复旦研究生综合英语修订版unit5solvethatproblemwithhumor

U5AdditionallnformationfortheTeacher’sReferenceTextSolveThatProblem—withHumorWarm-upActivitiesFurtherReadingSpeakingSkillsAdditionalWorkWarm-upActivitiesWarm-up11.Howimportantisasenseofhumourtosociallife?Citeexamplestoillustrateyouridea.2.Somepeoplethinkasenseofhumourisinnate,aqualitythatoneisbornwith,whileothersbelieveitcanbecultivatedlaterinlife.Whichonedoyoubelievein?Howcanwecultivateasenseofhumour,ifpossible?3.Tellahumorousstorythatyouknowtoamusetheclass.1.WilliamD.EllisWilliamD.EllisisanAmericannovelist.Seeminglypartarchaeologist,partanthropologist,partgenealogist,andpartpsychologist,Ellisminedthecenturiestounearththerawmaterialhewouldmoldintohisfictionandnonfictionbooks.Withnoinstrumentmoreelaboratethanatypewriter,hemanagedtocreatepopularregionalhistoriesandaward-winningvolumesofhistoricalfictionthatbroughtOhio’spasttolifeinamannerthatwasnotjustinformativeandentertaining,butasvividasanepicfilm.EllisreceivedaPulitzerPrizenominationforhisbest-sellingtrilogyofnovels:BountyLands(1958),JonathanBlair:AIFTTR1AdditionalInformationfortheTeacher’sReferenceAIFTTR2BountyLandsLawyer(1966),andTheBrooksLegend.TheyreflectedtherealityoflifeonthefrontieratatimewhenOhiowasconsidered“theWest〞andthehardshipsofdailyexistencefaroutweighedthepleasures.AIFTTR32.RolandMichenerDanielRolandMichener(1900-1991)wasGovernorGeneralofCanadafrom1967to1974.In1967,hebecamethefirstgovernorgeneraltogivetheOrderofCanada,thenation’shighestcivilianhonor.HealsoawardedthefirstOrderofMilitaryMeritin1972.AndheencouragedallCanadianstolearnbothEnglishandFrench.HistenureasCanada’sGovernorGeneralisoftenconsideredtobeakeyturningpointinthehistoryofhisoffice.SincehisretirementtheGovernorGeneralshiphasmoveddramaticallyinalessformaldirection.AIFTTR43.Europe’sCommonMarketTheEuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC),alsoknownasthe“CommonMarket〞intheUnitedKingdom,wasaninternationalorganizationcreatedin1957tobringabouteconomicintegrationbetweenBelgium,France,Germany,ItalyandtheNetherlands.ManynationsofWesternEuropebandedtogetherintovariousorganizationsduringthepostwaryears.Thesenationshopedtosolveproblemsbyworkingtogethermoreclosely.TheCouncilofEuropewasformedin1949tolinkitsmembernationsculturally,socially,andeconomically.TheEuropeanCoalandSteelCommunity(ECSC),organizedin1951,soughtAIFTTR5tounifythecoal,iron,andsteelindustriesofBelgium,France,Italy,Luxembourg,theNetherlands,andWestGermany.In1957,thesixECSCmembersformedtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity(EEC)whichaimedatremovingbarrierstothemovementofgoods,workers,capital,andservicesamongitsmembers.Itsinceenlargedtosixotherstatesandfrom1967itsinstitutionsalsogovernedtheECSCandEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity(EAECorEuratom)underthetermEuropeanCommunities