC
13、A), teaching Chinese laborers to read and write. In 1921 he was accepted at the University of Jena in Leipzig, Germany, where he finally completed his doctorate. Lin returned to China to teach for thirteen years. He was a professor of English literature at the University of Beijing from 1923 - 1926,
14、 and served as Dean at Amoy University in 1926. While reading 课文重点解析课文重点解析 1. ., their authors understood that humour could not only entertain but also throw new light on sensitive or emotive issues. ，但是它们的作者明白，幽默不仅娱乐大众，而且可以 使人们对敏感问题或有争议的问题产生新的认识。 throw (new) light on sth （提供新资料提供新资料）使某事更易理解使某事更易理解
15、This study may throw light on its present state. 这种研究有助于说明它目前的状态。 The spacecraft is set to throw new light on how the solar system works. 这艘宇宙飞船可能会让人们对太阳系的运转有一个更新的认 识。 interaction n. 相互影响相互影响，相互作用；交流相互作用；交流 interact v. 相互影响相互影响，相互作用；交流相互作用；交流，交往交往 Price is determined through the interaction of deman
16、d and supply. 价格是通过供需消长而定的。 This can sometimes lead to somewhat superficial interactions with other people. 这有时可能会导致与他人的交往流于肤浅。 Teachers have a limited amount of time to interact with each child. 教师和每个孩子沟通的时间有限。 2. But he is equally well known for his witty remarks in his everyday interactions with
17、people. 他日常与人交流中的诙谐言论同样出名。 shave n. & v. 刮脸刮脸，刮胡子刮胡子 He had shaved his face until it was smooth. 他把脸上的胡子刮得干干净净。 He was badly in need of a shave. 他早就应该刮一下胡子了。 3. .,Twain went into a barbers shop to get a haircut and a shave. ，马克 吐温走进一家理发店去理发和刮脸。 fellow n. 男人；家伙男人；家伙 He was a meek, mild-mannered fello
18、w. 他是一个温顺随和的人。 By all accounts, Rodger would appear to be a fine fellow. 据说，罗杰是个好小伙。 4. “Thats just my luck. I always have to stand when that fellow lectures!” “真倒霉。只要那个家伙演讲，我总是要站着！” brand n. 品牌品牌，牌子牌子 brand of humour/politics/religion etc 某种类型的幽默/政治/宗教等 Which brand of toothpaste do you use? 你用什么牌子的
19、牙膏？ When it comes to soft drinks, Coca-Cola is the biggest selling brand name in Britain. 说到软饮料，可口可乐在英国是最大的畅销品牌 But that doesnt mean this brand of politics is dead or dying. 但那并不意味着这种政治主张已经或正在消亡。 5. Like Twain, but on the other side of the world, Lin Yutang was soon to become famous for his unique b
20、rand of humour. 和马 克 吐温类似，在世界的另一端，林语堂很快也因其独特的幽 默风格而闻名。 concept n n. . 概念概念，观念观念 A small baby has no concept of right and wrong. 婴儿没有是非概念。 It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept. 必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。 It is important for you to grasp these basic concepts. 掌握这些基本概念对你来说很重要。 6. A well
21、-known bilingual writer, Lin brought the concept of humour to modern Chinese literature. 作为著名的双语作家，林 语堂将幽默的概念引入了中国现代文学。 put sb on the spot （故意提出难以回答或尴尬的问题故意提出难以回答或尴尬的问题 ）使某人难堪使某人难堪 If this picture appears in the paper tomorrow, hell be put on the spot. 如果这张照片明天上了报，那他可就难堪了。 You really put me on the s
22、pot by asking me to apologize before so many people. 你要我在那么多人面前道歉，真让我下不了台。 7. Once, having been invited to dinner at a university, he was put on the spot when the president suddenly asked him to give a speech. 有一次，他被邀请去一所大学吃晚饭 。 当校长突然让他做演讲 时，他感到很为难。 8. Thinking on his feet, Lin started to tell a sto
23、ry about a cruel Roman emperor who tried to feed a man to wild animals. 林语堂急 中生智，开始讲述一个残忍的罗马皇帝试图把一个人喂给野兽 的故事。 think on ones feet 形容一个人脑子很快形容一个人脑子很快，能迅速做出反应能迅速做出反应 This is a very demanding job and you have to think on your feet. 这是一个艰巨的工作，你必须得反应迅速。 If you can think on your feet, and are quick to repl
