常春藤生活英语【108】Ha, Ha, Ha...I Feel Better! 一笑治百病

Ha, Ha, Ha...I Feel Better! 一笑治百病

A group of men and women are standing around in a circle. First, someone starts to laugh. Then a few more people chuckle. Soon, the whole gang is cracking up. They are not laughing because someone said something funny. Instead, this group of people is practicing laughter therapy.

When we laugh from being tickled or after hearing a joke, our bodies and minds feel good. Laughing is also contagious. When one person laughs, the people around him or her will soon start laughing, too.

The use of laughter therapy has been in hospitals since the 1970s. A doctor in the US found that getting his patients to laugh helped them recover better. His story was later made into the movie Patch Adams, which starred Robin Williams. In India, Dr. Madan Kataria started a laughter club in 1995 to encourage good health. From then on, this form of therapy has spread around the world. People in these groups may feel uncomfortable at first because the laughter feels forced. But once they give in and fully enjoy the 45-minute activity, they feel at ease. People who take part in laughter therapy learn what scientists have known for years—laughter is the best medicine.

一群男女正围成一个圆圈站着。起初有人先开始笑。接着其它一些人低声笑了出来。很快地，整群人都哄堂大笑。他们之所以大笑，并非有人说了什么好笑的事。这群人是在进行笑声疗法。

当我们被人搔痒或听了笑话而哈哈大笑时，我们的身心都会觉得舒畅。笑声也具有感染力。当一个人笑的时候，他或她身边的人很快也会开始大笑。
　
从1970年代起，医院里便运用了笑声疗法。一位美国医生发现让他的病患大笑，会帮助他们复原得更好。他的故事尔后被拍成由罗宾‧威廉斯所主演的电影－－《心灵点滴》。印度的马当‧卡塔利亚博士也于1995年创立了一个欢笑俱乐部来促进健康。从此之后，这种疗法便流传到全世界。在这些团体里的人起初会觉得不舒服，因为他们觉得笑声是被逼出来的。不过一旦他们臣服其中，然后尽情享受这长达四十五分钟的活动时，他们就会觉得轻松自在。参与笑声疗法的人会了解一项科学家长年以来就知道的事－－笑声是最佳良药。

1. What do people do during laughter therapy?
(A) They tell each other jokes so that they can laugh.
(B) They laugh because doctors tickle them.
(C) They try to laugh along with other people for health purposes.
(D) They form a circle and laugh at one person.

1. 人们在进行笑声疗法时会做什么？
(A) 他们会讲笑话给彼此听，好让他们自己发笑。
(B) 他们会因为医生搔他们的痒而笑。
(C) 他们会为健康的目的而试着与其它人一起笑。
(D) 他们会围成一个圆圈，然后嘲笑某人。

2. What can we learn from this article?
(A) Scientists have long known that laughter is the best medicine.
(B) Robin Williams is a famous doctor in the US.
(C) People feel comfortable right from the start when practicing laughter therapy.
(D) Laughter therapy is limited to the US and India.

2. 我们从本文可以得知什么？
(A) 科学家长久以来就知道笑声是最佳良药。
(B) 罗宾‧威廉斯是美国的一位知名医生。
(C) 人们在进行笑声疗法时，打从一开始就会觉得很舒服。
(D) 进行笑声疗法的地方仅限于美国和印度。

答案：1. (C)　2. (A)

Building Your Vocabulary

1. practice　vt. 实行
Everyone should practice their right to vote.
每个人都应该执行他们投票的权利。
2. tickle　vt. 搔痒
The child laughed when his dad tickled him.
父亲搔他孩子痒时，孩子便笑了。

Phrases for Learning

1. crack up　　捧腹大笑
We're all cracking up because of that joke.
我们全都因为听了那个笑话而捧腹大笑。
2. give in　　屈服；让步
The government cannot give in to terrorists' demands.
政府不能对恐怖份子的要求做让步。
3. at ease　　放松；不拘束
The relaxing music soon put me at ease.
这个舒服的音乐很快就使我放松下来。
4. be limited to...　　局限于……
Damage from the earthquake was limited to the north coast.
地震仅对北海岸造成灾害。

Extra Words

1. chuckle　vi. 低声轻笑；暗自笑
2. laughter　n. 笑；笑声（本文中亦作形容词用）
3. therapy　n. 疗法，治病术
4. contagious　a. 有感染性的

Grammar Check

From then on, this form of therapy has spread around the world.
（从此之后，这种疗法便流传到全世界。）
"from then on"为表动作从过去某时间持续到现在时所使用，可用现在完成式或现在完成进行式，用法即等于"(ever) since then"。例：
I hurt my knees three years ago. From then on, I haven't been able to run fast.
=　I hurt my knees three years ago. Since then, I haven't been able to run fast.
（我在三年前弄伤了膝盖。从此以后我就跑不快。）

本课程选自常春藤免费电子刊物。若对您英语学习有所帮助，请支持购买常春藤英语相关正版教材。