.WhentheEuropeanUnion(EU)wascreatedin1993,theEECwastransformedintotheEuropeanCommunity,oneoftheEU’sthreepillars,withEECinstitutionscontinuingasthoseoftheEU.AIFTTR64.LondonBlitzInthesummerof1940,Germanybegananall-outairattackonBritain.Londonbecamethechieftargetoftheattack.TheBlitz,astheattackwasknown,lastedfromSeptember1940toMay1941.Nightafternight,Germanplanesdroppedtonsofbombsonthebuilt-uparea.TheCityandtheindustrialEastEndwereespeciallyhard-hit.Peopletookrefugeinair-raidsheltersandsubwaystationsasfiresragedthroughwholeblocksofbuildings.AIFTTR75.GeorgeC.MarshallMarshall,GeorgeCatlett(1880-1959),anAmericansoldierandstatesman,servedaschiefofstaffoftheUnitedStatesArmyduringWorldWarII(1939-1945).WinstonChurchillacclaimedhimas“organizerofvictory〞forhisleadershipoftheAlliedvictoryinWorldWarII.Healsoservedassecretaryofstatefrom1947to1949andassecretaryofdefensein1950and1951.Marshallwasthefirstprofessionalsoldiertobecomesecretaryofstate.In1947,whileservinginthatpost,heproposedtheEuropeanRecoveryProgram,alsocalledtheMarshallPlan.Underthisplan,theUnitedStatesspentbillionsofdollarstorebuildwar-tornWesternEurope.TheMarshallPlaniscreditedAIFTTR8withhelpingcheckthespreadofCommunisminEurope.Marshall’sroleinEuropeanreconstructionearnedhimthe1953NobelPeacePrize.AIFTTR86.RooseveltFranklinDelanoRoosevelt(1882-1945),oftenreferredtobyhisinitialsFDR,wasthethirty-secondPresidentoftheUnitedStates.Electedtofourtermsinoffice,heservedfrom1933to1945andistheonlyU.S.presidenttohaveservedmorethantwoterms.RooseveltledtheUnitedStatesthroughitsworstdepressionandthroughitsworstwar.RoosevelttookofficeasPresidentatthedepthoftheGreatDepression.Inhisinauguraladdress,hecalledforfaithinAmerica’sfuture.“Theonlythingwehavetofearisfearitself,〞hedeclaredboldly.HecreatedtheNewDealtoproviderelieffortheunemployed,recoveryoftheeconomy,andreformoftheeconomicandbankingsystems.OneofhismostimportantlegaciesistheSocialSecuritysystem.AIFTTR9BeforeAmerica’sentryintoWorldWarIIinDecember,1941,RooseveltmadetheUnitedStatestheprincipalarmssupplierandfinancieroftheAllies.AstheAlliesnearedvictory,Rooseveltplayedacriticalroleinshapingthepost-warworld,particularlythroughtheYaltaConferenceandthecreationoftheUnitedNations.Later,theAlliesdefeatedGermany,ItalyandJapan.PeopleinallpartsoftheworldadmiredRooseveltforhispersonalcourage.Althoughhewascrippledbypolioattheageof39,henevergaveuphiscareerofpublicservice.

