Q: I have heard having a good sense of humour often helps in breaking the ice. Also people remember you because of your humour. But I think I don't have a very good sense of humour. Could you suggest how to build on this? ----Radha Karnik This is a great question that is unfortunately difficult to answer. I can only give you my views on this topic, which may or may not be correct. I know that my sense of humour developed over time. When I was younger I was not funny at all, now I can easily make people laugh. At the same time, sometimes I say things that I think are very funny but others do not. Improving wit and humour, I believe, is an ongoing process. Now, there are various forms of humour and everyone has their individual style. Overall, I believe being fluent in a language is very important for being witty or funny. The way we play around with words adds the "funny" tag to an otherwise normal sentence. Also, seeing irony is very important. I think humour is often the link between two unrelated things. In my experience, laughing frequently and appreciating other people's jokes and wit are very important. Within these, finding humour in everyday normal situations is the key. I often notice what is going on around me and say funny things in my head and laugh to myself. That serves almost as practice for when I am in a group. I watch comedy shows and movies and I am sure that has some effect on helping me improve my sense of humour. And last, having confidence that you are witty is important. There will always be someone wittier or funnier than you, which is fine. Just work on building your own style. Remember, if you are trying to be funny and witty in order to break the ice at a business function, be careful. In those situations, humour has to be mild and politically correct. Yours, Brad Which of the following would Brad agree with? A) Everyone knows how to appreciate others' jokes. B) Everyone is as funny and witty as others. C) Everyone needs to laugh to themselves each day. D) Everyone has their individual style of humour.
A: D

Q: We invite you to our GoNeutral Walk, formerly known as "Walk for Water" * Saturday April 13, 2013 * From 8:30 am -- 3:30 pm Paramount Ranch , Agoura Hills We invite you and your friends to join Jewish National Fund for our Walk to help the environment! We must take responsibility for the Earth's future. You can help offset our carbon emissions by planting trees and contributing to Jewish National Fund's important environmental work in the event. Please feel free to contact: Donna Daniel at ddaniel@jnf.org or (818) 704-5454 x201. We look forward to seeing you there! Each year we host a Walk event, which is a huge success, attracting over 2,000 people from around the Los Angeles area. This year, the Walk has a new look. JNF partnered with the new green plan, GoNeutral. The GoNeutral campaign is focused on removing our carbon footprints from the Earth and contributing to a healthier future for our planet. Funds from the GoNeutral Walk will go towards JNF environmental programs to stop desertification , promote water reuse, grow crops efficiently in the desert and create green "lungs" around cities. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for you to support a very important effort, as well as enjoy a fun day filled with live entertainment, children's activities and much more at the park. Thank you for your support and I look forward to your commitment to the GoNeutral Walk this year. For more information visit www.jnf.org/goneutral or www.walkforwater.org or www.jnf.org. Feel free to contact us at (818) 704-5454. A person who wants to take part in the activity _ . A) doesn't have to pay any fees B) has to be a citizen in Israel C) will take a long walk with other people D) will enjoy a good time besides making contributions
A: D

Q: A new system that scans customers' fingerprints and subtracts the grocery bill from their bank accounts has taken supermarkets in Germany to use the new system. "Almost a quarter of our customers pay with their fingers," said an employee at the headquarters. Edeka has tried the system at 70 of its supermarkets. It says it will introduce it at 200 others because customers like it. "At first we thought that only the young who really keep up with the latest technology would be interested, but we were wrong," said Stefan Sewoester from IT Werke. "Almost two-thirds of the people who use the system are 40 and older," he said. IT Werke, a computer company, is one of the pioneers of fingerprint payment software in Germany. It has helped about 150 shops, canteens and bars to put in the fingerprint scanning machines. Each costs about 2,000 euros. To sign up for the service, customers must have their fingerprints taken and leave their addresses and banking details with the shop. The shop then takes the cost of goods directly out of the customer's bank account. "It is especially a good thing for elderly people. Now they do not have to remember their pin to pay with their bank cards, or to scratch around for their glasses or cash." Sewoester said. The stores benefit from the system too. It saves more than time in the check-out line. It also cuts out the hidden costs of accepting electronic card payments. According to the passage, the fingerprint system _ . A) was invented by the Edeka supermarket chain B) has caused payment revolution in Germany C) is more popular with young people D) is preferred by most American customers
A: B

Q: Fri, Jun. l Nightlife Back to the Age of innocence This performance, organized by the group Lifetime Wharf, will celebrate Children's Day and commemorate the lost childhoods of office workers. Five bands will perform: DH & Chinese Hellcats, DUDE, Candy Monster, Residence A and Island Mood. Where: Yugong Yishan Livehouse, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu. Dongcheng District When: 8 pm Admission: 60 yuan pre-sale; 80 yuan at door Tel:64042711 Sun, Jun.3 Movie Chinese Girl by Guo Xiaolu The indie film Chinese Girl directed by Guo Xiaolu is about the life of a girl who lives in the countryside. The lead actress. Huang Lu, will attend the screening and answer participants' questions afterwards. Where:UCCA, 4Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District When:7 pm Admission:15 yuan(10 yuan for students, free for VIP) Tel:57800200 Mom, Jun. 4 Script Reading Scripts written by students from the 166th Middle School of Beijing will be performed. They include: Love Sleeping Beauty, Lucky Ferris Wheel production, Jane Eyre, Our Self-study Class and Farewell-Bing xin. Where: Penghao Theater, 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District When: Until Jun. 5, 7:30pm Admission: 80 yuan(40 yuan for students) Tel:64006472 Thu, Jun.7 Movie Invictus This film is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards. Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Haidian District When: Until Jun. 8,7:30-10 pm Admission:120-480 yuan Tel:66550000 It Mary would like to know the content of Jane Eyre, where will she watch the program? A) In UCCA, 4Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. B) In China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Haidian District. C) In Penghao Theater,35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District. D) In Yugong Yishan Livehouse, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District.
A: C