The British are known for their sense of humor. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, "It's a little damp(潮湿的) outside." Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person loudly, people might say, "He isn't exactly friendly." Understatement is often used in unpleasant situations or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humor.
Another key to understanding British humor is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen in everyday life. For example, they laugh when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes on people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What's more, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humor.
Mr. Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990. Mr. Bean doesn't talk often, and instead he uses his body movement and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr. Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world will never do.
Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because people do not have to speak English to understand the humor. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humor.
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11. How do the British often show their sense of humor according to the passage?
A.By telling funny stories. | B.By watching comedies like Mr. Bean. |
C.By saying less than they think or feel. | D.By playing tricks on others. |
12. If an Englishman gets sunburnt outside, what might he say according to Paragraph 2?
A.It is a little sunny today. | B.I love the sun so much. |
C.The sun plays a trick on me. | D.I have bathed in the sun. |
13. What do the British love to watch comedies about?
A.The British jokes about adults. | B.The cultures in many countries around the world. |
C.The weather that is special in Britain. | D.People having no idea about how to behave in society. |
14. Why is Mr. Bean popular in non-English speaking countries?
A.Because he doesn't talk too much. |
B.Because he does what other adults will never do. |
C.Because he copies others' expressions. |
D.Because he makes fun of others. |
15. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.Why Mr. Bean is so popular. | B.How to understand the British humor. |
C.The humor in different countries. | D.How to be humorous like the British. |