AIFTTR107.WorldWarIIWorldWarIIortheSecondWorldWar,oftenabbreviatedasWWIIorWW2,wasaworldwidemilitaryconflict；theamalgamationoftwoseparateconflicts,onebeginninginAsia,1937,astheSecondSino-JapaneseWarandtheotherbeginninginEurope,1939,withGermany’sinvasionofPoland.Thisglobalconflictsplitamajorityoftheworld’snationsintotwoopposingmilitaryalliances:theAlliesandtheAxis.RegardedasthehistoricalsuccessortoWorldWarI,WorldWarIIresultedinthedeathsofover70millionpeople,makingitthedeadliestconflictinhumanhistory.TheconflictendedinanAlliedvictory.ItbroughtaboutthedownfallofWesternAIFTTR11Europeasthecenterofworldpowerandledtotheriseoftheworld’stwoleadingsuperpowers—theUnitedStatesandSovietUnion,settingthestagefortheColdWarforthenext45years.Thedevelopmentoftheatomicbombduringthewaropenedthenuclearage.AIFTTR128.GermanconcentrationcampTheGermanconcentrationcampisaplacewherepeopleareimprisoned,andinsomecaseskilled,withoutlegalproceedings.Manycountrieshaveimprisonedpeopleinconcentrationcampsbecauseoftheirpoliticalviews,religiousconvictions,ethnicbackground,orsocialattitudes.Thebest-knowncampswerethoseoperatedbytheNazisduringtheHolocaust,acampaignofsystematicmurderwagedagainstJewsandothersduringWorldWarII(1939-1945).TheNazisimprisonedandkilledmillionsofpeopleinsuchcamps,firstinGermanyandlaterinGerman-occupiedEurope.TextSolveThatProblem—withHumorNotesIntroductiontotheAuthorandtheArticlePhrasesandExpressionsExercisesMainideaoftheTextMIOTT1MainideaoftheTextInthetext,WilliamD.Ellisillustratesthesoothingandbolsteringpowerofhumorthroughseveralexamples.Heclaimshumorisaneffectivetoolthatcanfreepeoplefromembarrassment,heatedarguments,hostileconfrontationandevendisasters.Itissuggestedbytheauthorthathumorbeappliedinourdailylife.IntroductiontotheAuthorandthearticleIntroductiontotheAuthorandtheArticleWilliamD.EllisisanAmericannovelist.Seeminglypartarchaeologist,partanthropologist,partgenealogist,andpartpsychologist,Ellisminedthecenturiestounearththerawmaterialhewouldmoldintohisfictionandnonfictionbooks.Withnoinstrumentmoreelaboratethanatypewriter,hemanagedtocreatepopularregionalhistoriesandaward-winningvolumesofhistoricalfictionthatbroughtOhio’spasttolifeinamannerthatwasnotjustinformativeandentertaining,butasvividasanepicfilm.EllisreceivedaPulitzerPrizenominationforhisbest-sellingtrilogyofnovels:BountyLands(1958),JonathanBlair:BountyLandsLawyer(1966),andTheBrooksLegend.TheyreflectedIntroductiontotheAuthorandthearticle2therealityoflifeonthefrontieratatimewhenOhiowasconsidered“theWest〞andthehardshipsofdailyexistencefaroutweighedthepleasures.Ellisportraysthevicissitudesofpioneerexistencewithunsparingattentiontodetail,remindingcomplacentmid20thcenturyOhioansofthestrengthandcourageoftheirforebears.HisTheCuyahoga(1966)isstillconsideredthedefinitiveaccountoftheriveranditshistoricalimportancetoClevelandandnortheasternOhio.Inthisessay,Ellisillustratesthesoothingandbolsteringpowerofhumorthroughseveralexamples.Heclaimshumorisaneffectivetoolthatcanfreepeoplefromembarrassment,heatedarguments,hostileconfrontationandevendisasters.Itissuggestedbytheauthorthathumorbeappliedinourdailylife.Part2_T1

Alotofusloselife’stougherconfrontationsbymountingafrontalattack—whenatouchofhumormightwellenableustochalkupawin.Considerthecaseofayoungfriendofmine,

