A sense of humor is the ability to be amused. Most people have one, and are able to laugh at jokes and humorous situations. In humans, it is often considered to be an important part of human development.

Why is it that several students in a class will fall out of their chairs laughing after I tell a joke, while the rest of the students look as if I’ve just read the weather report? Obviously, some people are more sensitive to humor than others. And, we recognize that some people tell jokes very well while others struggle to say something funny. Some people have a better sense of humor than others just as some people have more musical talent than others.

    Humor, as a form of entertainment, can be analyzed in order to discover what makes a funny story or joke seem funny. Here, for example, are some of the most common types of humor. They range from the most obvious humor to the more subtle(微妙含蓄的) types, that is, “Slapstick”, “Crosstalk” and “A play on words”.

“Slapstick” is the most obvious humor. Its language is simple and direct, and often makes fun of another person or group. It appeals to (引起……的兴趣) all ages and all cultures. Nearly every English-speaking comedian in this century has used the following joke in one form or another. One man asks another, “Who was that lady I saw you were with last night?” The other replies, “That was no lady; that was my wife.” The humor lies in the fact that the second man is saying that his wife is not a lady. In other words, she is not a refined (优雅的) woman. The joke is no less funny because it is so often used. The audience knows in advance what will be said, because it is classic humor, and any audience values it even more because of its familiarity.