A happy place to work 工作学习中幽默的“功效”

走到世界任何一个国家，不论是在办公室还是在教室里，幽默总能使大家轻松愉快的工作、学习，开心地度过每一天。研究人员调查了快乐的工作环境给人带来的益处有哪些。本期《随身英语》分享幽默的“功效”。

课文内容 Vocabulary: humour 词汇: 幽默 Everybody likes to laugh sometimes, whether at a funny joke, an amusing incident or a hilarious photograph or sound. Comedians who parody well known people always tickle my funny bone! The great thing is that once we've had a good laugh, we feel happier. It would seem therefore, that bringing a bit of humour into more serious situations might be good for us.

Places like a humourless office or a tense classroom could sometimes do with a good dose of laughter. I know that in my workplace, a bit of hilarity can go a long way towards making it a more enjoyable place to spend eight or so hours a day. Seeing the funny side of things can certainly lift our spirits and that in turn can make us feel better about what we're doing.

Maybe we should get inspiration from Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada. When he walks around the firm's Ontario headquarters he shares his sense of humour to bond with his staff. He says "It can help people feel more relaxed, more comfortable and thus be more effective at what they do." Humour can be used by teachers in the classroom too. It's a good way to break the ice with students and create a more relaxed atmosphere which is good for learning, as long as everyone doesn't spend all their time in hysterics!

But we have to be careful; not everyone laughs at the same things. While some of us may admire a work colleague or fellow student for their clever and well-told joke, others may consider them sarcastic, offensive or just an idiot! According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia's Wharton School, a worker or boss who successfully uses humour is seen as both confident and competent, which in turn increases his or her status. He says "Being funny is taking a risk, and being risky shows confidence." His study 'Risky Business: When Humour Increases and Decreases Status' also found that someone who tells inappropriate jokes is also seen as confident but they're also regarded as incompetent.

So telling the right jokes in the office or classroom can spread some happiness but if you still think working and studying is no laughing matter, take note of a study published in The Journal of Behavioural and Applied Management in 2006, that found for healthcare workers, emotional exhaustion was significantly lower among those who experienced greater levels of fun at work. And other research has discovered that teams who share more jokes gave more supportive and constructive statements to each other – and that's no joke!

词汇表 amusing 引人发笑的，好笑的

hilarious 非常滑稽的

parody 滑稽地模仿

tickle someone’s funny bone 令某人发笑

humourless 缺乏幽默感的

dose 一剂

hilarity 欢乐，欢闹

the funny side （事物）有趣的一面

lift somebody’s spirits 提高某人的兴致

inspiration 灵感

sense of humour 幽默感

bond 亲近，团结

break the ice 打破沉默、冷场

hysterics 狂笑

sarcastic 讽刺的，挖苦的

offensive 令人不愉快的，讨厌的

competent 有能力的

inappropriate 不恰当的，不合适的

no laughing matter 严肃的事情，不是开玩笑的事

supportive 鼓励的，支持的

constructive 积极的，有用的

测验与练习 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. How does Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada, try to get along with his employees?

2. According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia's Wharton School, how does a worker have to use humour if he or she is to appear confident and competent?

3. True or false: A study found health workers got greater levels of emotional exhaustion when they had fun at work.

4. Which word used in the article means 'respect and approve of someone or their behaviour'?

5. How competent is someone seen as when they tell inappropriate jokes?

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. Everyone was laughing at the comedian, but I didn't find his type of humour very ______.

amusement       amused       amusing       hilarity

2. The famous actor was arrested at midnight in his underpants – but has since said he sees ______ of the case of mistaken identity.

sense of humour       the funny side       no laughing matter       break the ice

3. I think my boyfriend was being ______ when he said I've put on weight; he knows I'm pregnant so that's not funny!

sarcastic       supportive       hilarious       competent

4. When you want to make new friends, it's a good idea to invite them for coffee to ______.

break the ice       breaking the ice       break ice       break the ice

5. The radio presenter was reduced to ______ by an unfortunate rude slip of the tongue while trying to read the news!

amusing       hysterics       humour       parody

答案 1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. How does Steve Carlisle, president of General Motors of Canada, try to get along with his employees?

He uses his sense of humour (he tells jokes) to bond with his staff.

2. According to Professor Schweitzer, from the University of Philadelphia's Wharton School, how does a worker have to use humour if he or she is to appear confident and competent?

A worker or boss who successfully uses humour is seen as both confident and competent.

3. True or false: A study found health workers got greater levels of emotional exhaustion when they had fun at work.

False: A study published in The Journal of Behavioural and Applied Management in 2006, that found for healthcare workers, emotional exhaustion was significantly lower among those who experienced greater levels of fun at work.

4. Which word used in the article means ' respect and approve of someone or their behaviour'?

admire. (Some of us may admire a work colleague or fellow student for their clever and well told joke.)

5. How competent is someone seen as when they tell inappropriate jokes?

Not competent at all. ("Someone who tells inappropriate jokes is also seen as confident but they're also regarded as incompetent.")

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. Everyone was laughing at the comedian, but I didn't find his type of humour very amusing.

2. The famous actor was arrested at midnight in his underpants – but has since said he sees the funny side of the case of mistaken identity.

3. I think my boyfriend was being sarcastic when he said I've put on weight; he knows I'm pregnant!

4. When you want to make new friends, it's a good idea to invite them for coffee to break the ice.

5. The unfortunate radio presenter was reduced to hysterics by an unfortunate rude slip of the tongue while trying to read the news!