Humor‏

Riddles have been around for thousands of years. Americans also enjoy this kind of question-and-answer humor:
--What is black when it's clean and white when it's dirty? A blackboard.
--What asks no questions but gets many answers? A doorbell.
--What starts with T, ends with T and is full of T (tea)? A teapot.
謎語的存在已有幾千年的歷史，但
美國人仍喜歡這種問答式的幽默：
--什麼東西乾淨時是黑的，但弄髒時是
白的？黑板。
--什麼東西不發問，但卻得到許多回
答？門鈴。
--什麼東西以T 開頭，以T結尾，而且
裡面都是T（茶）？茶壼。
People in America like making each other laugh. Even if they are not professional comedians, most people think they have a good sense of humor. A favorite American style of joking around is “pulling somebody's leg.” That means telling someone a story which is untrue—maybe even a“tall tale”—while keeping a straight face. At other times, Americans use funny voices or sound effects to spice up a story. Their body language and facial expressions add to the humor.
美國人喜歡引人發笑，即使不是什
麼專業的喜劇演員，大部分的人都覺得
自己很幽默。美國人最喜歡的一種玩笑
方式是「開別人玩笑，使其信以為真」，
就是板著臉孔正經八百地陳述一件並非
真實的故事——或許甚至是個誇張的故
事。此外，美國人會以滑稽的聲音或音
效為一個故事增加笑料，他們的肢體語
言和面部表情可以使其更好笑。

Sometimes, though, people in America make jokes about others. Mothers-in-law, politicians, teachers and ethnic groups are the target of many jokes. Here's one: An absent-minded college professor left a note on his office door that said,“I'II be back in one hour.” When he returned, he read the note and sat down to wait for himself. Get it?
不過，有時候美國人也會取笑他
人，岳母、政客、老師和不同族群的人
都是被取笑的對象。這裡有一個笑話：
一個心不在焉的大學教授在他辦公室門
口留了一張紙條，上面寫著：「我會在
一個小時內回來。」當他回來時，看完
紙條後就坐下來等他自己。你聽懂了
嗎？

America is a funny place. lf you need a laugh, it's not far away. Just pick up a newspaper and scan the “funny pages” for your favorite comic strip. Or turn on the TV and watch a comedy show. Mail a smile to a friend by sending a humorous greeting card. And watch for amusing situations around you in real life. Telling stories about funny experiences is a great way to brighten up someone's day. Hey, did you hear about the time . . .
美國是個很有趣的地方，你如果需
要一笑，絕對不成問題。只要拿起報
紙，瀏覽一下遊戲版上你最喜歡的連環
漫畫，或者打開電視看一齣喜劇。寄一
張有趣的祝賀卡給朋友，帶給他一個微
笑。觀察周遭生活中一些有趣的情況，
把一些有趣的經驗告訴別人，這也是個
讓人日子過得更開心的好方法。嘿，你
有沒有聽說，有一次我⋯⋯。
?Word Bank
comedian (n) 喜劇演員
pull somebody's leg (v phr) 開某人玩笑使其信以為真
straight face (n phr) 沒有表情的臉孔；嚴肅的臉

target (n)（被開玩笑的）目標
absent-minded (adj) 心不在焉的

comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫

The Day's Phrase

They are more than just delicious
這種水果不只是美味而已

Joe, please swallow your pride and pull over to ask for directions!
喬，請你放下身段，停車問路吧！
Corporate spying - easier than you think
企業間諜活動──比想像中更容易

I don't want to get married any time in the near future.
短期之內我並不想結婚。

Corporate spying - easier than you think
企業間諜活動──比想像中更容易

As a general rule, always show respect to people older than you.
就一般而言，總要尊敬比你年長的人。

Own an elephant for a day at this unique farm
在獨一無二的牧場裡，當一天的大象飼主

If you don't clean your room you can kiss watching television goodbye.
如果你不整理你房間，你就不用看電視了。