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Laughter is the Best Medicine
Instructors Notes & Answer Key

Vocabulary Exercise:  top

1.      feel blue

sad or depressed

2.    feel on top of the world

very happy, excited

3.     handy

useful, beneficial

4.     sense of humour

the ability to laugh at something funny

5.     diaphragm

muscle between chest and stomach that helps control breathing

6.     workout

physical exercise

7.     sitcom

a funny television program (situation comedy) 

8.     terrible

bad, awful, unpleasant

9.     juxtaposition

an extreme difference

10.giggle

to laugh

11.  gender

male or female

12.dose

an amount or quantity, usually associated with medicine

13. insulting

something rude or derogatory


Reading Comprehension Questions: top

  1. Laughter is   (c)  beneficial for our body and mind
  2. Something is considered funny if:   (d)  two of the answers are correct   [both a/b are correct according to the reading passage]
  3. A joke that is insulting to women is considered inappropriate because it:  (b) insults their gender  
  4. An antonym for the idiom feeling blue is:    (c)  ecstatic 
  5. ANSWERS WILL VARY

Writing Exercise   “Punctuation”  top

  • It might be beneficial to review the format and use of “The Dear John” letter in regards to relationship break-ups.
  • In question #2 students should be aware that the (past subjunctive were is used for all forms of “to be” in 2nd Conditionals).
  • Some explanation of past modals would also be helpful.
  • An additional writing exercise would be to have the students write John’s response to Alice’s 2nd letter.   Remind the students to “be creative” because John “does” love Alice!
  1. ANSWERS WILL VARY
  2. ANSWERS WILL VARY  
  3. (The letter has been re-written using the past tense) 

[Letter One]    Dear John: 

I wanted a man who knew what love was all about.  You were generous, kind, thoughtful.   People who were not like you admitted to being useless and inferior.  You had ruined me for other men.   I yearned for you.  I had no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart.  I could have been forever happy – would have you let me be yours?

Grammar Exercise  top

  • It would also be useful to review gerunds with your students prior to beginning this exercise.

(Part 1)

  1. to be accustomed to
  2. to be afraid of
  3. to be aware of
  4. to be capable of
  5. to be concerned about
  6. to be fond of
  7. to be guilty of
  8. to be jealous of
  9. to be prepared for
  10. to be satisfied with
  11. to be used to
  12. to be worried about

(Part 2)   Explain the difference between these two sentences.  

 

a. Anna is tired of doing her homework. She no longer wants to do her homework.  She is bored of doing homework.]

b. Anna is tired from doing her homework. [She feels physically exhausted from doing her homework.]

 

(Part 3)    ANSWERS WILL VARY


Speaking Exercise:  top

 

·    Prior to beginning this activity, the instructor should review (explain) the following vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.


centre of attention   (everyone is focussed on you)

window shopping   (browsing, just looking with no intention of purchasing anything)

losing your sanity  (going ‘crazy’, can no longer tolerate a situation)

green with envy  (very jealous)

comfort food  (a particular type of food or dish that makes you feel safe, warm and happy)

little white lie   (a small lie with the intent of protecting another individual’s feelings)

drive someone up the wall  (annoy or bother)

a couch potato   (a person who watches too much television and gets very little exercise)


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