Page 49 - Learn English with short stories
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Lesson 15. Topic: Stand-up comedy.
Task 1. Read and translate the text.
Stand-up comedy.
Stand-up comedy is a relatively new form of entertainment that has
grown in popularity in recent times. It can be performed anywhere,
including comedy clubs, bars, and theatres. Stand-up comedians are solo
performers who speak directly to the audience in a spontaneous manner.
They are smart, provocative, and extremely funny. One of such comics is
Gerry White, who is very popular among young people. Everybody admires
him for his fine sense of humour.
On one occasion he was asked to take part in a TV show. Garry had
written the speech carefully before he started rehearsing. He decided to take
his six-year-old daughter Sophie to the show. She had never been to a TV
studio before and was very excited. Gerry was wearing his best suit and
looked handsome. The show was a great success. As he had included a
large number of funny stories in his speech, the audience burst out laughing
many times. Viewers were impressed by Gerry's jokes and he received long
applause before leaving the stage. On the way back home Gerry noticed that
Sophie wasn't happy, she seemed disappointed. At home he asked her if she
had enjoyed the show. To his surprise, she hadn't. She told him that she
didn't like to see so many people laughing at him!
Task 2. Write down and learn the new words.
Stand-up, entertainment, popularity, a performer, a performance, a
show, a rehearsal, a suit, a stage, a speech, to grow, to perform, to rehearse,
to wear, to include, to laugh (at), to burst out, to impress, to notice, to seem,
applause, a viewer, a surprise, audience, a comic, a comedian, a manner, a
funny joke
a sense of humour, an occasion, relatively, handsome, on the way, to
leave, disappointed, directly / indirectly, spontaneous, provocative, to take
part (in), extremely.
Task 3. Answer the questions.
Is stand-up comedy a popular form of entertainment?
Where can stand-up comedy be performed?
How do stand-up comedians speak to the audience?
Why does everyone admire Gerry White?
