2 . John is a barber, running a very successful business. He has a large group of regulars, some of whom enjoy a daily shave in his shop, while others just come for the occasional haircut. They keep coming because John loves to laugh, and 30 minutes spent in his shop is a medicine that cheers everyone up. His loud, booming laugh is a trademark around his town.
But John wasn’t always a barrel of laughs. In his teens and early adulthood, he suffered from depression. He often had a long face and found it hard to even smile. It was his neighbor, Mrs. Lee, who was a psychologist, that helped him out. She showed him funny videos or read light-hearted books for him, guided him to focus on things he was grateful for, rather than on things that had been bothering him. Following her advice, he forced himself to laugh as wild as possible, even if it felt fake (假的). To his surprise, after a while, he turned his life around, and real laughter came back into his life again.
Researchers say that we’re all born with the ability to laugh and that finding more ways to bring laughter into our lives does not have to be complicated. In fact, the best advice they offer is “Fake it till you make it.” If you focus on finding ways to laugh and enjoy life and try to smile and laugh even when not feeling like it, you can genuinely change your mood and laugh happily.
John also says we shouldn’t hold back our urge to laugh, even at silly things. Next time you see a funny advertisement on television, making you laugh inside, focus on letting out that laughter. Laughter can be contagious, so you may help others around you, too.
1. Why do John’s regular customers keep coming to his shop?
A.Because he is a successful barber. |
B.Because they want to buy a medicine. |
C.Because his laughing can lift their spirits. |
D.Because he can offer them best shave and haircut. |
2. Who helped John solve the problem of his teens and early adulthood?
A.Himself. | B.Researchers. | C.His neighbor. | D.His customers. |
3. What can be inferred from the researchers in the passage?
A.It is difficult to find ways to laugh. |
B.Laughter can be faked and finally become real. |
C.The ability to laugh should be developed after birth. |
D.We can watch funny videos or read light-hearted books. |
4. The underlined word “contagious” in the last paragraph probably means ______.
A.spread | B.heard | C.free | D.available |