Unit 3 A taste of English humour
Reading I A MASTER OF NOVERBAL HUMOUR
As Victor Hugo once said, “Laughter is the sun that 1 winter
from the human face”, and 2 nobody has been able to do this
better than Charlie Chaplin. He made people laugh at a time when they
felt 3 , so they could feel more 4 their lives.
Not that Charlie’s own life was easy! He was born in a poor family in
1889. His parents were both poor music hall performers. You may find it
﹒ 5 that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and
dance as soon as he could walk. Such training was common in 6
at this time, especially when the family 7 was often uncertain.
﹒ 8 his father died, leaving the family even 9 , so
Charlie spent his childhood looking after his sick mother and his brother.
By his 10 , Charlie had, through his humour, become one of the
most popular 11 in England. He could mime and 12 doing
ordinary everyday tasks. No one was ever bored watching him – his
subtle acting made everything 13 .
As time went by, he began making films. He grew more and more
popular as his 14 , the little tramp, became known throughout
the world. The tramp, a poor, homeless man with a moustache, wore large
trousers, worn – out shoes and a small round black hat. He walked around
stiffly carrying a walking stick. This character was a 15 but
was loved for his optimism and determination to 16 all
difficulties. He was the underdog who was kind even when others were
unkind to him.
How did the little tramp make a sad situation entertaining? Here is an
example from one of his most famous films, The Gold Rush. It is the
mid-nineteenth century and gold has just been 17 in California.
Like so many others, the little tramp and his friend have rushed there in
search of gold, but without success. Instead they are hiding in a small hut
on the 18 of a mountain during a snowstorm with nothing to eat.
They are so hungry that they try boiling a pair of leather shoes for their
dinner. Charlie first 19 the laces and eats them as if they were
spaghetti. Then he 20 the leather top of the shoe as if it were
the finest steak. Finally he tries cutting and chewing that it makes you
believe that it is one of the best meals he has ever tasted!
Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and produced the films he starred in. In
1972 he was given a special Oscar for his 21 work in films. He
lived in England and the USA but spent his last years in Switzerland,
where he was buried in 1977. He is loved and remembered as a great
actor who could 22 people with great confidence.
Using Language Reading II
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson 23 in a mountainous
area. They were lying in the open air under the stars. Sherlock Holmes
looked up at the stars and whispered, “Watson, when you look at that
beautiful sky, what do you 24 ?” Watson replied, “ I think of
how short life is and how long the universe has lasted.” “No, no,
Watson!” Holmes said. “What do you really think of?” Watson tried again.
“I think of how small I am and how 25 the sky is.” “Try again,
Watson!” said Holmes. Watson tried a third time. “I think of how cold the
universe is and how warm people can be in their beds.” Holmes said,
“Watson, you fool! You should be thinking that someone has stolen our
tent!”