24、y to her playful teases, youll be seen as smart and alert. 如果你能够反应迅速，随机应变并能够快速对她的逗趣玩笑做出反应，那 么她会认为你聪明又机灵。 8. Thinking on his feet, Lin started to tell a story about a cruel Roman emperor who tried to feed a man to wild animals. 林语堂急 中生智，开始讲述一个残忍的罗马皇帝试图把一个人喂给野兽 的故事。 cruel adj. 残忍的；冷酷的残忍的；冷酷的 I cant st
25、and people who are cruel to animals. 我无法容忍虐待动物的人。 He was self-centred, but he wasnt cruel. 他很自私，但是并 非无情。 9. The man whispered something in the lions ear, after which the lion shook its head and walked away unhappily. 那人对狮子耳语了几句，狮子摇了摇头，不高兴地走开了。 whisper v. & n. 悄声说悄声说，低语低语 Dont you know its rude to wh
26、isper? 难道你不知道窃窃私语是不礼貌的吗？ He lowered his voice to a whisper. 他压低了声音悄悄地说话。 What are you two whispering about? 你们两人在低声说些什么？ 10. Lins audience roared with laughter. 林语堂的听众们哄堂大笑。 roar v. 吼叫吼叫，咆哮；哄笑咆哮；哄笑，大笑大笑 n n. . 吼叫声吼叫声，咆哮声咆哮声 roar with laughter 放声大笑放声大笑 His joke made everyone roar with laughter. 他的笑话引
27、得大家哄堂大笑。 A roar of laughter greeted our ears. 一阵大笑声传入我们耳中。 11. With this little joke, Lin was able to make people laugh, while gently telling off the president. 通过这个小笑话，林语堂既能让 大家哈哈大笑，同时也委婉地表达了对校长的不满。 tell off 斥责斥责，责骂责骂，训斥训斥 He never listened to us when we told him off. 我们教训他时，他从来不听。 Even if they tel
28、l you off, it will be with basic good will. 即使他们责备你，那也是带着基本的善意。 12. Living and working with others can sometimes be complicated, and humour makes this easier. 和其他人在一起生活和工作有时候 并不是一件容易的事，而幽默可以让事情变得更简单。 complicated v. 复杂的；难处理的；难懂的复杂的；难处理的；难懂的 The problem is not as complicated as you imagined. 问题没你想像的那么
29、复杂。 The instructions look very complicated. 这说明书看起来很难懂。 No matter how complicated the situation was, he could cope with it successfully. 不论情况多么复杂，他都能应付自如。 After reading 1. Why is Lin Yutangs joke about the man and wild animals funny? 2. Do you agree with Mark Twains remark on humour at the end of th
30、e passage? Give your reasons. 3. How can a sense of humour help you in your daily life? Give an example. 4. In what ways do the two reading passages in this unit help you to better understand the meaning of having a light-hearted attitude towards life? Activity：Discuss the following question with yo
31、ur classmates. Think & Share Reality Dreams Humour = Wisdom 【原文再现】 Think & Share Reality Dreams Humour = Wisdom 【原文再现】 Think & Share 1. What is your understanding of “reality” and “dreams”? 2. What is the function of “humour” in this equation? 3. What is your understanding of “wisdom”? 4. Work out t
32、he meaning of this equation and share your opinion with the class. Reality Dreams Humour = Wisdom 原文与译文欣赏原文与译文欣赏 Humour has been an essential part of human behaviour for thousands of years. There is comedy in the texts of Ancient Greece, and medieval writings are filled with jokes. While these same
33、jokes might not be as funny to us now as they were then, their authors understood that humour could not only entertain but also throw new light on sensitive or emotive issues. 数千年来，幽默一直是人类行为的重要组成部分。古希腊的文字中 记载有喜剧，而中世纪的作品中也常常出现笑话。虽然那些笑话对现在 的我们来说可能不像当时那么有趣，但是它们的作者明白，幽默不仅娱 乐大众，而且可以使人们对敏感问题或有争议的问题产生新的认识。
34、 The Importance of Humour 幽默的重要性幽默的重要性 Closer to modern times, someone who is remembered for his ability to combine humour with more serious messages is American writer, Mark Twain. Twains particular style of writing is funny and often mischievous. For example, in his classic novel The Adventures of
