Page 39 - Highlights for Children (April 2020)
P. 39
WHY IS
THAT
Nervous Laughter FUNNY?
Have you ever found What we find
yourself laughing when funny depends
you’re “not supposed to”?
a lot on our age,
Laughing is one way we
personality, and
let go of tension. When
where we live.
we’re uneasy, our body
But here are
may respond with laughter.
some of the more
We don’t decide to laugh—
general reasons
it just happens. people laugh.
Do Animals Have
a Sense of Humor?
Your dog won’t be
cracking up at your
knock-knock jokes. But
We’re caught
scientists have found that
by surprise.
at least two animals—apes
and rats—make “play”
sounds when they’re
tickled. Apes make panting
sounds and rats chirp.
Others’ silly
mistakes make us
feel better about
ourselves.
We’re
communicating
GUFFAW SHRIEK HOWL friendly feelings.
APRIL 2020 37

