4. Can you name these great comedians?

5. Ma Ji is a well-known artist of crosstalk shows in China. His crosstalk shows always make his audience shout with laughter.

6. M6U1 Reading Stand-up for your health!

7. Billy Crystal

8. Crystal was a natural entertainer and had no fears about dancing on stage with top jazz stars. A brief introduction of Billy Crystal

9. Born: 14-Mar-1947 Birthplace: Long Beach, Long Island, NY Gender: Male Religion: Jewish Race or Ethnicity: White Occupation: Comic, Actor Nationality: United States Executive summary: When Harry Met Sally

10. Crystal studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. After graduation and marriage, Crystal did substitute teaching while he tried his comedy act at various clubs throughout New York.

11. In the seventies the Crystal family moved to Los Angeles. Crystal did some stand-up at the Comedy Store and was noticed by Norman Lear. This was the turning point, Crystal started making guest appearances on TV and eventually landed his role in “Soap”.

12. In the eighties Crystal moved his family back to New York. There he appeared on cable TV, did guest spots and made-for-TV movies. Back on the stand-up circuit, Crystal became famous for his Fernando Lamas and Sammy Davis, Jr. impersonations.

13. He and his impersonations joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1984. He spent only one year with the show, but was the most popular member of the cast and he earned an Emmy nomination for Best Individual Performance.

14. His ambition now is to have a one-man show on Broadway. He has the practice from his years of being one of the most popular emcees of the Oscar Awards. His opening tributes to the nominees are anticipated every year and talked about more than the winners.

15. General questions: What is the article about? Stand-up comedy. How many types of stand-up are there? There are four main types. What is laughter good for? Our health.

16. Stand-up for your health Types of stand-up A famous comedian Laughter is good for you Structure of the article

17. Detailed information: 1.What is special about stand-up comedy? 2.What are the four main types of stand-up? 3.When did Billy Crystal begin practising stand-up? 4.What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous?

18. 5. How many times has Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards? 6. Who were Bob Hope and George Burns? 7. What does your brain do when you laugh? 8. What is the English idiom about laughter mentioned in the text?

19. 1.What is special about stand- up comedy? Stand-up is different from other forms of comedy because the comedian is in front of the audience and may talk directly to audience members.

20. 2. What are the four main types of stand-up? They are observational, prop, physical, and impressionist.

21. 3.When did Billy Crystal begin practising stand-up? 4.What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous? He began practising stand-up when he was a child. His outstanding ability to improvise.

22. 5. How many times has Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards? 6. Who were Bob Hope and George Burns? Eight times. They were two comedians who lived to be 100 years old and kept working until the end of their lives.

23. 7. What does your brain do when you laugh? 8. What is the English idiom about laughter mentioned in the text? It sends chemicals that are good for you into your body. Laughter is the best medicine.

24. C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. A comedian stands on stage and holds a banana to his ear. He says, ‘ Hello? Hello? I ’ m sorry I can ’ t hear you. Something must be wrong with my phone. ’ Prop Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

25. A comedian puts on glasses, changes his or her voice and pretends to be someone else. Impressionist C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy. Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

26. C2: Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist A comedian walks on stage. As she introduces herself, she falls down. Physical Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

27. C2: Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist A comedian says, ‘ My Grandmother started walking 1 km a day when she turned 60. She ’ s 89 now, and we don ’ t know where she is! ’ Observational Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist

28. Will you create similar situations to perform the four types of stand-up comedy?

29. Reading comprehension: 1.A stand-up comedian _____ while performing. A. enjoys laughing B. enjoys making fun of himself C. usually takes advantage of the audience D. has prepared a lot of jokes in advance

30. 2.Which of the following is the style of prop? A. jokes in everyday life B. visual humour C. body action D. imitation of a well-known person

31. 3.Billy Crystal started his career ____. A. as a television actor B. as a film actor C. as a stand-up comedian D. as a host

32. 4.What does the word ‘ routine ’ in Para. 3 probably mean? A. roadB. performance C. linesD. style

33. 5.What does the word ‘ improvise ’ in Para. 4 probably mean? A. perform without permission B. perform without preparation C. act well D. act fast

34. 6.At the 2004 Academy Awards, a very old actor ______ at first. A. was asked to make a silent speech B. didn ’ t turn on the microphone on purpose C. made the audience laugh D. couldn ’ t make himself heard

35. 7.What does the word ‘ appropriate ’ in Para. 4 probably mean? A. properB. clear C. sillyD. enjoyable

36. 8.We can infer from the 5th paragraph comedians are expected to ______. A. enjoy a very long life B. work till the end of life C. have no plans to stop work D. perform stand-up

37. Fill in the blanks according to the text. (1) One of the most well-known and well-loved types of ________ is called stand-up. There are different ______ of stand-up comedy. The main _____ are observational, prop, physical and impressionist. There has always been _______ in them to make people watching them laugh. comedy styles four humour

38. (2) Billy Crystal, a famous stand-up ________, has hosted the Academy Awards ____ times. Each time, he performs his stand-up _______ in front of millions of people when the show is broadcast ____ on TV. His outstanding ability to ________has impressed people around the world. comedian 8 routine live improvise

39. (3) Doctors have discovered that people who laugh a lot live ____ after researching what _____ stand-up and other forms of comedy have on us. When we laugh, our ____ sends chemicals around the body that are good for us. _______ helps the body stay healthy, as the saying goes, ‘ Laughter is the best ________ ’. longer effect brain Laughing medicine

40. E(p5) Complete the passage. 1.American2. observe 3. appropriate4. comedy 5. television6. actors 7. improvise8. host 9. healthy10. comedian

41. F(p5) Discuss the questions: 1.What kind of comedy do you enjoy the most? Why? 2.Laughter is good for you and for everyone else. How do you make other people laugh? 3.Tell a funny story to your classmates.

42. Write a funny story. Relevant exercises in Assessment book.

43. Rowan Atkinson (black-haired, bug-eyed, and weak-chinned ), a well-known British comedian, is famous for the character Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean is funny because he makes funny faces, he acts stupidly, he seems to be quite silly, and the things he does are strange.