Reading - The Art of the Slapstick

Read the text and complete the activities below.

In the old days of cinema, there was a style called "Slapstick." It is a very physical type of comedy. Think about a man trying to clean a window and falling into a bucket of water. Or two people hitting each other with big cakes!

Slapstick is common in movies by actors like Buster Keaton. They don't use words; they use timing. You need to be very fast and strong to do slapstick. It looks easy, but it is like a dance. Even today, many cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Mr. Bean use slapstick to make people laugh. It shows that we can find humor in our small accidents. It is a universal way to smile.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Multiple Choice

1. Why is Slapstick "universal"?

a) Because everyone likes cake. b) Because you don't need a language to understand it.

2. Is Slapstick still used today?

a) Yes, in cartoons and some modern characters. b) No, it died in 1930.

Activity 2: Fill in the Blanks

1. Slapstick is a type of comedy.

2. Actors use instead of words.

3. Slapstick is compared to a because it needs timing.

4. Tom and Jerry is a that uses this style.

Activity 3: Vocabulary Hunt

Find words in the text that mean:

1. A dessert:

2. Not slow:

3. Not weak:

4. Something you use to clean:

5. Something that is not easy: