There’s an old saying that laughter is the best medicine. No matter whether it’s caused by a good joke, a cute child or pet, or a pie in the face of a comedian, the simple act of laughing offers medicial benefits. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress and help people lose weight. It’s a special tonic(滋补品) for older people, who are prone(倾向于) to loneliness and sad thoughts.
In fact, in more than 1,000 American communities, and a couple thousand more around the world, entire clubs have been formed so that people can get together and yuk it up! U.S. clubs have names like “Laugh-a-holics”, “the Ha-Ha Spa”, “Granite State Giggles(傻笑)”, and “Judy’s Joyful Laughter Club”.
The idea started in India, where laughing is an oral yoga(瑜伽) exercise using discipline, mind power and a good belly laugh.
Laughter is certainly contagious. Only a determined grouch(不高兴的人) could avoid at least smiling when others around him are laughing till it hurts. That’s why members of laughing clubs don’t just get together to howl with laughter themselves. They meet on street corners, in train stations, and other public places, laugh their fool heads off, and invite everyone around them to join in.
Laughing clubs have become so popular that one can even get training as a “certified laughing leader”. And the key qualification? You have to be really good at these: chortling, chuckling, howling, snickering, cackling, tittering, giggling and sniggling.
13. The following statements are the benefits offered by laughing EXCEPT _______.
A. benefiting the older people
B. reducing pressure
C. helping people keep fit
D. helping people have a good appetite
14. The underlined words “chortling, chuckling, howling, snickering, cackling, tittering, giggling and sniggling” are ______________.
A. conditions of a laughing leader
B. manners you must follow when laughing
C. all forms of laughing
D. tips of laughter
15. Which of the following is the best title?
A. Laughter Is Becoming More and More Popular in the USA
B. Laughter Linked to Health and Happiness
C. How Do We Laugh?
D. Laughing — An Oral Yoga Exercise
DCB
A. Profits enlarging B. Technology developing C. Education investing D. Benefits transferring E. Dominance disappearing F. A nation rising |
The following is an imaginary diary entry written by US president. This diary is part of Global Trends 2025, which was written by the US National Intelligence Council
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The
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The
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Global wealth and economic power will shift from West to East.
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The transition from old fuels to new will be slow, as will the development of new technologies that present feasible alternatives to fossil fuels or help eliminate food and water problems. All current technologies are inadequate, and new ones will probably not be commercially possible by 2025