Unit 2 Working the land using language课时作业

Ⅰ.阅读理解

　　A

　　Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying"no"， criticizing, and getting the other fellow to do what

　　you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it is the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that a serious dialogue may start a riot. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance that people in any other forum.

　　Humor is often the best way to keep a small misunderstanding from escalating (升级) into a big deal. Recently a neighbor of mine had a quarrel with his wife as she drove him to the airport. Airborne, he felt miserable, and he knew she did, too. Two hours after she returned home, she received a long­distance phone call."Person­to­person for Mrs. I. A. Pologize." intoned the operator."That's spelled 'P' as in ..." In a twinkling (眨眼间), the whole day changed from bad to lovely at both ends of the wire.

　　An English hostess with a quick wit was giving a formal dinner for eight distinguished guests whom she hoped to enlist (赞助) in a major charity drive. Austerity was a fashion in England at the time, and she had asked her children to serve the meal. She knew that anything could happen ... and it did, just as her son, with the studied concentration of a tight rope walker, brought in a large roast turkey; he successfully elbowed the swinging dining­room door, but the backswing threw the bird onto the dining­room floor.

　　The boy stood rooted, the guests staring at their plates. Moving only her head the hostess looked at her son，"No harm, Daniel"， she said，"just pick him up and take him back to the kitchen" ... she enunciated (发音) clearly so he would think about what she was saying ..."and bring in the other one."

　　A wink and a one­liner instantly changed the dinner from a red­faced embarrassment to a laughter.

　　语篇解读：幽默能使我们有效地应对尴尬的局面。

　　1．What is the main idea of the passage?

　　A．Humor is the key to success in our work and lives.

　　B．Humor enables us to deal with difficult situations effectively.

C．Humor is the best way to criticize someone without losing his face.