whohitatrafficjamenroutetoworkshortlyafterreceivinganultimatumaboutbeinglateonthejob.AlthoughtherewasagoodreasonforSam’schronictardiness—seriousillnessathome—hedecidedthatthisby-now-familiarexcusewouldn’tworkanylonger.Hissupervisorwasprobablyalreadypacingupanddownwithadismissalspeechrehearsed.WilliamD.EllisSolveThatProblem—withHumorTextPart2_T2Hewas.Samenteredtheofficeat9:35.Theplacewasasquietasalockerroom;everyonewashardatwork.Sam’ssupervisorapproachedhim.Suddenly,Samforcedagrinandshovedouthishand.“Howdoyoudo!〞hesaid.“I’mSamMaynard.I’mapplyingforajobwhichIunderstandbecameavailablejustminutesago.Doestheearlybirdgettheworm?〞Theroomexplodedinlaughter.Thesupervisorclampedoffasmileandwalkedbacktohisoffice.SamMaynardhadsavedhisjob—withtheonlytoolthatcouldwin,alaugh.Humorisamosteffective,yetfrequentlyneglected,meansofhandlingthedifficultsituationsinourlives.Itcanbeusedforpatchingupdifferences,apologizing,saying“no,〞criticizing,orgettingtheotherfellowtodowhatyouwantwithouthislosingPart2_T3face.Forsomejobs,it’stheonlytoolthatcansucceed.Itisawaytodiscusssubjectssosensitivethatseriousdialogmaystartariot.Forexample,manybelievethatcomediansontelevisionaredoingmoretodayforracialandreligioustolerancethanarepeopleinanyotherforum.Humorisoftenthebestwaytokeepasmallmisunderstandingfromescalatingintoabigdeal.Recentlyaneighborofminehadasquabblewithhiswifeasshedrovehimtotheairport.Airborne,hefeltmiserable,andheknewshedid,too.Twohoursaftershereturnedhome,shereceivedalong-distancephonecall.“Person-to-personforMrs.I.A.Pologize,〞intonedtheoperator.“That’sspelled‘P’asin...〞Inatwinkling,thewholedaychangedfromgrimtolovelyatbothendsofthewire.Part2_T4AnEnglishhostesswitha40quickwitwasgivingaformaldinnerforeightdistinguishedguestswhomshehopedtoenlistinamajorcharitydrive.AusteritywasderigueurinEnglandatthetime,andshehaddraftedherchildrentoservethemeal.Sheknewthatanythingcouldhappen—anditdid,justasherson,withthestudiedconcentrationofatightropewalker,broughtinalargeroastturkey.Hesuccessfullyelbowedtheswingingdining-roomdoor,butthebackswingknockedthebirdontothedining-roomfloor.Theboystoodrooted.Guestsstaredattheirplates.Movingonlyherhead,thehostesssmiledatherson.“Noharm,Daniel,〞shesaid.“Justpickitupandtakeitbacktothekitchen〞—sheenunciatedclearlysohewouldthinkaboutwhatshewassaying—“andbringintheotherone.〞Part2_T5Awinkandaone-linerinstantlychangedthedinnerfromared-facedembarrassmenttoaconspiracyoffun.Thepowerofhumortodissolveahostileconfrontationoftenliesinitsunspokenpromise:“Youletmeoffthehook,myfriend,andI’llletyouoff.