35、 Tom Sawyer, he famously says, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” But he is equally well known for his witty remarks in his everyday interactions with people. For instance, while on a lecturing tour of the United States, Twain went into a barbers shop to get a haircu
36、t and a shave. The barber, not recognising him, asked if he had a ticket to the lecture. When Twain replied that he didnt, the barber told him that if he wanted to go to the event he would have to stand, as there were no seats left in the theatre. Twains response was, “Thats just my luck. I always h
37、ave to stand when that fellow lectures!” 到了近现代，美国作家马克 吐温因擅长用幽默的方式表达严肃的内容而著称。吐 温独特的写作风格幽默风趣，而且常常带有调侃意味。例如，在他的经典小说汤姆 索耶历险记中有一句名言“写作很容易，你要做的就是把错误的单词划掉。”他日 常与人交流中的诙谐言论同样出名。比如，有一次在美国做巡回演讲时，马克 吐温走 进一家理发店去理发和刮脸。理发师没有认出他来，问他有没有这场演讲的门票，马 克 吐温说没有。理发师告诉他，如果他想去听演讲就只能站着了，因为剧院里已经没 有座位了。马克 吐温回答说：“真倒霉。只要那个家伙演讲，我总是要
38、站着！” Like Twain, but on the other side of the world, Lin Yutang was soon to become famous for his unique brand of humour. A well-known bilingual writer, Lin brought the concept of humour to modern Chinese literature. In 1924, he creatively borrowed “youmo” from Ancient Chinese as the translation for
39、 the English word “humour”. “Youmo” is still being used in this way today. 和马克吐温类似，在世界的另一端，林语堂很快也因其独特的幽默 风格而闻名。作为著名的双语作家，林语堂将幽默的概念引入了中国现代 文学。1924年，他创造性地借用古汉语中的“幽默”作为英文单词 “humour”的翻译。今天，“幽默”一词仍在以这种方式被人们使用。 Lins quick wit helped make him famous as a master of humour. Once, having been invited to dinne
40、r at a university, he was put on the spot when the president suddenly asked him to give a speech. Thinking on his feet, Lin started to tell a story about a cruel Roman emperor who tried to feed a man to wild animals. First came a lion. The man whispered something in the lions ear, after which the li
41、on shook its head and walked away unhappily. Then along came a tiger. Again, the man whispered in the tigers ear. The tiger looked shocked and hurried away. “What did you say to my animals?” said the emperor, astonished. “I told them they had to make a speech after eating me for dinner.” Lins audien
42、ce roared with laughter. With this little joke, Lin was able to make people laugh, while gently telling off the president. 林语堂的机智使他成为了著名的幽默大师。有一次，他被邀请去一所大学吃晚饭 ，当校长突然让他做演讲时，他感到很为难。林语堂急中生智，开始讲述一个残忍的 罗马皇帝试图把一个人喂给野兽的故事。首先来了一头狮子，那人对狮子耳语了几句 ，狮子摇了摇头，不高兴地走开了。然后来了一只老虎，那人又对老虎耳语了几句， 老虎看起来很震惊，急忙跑开了。“你对我的动物们说了什么
43、？” 皇帝惊讶地说道。 “我告诉它们，把我作为晚饭吃掉后，它们必须要演讲一番。” 林语堂的听众们哄堂 大笑。通过这个小笑话，林语堂既能让大家哈哈大笑，同时也委婉地表达了对校长的 不满。 Both Twain and Lin understood that humour isnt just about laughter, but is a way of life and a tool that can be used to illuminate the world. Lin even created an equation to explain this concept: Reality + D
44、reams + Humour = Wisdom. Living and working with others can sometimes be complicated, and humour makes this easier. Sharing jokes and laughing together can bring individuals and even communities together. Indeed, some may argue that our need for humour is almost as great as our need for water and ai
45、r. In the words of Mark Twain, “Humor is mankinds greatest blessing”. 马克 吐温和林语堂都明白，幽默不仅仅能带来笑声，它还是一种生活 方式，是一种可以用来阐明世界的工具。林语堂甚至还创造了一个公式来 解释他的理念：现实+梦想+幽默=智慧。和其他人在一起生活和工作，有时 候并不是一件容易的事，而幽默可以让事情变得更简单。一起讲笑话、一 起欢笑可以使不同的个体甚至是团体凝聚在一起。事实上，有些人甚至会 认为我们对幽默的需求几乎与我们对水和空气的需求一样强烈。用马克 吐 温的话来说：“幽默是人类头等的幸事。” Thank you!
