Mark Twain once said, “There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind--- the humorous”.It isn’t easy to tell a funny story. In fact, sometimes it’s nearly impossible to get people to laugh. But with a little imagination and a lot of practice, you can do it.
First, find a story you like. Whether you’re making it up, or retelling one you’ve heard or read, it’s got to be one you enjoy. If you don’t appreciate the humor in it, your audience won’t find it funny.
Make sure the audience can understand your story in other ways, too. If its characters or themes are boring, they won’t care, and won’t find it funny.
As you tell the story, don’t give away that something funny is coming. The more innocent your expression and tone are, the funnier it will be when you reach the funny point; it’ll be as if you’d said something funny, but didn’t know it until the audience started laughing.
Take your time telling the story. Let the audience enjoy its details. Be careful about rhythm and pacing, and use pauses for dramatic effect, and to keep the audience guessing.
Use your voice. Not only do you need to make sure everyone hears it, you also need to vary your intonation. Be excited in places, then calm down a bit, and pause for a moment before you hit the punch line.
Above all, practice! What you think is funny isn’t always funny to someone else. Practice in front of your family and friends, in fact any small audience, to get a feel for what you can do to make the story better. You’ll know what works and what doesn’t by the audience’s reaction.
| Title: How to Tell a Funny Story | ||
| Introduction | It is difficult to tell a funny story, but if you just _56__ it and do a lot of practice, your audience will __57__ out laughing. | |
| __58___ | Find a funny story | In__59__way you get the story, it must be the one you think humourous. |
| Make the audience __60__ the story | Make sure your audience __61__ about the story, or they won’t find it funny. | |
| Look __62___ | Pretending to be innocent will make the audience find the story much __63__. | |
| Take your time | Leave time for the audience to enjoy the details,and let them make a _64__ about the story. | |
| Pay attention to your voice. | Change the way your voice sounds as the story progress. | |
| Practice | Practice before small group of people, and you’ll know from their __65__ what needs to be improved. | |
66 In a way, Pompeii is like a “time capsule” p_____ a frozen moment.
67.Physical beauty must also be a_____ by an attraction to something deeper within a person.
68.Someone i____ is clever, good at understanding ideas and thinking quickly.
69 Although there were lots of difficulties to overcome,she never let her problems d____ her.
70 Because of my new qualification, I’m getting p_____ at work..
71 The old lady is offering a ____(酬金) of $50 to anyone who finds her cat for her.
72 With these limits on her communication, Helen’s behavour was often ____(难以忍受的)。
73 I sighed with ____(宽慰) and agreed to meet her at the convenience store.
74 He compensated his speaking prblems by talking very _____(从容不迫地).
75 There is no ____(一致的) view on beauty.