〞Thetrickistoassignfriendlymotivestoyouropponent,tosmilejustalittle—butnottoomuch.Canada’sGovernor-GeneralRolandMichener,masterofthetechnique,wasabouttoinspectapublicschoolwhenhewasfacedwithatruculentpicketlineofstrikingmaintenancepersonnel.Ifhebackedawayfromtheline,hewouldseriouslydiminishhisoffice’simage;ifhecrossedit,hemightputthegovernmentsmackintoahotlaborissue.Part2_T6Whileheponderedthematter,morestrikersgatheredacrosshispath.Suddenly,thegrayingmustacheonMichener’sfacestretchedalittleinCheshireancomplicity.“Howveryniceofyoualltoturnouttoseeme!〞heboomed.“Thankyou.Shallwegoin?〞Thelinepartedand,bythetimethepicketsbegantochuckle,thegovernor-generalwasstridingbrisklyuptheschoolsteps.Nexttimeyoufindyourselfinanethnicallyawkwardsituation,takealessonfromthediplomaticdelegatestoEurope’sCommonMarket.Inthecourseofhistorynearlyeverymembernationhasbeeninvadedorbetrayedbyatleastoneoftheothers,andtheMarket’sharmonymustbeconstantlyPart2_T7buttressed.Onemethodisthelaughbasedonnationalcaricatures.Recently,anewarrivalatMarketheadquartersinBrusselsintroducedhimselfasaMinisterfortheSwissNavy.Everybodylaughed.TheSwissdelegateretorted,“Well,whynot?ItalyhasaMinisterofFinance.〞Ofcourse,humorisoftenmorethanalaughingmatter.Initsmorepotentguises,ithasaTrojanhorsenature:noonegoesonguardagainstagag;weletitinbecauseitlookslikealittlewoodentoy.Onceinside,however,itcanturnacitytoreform,torebellion,toresistance.Somebelieve,forinstance,that,nexttotheheroicBritishRAF,BritishhumordidthemosttofendoffaGermantakeoverinWorldWarⅡ.Onesamplewillsuffice:thatfamousstoryofthewomanwhowasfinallyPart2_T8extractedfromtherubbleofherhouseduringtheLondonblitz.Asked,“Whereisyourhusband?〞shebrushedbrickdustoffherheadandarmsandanswered,“FightinginLibya,thebloodycoward!〞Whenlifehasusinatightcorner,oneofthefirstquestionswemightaskis,“CanIsolvethiswithalaugh?〞Menwithgiantresponsibilitieshavefrequentlyusedthisapproachtogiantproblems—oftenwithsweepingeffect.AsGen.GeorgeC.Marshall,U.S.ArmyChiefofStaff,laboredtopreparethisthen-unreadynationtoenterWorldWarⅡ,hemetstiffoppositionfromhisCommander-in-Chiefregardingtheelementsthatcalledforthemostbolstering.Marshallfeltthatwhatweneededmostwerehighlydevelopedgroundforces.PresidentRooseveltwasanavymanwhobelievedthatourprincipalneedwasforapowerfulnavy,plusalargeairforce.InincreasinglytensedebateswiththePresident,Marshallpushedhisargumentsohardthathebegantofostereverstrongerresistance.Finally,duringaparticularlyhotsession,theusuallystone-facedMarshallforcedagrin.“Atleast,Mr.President,〞hesaid,“YoumightstopreferringtotheNavyas‘us’andtheArmyas‘them’.〞RooseveltstudiedMarshalloverhisglasses,thenburstintolaughter.ShortlythereafterhemadeamoreobjectivestudyofMarshall’srecommendationsandeventuallyboughttheground-forceconcept.Part2_T9Part2_T10Occasionally,humorgoesbeyondsavingarguments,savingfaceorsavingjobs;itcansavelifeitself.VictorE.FranklwasapsychiatristimprisonedinaGermanconcentrationcampduringWorldWarⅡ.Astheshrinkingnumberofsurvivingprisonersdescendedtonewdepthsofhell,Franklandhisclosestprisonerfriendsoughtdesperatelyforwaystokeepfromdying.Piledontopofmalnutrition,exhaustionanddisease,suicidaldespairwasthebigkillerinthesecitadelsofdegradation.Asapsychiatrist,Franklknewthathumorwasoneofthesoul’sbestsurvivalweapons,sinceitcancreate,ifonlyformoments,aloofnessfromhorror.Therefore,Franklmadearulethateachdayheandhisfriendmustinventandtellanamusinganecdote,specificallyaboutsomethingwhichcouldhappenaftertheirliberation.Otherswerecaughtupinthecontagionofdefiantlaughter.Onestarvingprisonerforecastthatinthefuturehemightbeataprestigiousformaldinner,andwhenthesoupwasbeingserved,hewouldshatterprotocolbyimploringthehostess,“Ladleitfromthebottom!〞Ifhumorcanbeusedsuccessfullyagainstsuchodds,whatcan’tyouandIdowithitindailylife?Part2_T11thisby-now-familiarexcuse:thisoftenusedexcuseNotesPart2_TA_Notes1alockerroom:aroomcontaininglockers,asinagymnasium,factory,orschool,forchangingclothesandforthestorageofpersonalbelongingsDoestheearlybirdgettheworm?:Canapersonwhoseizestheearliestopportunitygetwhathewants?Sam’squestionusesawell-knownidiomthathastwomainsenses:“Hopoutofbedasearlyasthebirdsdointhemorning;don’tgetuplate;〞and:“Thebestoncein-a-lifetimeopportunitieshappentopeopleatthefrontoftheline,i.e.,thepeopletryinghardesttogetthem.〞ClearlyPart2_TA_Notes2NotesSamisnotanearlybird,inthefirstsense:heisabouttolosehisjobbecauseheistoooftenlateforwork.Superficially,Sam’squestionisintendedtoshowheisan“earlybird〞intheidiom’ssecondsense:heisanaggressivego-getter,readyandwaitingtoreplacetheirlaggardlyemployee—thoughthesoon-to-be-axedemployeeisnoneotherthanhimself!Thisisfunnybecauseitsimultaneouslyreferstobothmeanings,inawaysocontradictorytorealityastorequireittobeunderstoodhumorously.Part2_TA_Notes3Notes“Person-to-personforMrs.I.A.Pologize,〞intonedtheoperator.“That’sspelled‘P’asin...〞:Thesentenceimpliesthattheoperatorhasmissedthejoke(thehusbandhaswiredhiswife“Iapologize〞)bycontinuingtospelloutthe“name〞ofthecaller.Part2_TA_Notes4Notesaconspiracyoffun:TheEnglishhostesstellstheboytobringoutthesecond“other〞roastturkeyfromthekitchen,toreplacetheonetheboydroppedinthediningroom.Alltheguestsparticipateinwhatisusuallytermedaconspiracyofsilence,tosavetheboy’sandthefamily’sface.Thus,in“aconspiracyoffun〞,noonementionswhatallpresentknow:thereisNOotherturkey(notunexpected,duringthehardtimesofwar).atruculentpicketlineofstrikingmaintenancepersonnel:“Picket〞isoriginallyanounmeaningwoodslatsusedtomakeafence.Hereitreferstostrikingmaintenanceworkersformingapicketlinebystandingclosetogetherlikeafence,toprotestandblockentrancetotheirplaceofwork.Part2_TA_Notes5NotesinCheshireancomplicity:grinninglikeaCheshirecat—smilingverywidely.ThisphrasecomesfromLewisCarroll’sfamouschildren’sstoryAliceinWonderlandwhichfeaturesaCheshirecatwhoisknownforitsbroad,devilish-lookinggrin.EverybodylaughedTheSwissdelegateretorted,“Well,whynot?ItalyhasaMinisterofFinance.