can you name these great comedians? ma ji is a well-known artist of crosstalk shows in china. his...

Can you name these great comedians?

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

M6U1 ReadingM6U1 Reading

Stand-up Stand-up forfor your your healthhealth!!

Billy Crystal

Crystal was a natural

entertainer and had no

fears about dancing on

stage with top jazz stars.

A brief introduction of Billy Crystal

Born: 14-Mar-1947Birthplace: Long Beach, Long Island, NY

Gender: MaleReligion: JewishRace or Ethnicity: WhiteOccupation: Comic, Actor Nationality: United StatesExecutive summary: When Harry Met Sally

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

General questions: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.

Stand-up for your health

Types of stand-up

A famous comedian

Laughter is good for you

Structure of the article

Detailed information:Detailed information:1. What is special about stand-up comed

y?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 be

come so famous?

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?

1. What is special about stand-up comedy?

Stand-up is different from otherforms of comedy because the comedian is in front of the audience and may talkdirectly to audience members.

2. What are the four main types of stand-up?

They are observational, prop, physical, and impressionist.

3.When did Billy Crystal begin practising stand-up?

4.What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous?

He began practising stand-upwhen he was a child.

His outstanding ability to improvise.

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 wholived to be 100 years old and kept working until the end of their lives.

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.

C2: Choose the correct type C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy.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, Observational, Prop,Prop,Physical, Physical, ImpressionistImpressionist

A comedian puts on glasses, changes his or her voice and pretends to be someone else. Impressionist

C2: Choose the correct type C2: Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy.of stand-up comedy.

Observational, Observational, Prop,Prop,Physical, Physical, ImpressionistImpressionist

C2: Observational, Prop, C2: Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist Physical, Impressionist

A comedian walks on stage. As she introduces herself, she falls down. Physical

Observational, Observational, Prop,Prop,Physical, Physical, ImpressionistImpressionist

C2: Observational, Prop, C2: Observational, Prop, Physical, Impressionist 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, Observational, Prop,Prop,Physical, Physical, ImpressionistImpressionist

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

Reading comprehension: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

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

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

4.What does the word ‘routine’ in Para. 3 probably mean?

A. road B. performance C. lines D. style

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

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

7.What does the word ‘appropriate’ in Para. 4 probably mean?

A. proper B. clear C. silly D. enjoyable

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

Fill in the blanks according to Fill in the blanks according to the text. the text. (1)(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

stylesfour

humour

(2)(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.

comedian8

routine

live

improvise

(3)(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 ________’.

longereffect

brain

Laughing

medicine

E(p5) Complete the E(p5) Complete the passage.passage.

1. American 2. observe3. appropriate 4. comedy5. television 6. actors7. improvise 8. host9. healthy 10. comedian

F(p5) Discuss the questions: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.

• Write a funny story.• Relevant exercises in

Assessment book.

•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.