〞:Thelaughterwhichgreetsthenewarrival’sannouncementsuggeststhattheSwisshavenoneedofanavyoranavalministersinceSwitzerlandisalandlockedcountry.TheSwissdelegate’sretortisaninsinuationthatifaMinisterofSwissNavyisredundant,thentheItalianMinisterofFinanceisalsoredundantsinceItalyhasnomoney.Part2_TA_Notes6NotesaTrojan-horsenature:TheoriginalTrojanhorsewasalargewoodenstatueleftbytheGreeksoutsideTroy,duringtheTrojanWar.Trickedintobelievingitwasagift,theTrojansbroughtitinsidetheircitywalls.GreeksoldiershidinginsidethehorseattackedTroybysurpriseatnight,defeatingtheirenemy.HeretheauthorsuggestshumorislikeaTrojanhorsebecauseofitsabilitytoamuse,winover,andhencesubvert,makefunofauthorities,orevenintroducesomethingharmful.RAF:RoyalAirForcePart2_TA_Notes7Notes“FightinginLibya,thebloodycoward!〞:DuringWorldWarⅡsomeofthefiercestfightingbetweentheAlliesandtheAxiswasinNorthAfrica—Libya,EgyptandAlgeria.Thereforethemaninquestionisactuallyfarfrombeingacowardbecauseheisfightinginthewartosavehiscountry.ThewifeismakingajokeandreferringtoEnglandasbeingamorehazardousplacetobethaninthethickoftheactualwar.Part2_TA_Notes8Notes“otherswerecaughtupinthecontagionofdefiantlaughter〞:“Contagion〞meanstransmissionbyperson-to-personcontact,typicallyofdisease.Emotionssuchasfear,panic,anger,andhumoralsomayspreadthisway,especiallyinlargecrowds.Herewhatisbeingtransmittedamongprisonersintheconcentrationcampisamoodofresistanceanddesiretoparticipateinthedailypublicjoketelling.chalkupachieveorregister(asuccess)patchupsettleorresolve(aquarrel,dispute,etc.)inatwinklingveryquicklygoonguardagainstbepreparedforsth.unpleasantbecaughtupinsth.beabsorbedorinvolvedinsth.PhrasesandExpressionsPart2_TA_PhrasesandExpressions用幽默化解难题Part2_TA_t1在面对生活中较为剧烈的冲突时，我们中有许多人因采用直截了当的回击而败下阵来，而来点幽默，也许就能使我们赢得胜利。就拿我的一位年轻朋友来说吧，他因上班迟到，收到了一份最后通牒。就在这之后不久，他又在上班的路上遇到了交通堵塞。尽管萨姆以往迟到了总会有个正当的借口——家里有人得了重病——可是这次，他认定这个惯用的借口再也不会奏效了。他的上司也许正在房间里来回踱步，在演练着开除他的演说词了。上司确实如此。萨姆9点35分走进了办公室。办公室里如同更衣室一般安静，每一个人都在努力地工作。萨姆的上司朝他走了过来。突然，萨姆强作欢笑，猛地伸出手来，说道“你好！我是萨姆·梅纳德，我现在申请在35分钟之前刚刚空出来的那份工作。疾足者能先得吗？〞全屋里的人哄堂大笑。上司忍着笑，走回自己的办公室去了。萨姆运用了唯一能获胜的工具——笑声，保住了他的那份工作。TranslationoftheText威廉·D·埃利斯Part2_TA_t2幽默通常是防止小误会升级到大问题的最正确方法。最近，我的一位邻居在妻子开车送他去机场的路上，与她发生了一点口角。上了飞机后，他感到很痛苦，知道妻子也很难过。当他妻子两小时后回到家时，接到了一个长途。“受话人‘Mrs.I.A.Pologize〔夫人，我道歉〕’，〞接线员拖长声音说道，“名字的拼写为P...。〞一眨眼功夫，线两端的人的整个一天由阴转晴。一位思维敏捷的英国女主人举行一个正式晚宴，宴请八位贵宾，希望取得他们对一个大型慈善活动的赞助。那时英国盛行简朴，所以她派孩子们端菜送饭。她知道什么事情都可能发生——当他儿子像走钢丝一样小心谨慎地端进一只很大的烤火鸡时，真的发生了一件事情。男孩很顺利地用胳膊肘推开餐厅的双开式弹簧门，但是门又反弹了回来，把鸡撞到餐厅的地板上了。Part2_TA_t3那男孩站在那儿一动不动。客人们盯着自己的盘子看。女主人只是转过头来，微笑着对儿子说道：“不要紧，丹尼尔，把它捡起来，拿回厨房就是了。〞——她吐字非常清楚，所以儿子会领悟她所说的意思，——“把另一只拿来。〞一个眼神，一句幽默，饭桌上令人脸红的为难场面很快就变成了心照不宣的乐趣了。幽默之所以能消除敌意的对抗，其力量在于无言的承诺：“我的朋友，你让我脱身，我也让你走人。〞其诀窍就是权当你的对手是心怀好意，微微一笑——适可而止。擅长此道的加拿大总督罗兰·米切纳，去视察一所公立学校时，遇到了正在罢工的维修工人设置的一条气势汹汹的纠察线。如果他从纠察线前退缩回去，就会严重损害总督府的形象；如果他越过这条线，可能一下子就会让政府陷入棘手的劳工争端问题。Part2_TA_t4他在考虑这事的时候，更多的罢工工人聚集起来，拦住了他的去路。突然，他脸上的那一点灰白胡子向两边微微一翘，像柴郡猫一样咧嘴笑道，“你们都出来看我，真是太好了！〞他的声音消沉而有回响，“谢谢你们。我们可以进去了吗？〞纠察线向两边分开了。当纠察队员们开始咯咯笑的时候，总督正迈着大步，轻快地踏上了学校的台阶了。以后当你陷入有关种族问题的为难境地时，借鉴欧洲共同市场的外交代表们的做法。在历史进程中，几乎每一个成员国都曾遭到至少一个其他国家的入侵或背叛，所以共同市场之间的相互和谐必须不断地得到稳固。有一种方法就是对民族特征的调侃。最近，一位刚到共同市场布鲁塞尔总部的代表自我介绍说他是瑞士〔无海之国〕的海军部长。大家听了都笑起来了。这位瑞士代表反嘲道，“嗨，为什么不行？意大利〔无财之国〕不是还有财政部长吗？〞Part2_TA_t5当然，幽默通常不仅仅只是笑笑而已。当幽默以更为巧妙的形式出现时，就具有特洛伊木马的特性：没人会提防它；我们接受它，只是因为它看上去有点像个小小的木制玩具。然而，它一旦进来了，就能在城市内引起改革、反叛和抵抗。例如，有人认为，在第二次世界大战中，英国人挡住了德军的占领，除了英勇的英国王家空军以外，还有英国式的幽默也起了很大作用。举一个例子就足以说明问题：这个著名的故事说的是一位妇女在伦敦遭轰炸期间，最后被人费力地从被炸成瓦砾的家中救了出来。当问她“你丈夫在哪儿？〞时，她掸掉满头、满胳膊的砖灰，答复道，“正在利比亚打仗呢，那个胆小鬼！〞当生活把我们逼到绝境中时，我们首先要问的一个问题或许就是，“我们可以用笑声来解决这个问题吗？〞肩负重任之人经常使用这种方法来解决重大问题——而且通常具有决定性的影响。当美国陆军参谋长乔治·C·马歇尔将军努力让当时尚未准备好的美国参加二战时，在就哪一方面最需要支持这一问题上，他遭到了最高统帅的剧烈反对。马歇尔觉得我们最需要的是高度机械化的地面部队，而海军出身的罗斯福总统Part2_TA_t6那么认为我们主要的需要是一支强有力的海军部队，另加一支大规模的空军部队。在与总统越来越剧烈的争论中，马歇尔据理力争，并开始酝酿更强有力的反驳。最后，在一次异常剧烈的会议上，一贯板着脸的马歇尔挤出一丝笑容，笑着说道：“总统先生，您最好还是不要把海军说成‘我们’，把陆军说成‘他们’吧。〞罗斯福从眼镜上方审视了一下马歇尔，然后突然大笑起来。很快，他更加客观地研究了马歇尔的建议，终于采纳了加强地面部队这一方案。有时候，幽默不仅仅能防止争论，挽回面子或者保住工作；它还能挽救生命。维克托·弗兰克尔是个精神病学家，在第二次世界大战中被囚禁在一个德国的集中营里。随着幸存的囚犯人数越来越少，囚犯的生活条件越来越恶劣，弗兰克尔和他最亲密的难友竭力寻找方法来求生。在这些侮辱人格的集中营中，除了营养不良、劳累和疾病以外，因绝望而自杀是最大的杀手。Part2_TA_t7作为一个精神病学家，弗兰克尔知道幽默是人最好的求生武器之一，因为它能让人远离恐怖，即使是片刻的远离也好。于是，弗兰克尔制定了一条规那么，他和他的朋友每一天必须编造一个有趣的轶事讲给对方听，特别是讲一些他们获得解放以后可能会发生的事情。受到这种藐视一切的笑声的感染，其他人都被吸引住了。一名饥饿的囚犯预言说将来他可能会出席一个盛大的正式宴会。当汤被端上来时，他会打破礼节，哀求女主人说，“从最下面捞吧！〞如果在如此艰难的情况下，幽默都能成功地运用的话，那么你我在日常生活中还有什么不能用它来解决的呢？Part2_TA1_Alotofus…Alotofusloselife’stougherconfrontationsbymountingafrontalattackwhenatouchofhumormightwellenableustochalkupawin.Alotofusfailinlife’sfierceconflictsbecauseweattackitdirectly.However,aslighthumormighthelpustoachievesuccess.Part2_t1whohit……whohitatrafficjamenroutetoworkshortlyafterreceivinganultimatumaboutbeinglateonthejob.whogotstuckinatrafficjamonhiswaytoworkafterreceivingawarningthathewouldbedismissedifhewaslateforworkagainPart2_t1herewas……therewasagoodreasonforSam’schronictardiness…SamwasalwayslateforworkandhehadagoodreasonPart2_t1thisby-now-familiar…...thisby-now-familiarexcuse...thisoftenusedexcusePart2_t1withadismissal…...withadismissalspeechrehearsed...practicinggivingadismissalspeechPart2_t2Samforced…Samforcedagrinandshovedouthishand.Sammadeagrinwithunusualandunnaturaleffortandextendedhishandforahandshake.Part2_t2I’mapplying…I’mapplyingforajobwhichIunderstandbecameavailablejustminutesago.IthinkIwasdismissedminutesagoforIwaslateagainsoI’mapplyingforthejobnow.

Part2_t2Thesupervisor…Thesupervisorclampedoffasmile.Thesupervisortriedtosuppresslaughing.Part2_t2Itcanbe…Itcanbeusedforpatchingupdifferences...ItcanbeusedtoresolveorsettledifferencesPart2_t3Inatwinkling…Inatwinkling,thewholedaychangedfromgrimtolovelyatbothendsofthewire.Inaninstant,boththehusbandandthewifeturnedfromgloomytocheerfulaf