学英语不光只有看严肃的大部头文学原著这一条路可走。背单词亦然。有些更轻松的方式往往容易被忽视。
其实，只要找准自己的兴趣爱好，选择最佳学习材料，也许效果并不比一些传统的方式差，说不定还要更好。
前面我们浅谈了一下词源学英语。这次我们来说说一种更欢快的形式：英语笑话及脑筋急转弯。
英语笑话及脑筋急转弯都是极为生动的口语，利用大量的词句谐音，歧义，联想等，给人意想不到的答案，往往令人在会心一笑中，掌握了很多语言知识，体验了英语思维。
此篇，让我们一窥那些一词多义形式的脑筋急转弯。保证你能在欢乐之余，又多认得或熟悉了几个单词。如果大家还对其它类型的英语幽默有兴趣，请留言告知。
Why couldn't the woolly mammoth travel on the Euro-star train to Paris?
为什么一只毛茸茸的长毛大象不能乘坐开往巴黎的欧洲之星列车？
Because his trunk wouldn't fit in the luggage rack.
因为它的行李箱太大，行李挂钩上放不下。
How would you stop a herd of woolly mammoths from charging?
你如何阻止一群毛茸茸的长毛大象往前冲？
Take away their credit cards.
拿走它们的信用卡。
What do you call a baby whale that never stops crying?
一条不停哭泣的小鲸鱼，你把它叫什么？
A little blubber.
一条哭泣的小幼鲸。
Why do cows wear bells round their necks?
为什么奶牛的脖子上都挂着铃铛？
In case their horns don't work.
防止它们的牛角响不起来。
What do you get if you cross a terrier with a vegetable?
如果把猎犬和蔬菜杂交，你会得到什么？
A Jack Brussel.
一只布鲁塞尔小种狗。
What did the horse say when he reached the end of his nosebag?
当马吃到最后一口马粮时会说什么？
That's the last straw.
这是最后一根稻草。
Which bird can lift heavy weights?
哪种鸟可以举重？
A crane.
鹤。
What color would you paint the sun and the wind?
太阳和风你都涂什么颜色？
The sun rose and the wind blue.
给太阳涂上玫瑰色，给风涂上蓝色。
Why was the boxer known as the Picasso?
为什么别人称那个拳击手叫毕加索？
Because he spent most of his time on the canvas.
因为他绝大多数时间都花在画布上。
Why was the artist rich?
为什么那个画家那么有钱？
He was very good at drawing his wages.
因为他善于画钱。
Why did the orchestra have such bad manners?
为什么这个乐团如此没有礼貌？
Because he didn't know how to conduct itself.
因为他们不知道该如何指挥。
**What would the horses doing at the theater?
**
马在剧场里干什么？
**Ordering stalls for saturday night.
**
为周六晚上的演出订购前排座位。
What happens when an Egyptian mummy eats biscuits in bed?
当一位埃及木乃伊在床上吃饼干，会怎么样？
You get a crummy mommy.
真是个可怜的妈妈。
**Why is ancient history like a fruit cake?
**
为什么古代历史和一种水果蛋糕很相像？
**Because it's full of dates.
**
因为历史充满了日子。
**What was King Arthur's favorite game?
**
亚瑟王最喜欢的游戏是什么？
**Knights and crosses.
**
骑士和十字军。
**Where did King John keep his armies?
**
约翰王把他左膀右臂的军队放到了什么地方？
**Up his sleevies.
**
在袖子上面。
**What wears a coat all winter and pants in the summer?
**
什么东西整个冬天就穿一件外套，夏天穿条裤子？
**
A dog.
**
一只狗。
What goes in pink and comes out blue?
什么东西进去是粉色的，而出来变成蓝色？
A swimmer on a cold day.
冬泳运动员。
**What did the skeletons have at the dance?
**
骷髅们在跳舞的时候拥有什么？
**A rattling good time.
**
骨节咔咔作响，他们高兴极了。
**What do you can both do at a wedding?
**
食人者在婚礼上做什么？
**
Toast to bride and groom.
**
把新娘和新郎做成烤肉。
**What happens when two snails have a fight?
**
两只蜗牛打架会是什么情况？
**
They slug it out.
**
他们一决高下，互不让步。
**What happened when there was a fight in the fish and chip shop?
**
在出售炸鱼和炸薯条的小店里发生的打架行为是怎么回事？
**
A lot of fish got battered.
**
很多鱼都被打昏了。
知识点：get battered 可以表示被击打或被涂上面粉。
**What kind of vegetable is green and goes ' boing boing boing' ?
**
什么蔬菜是绿色的？还发出“嘣，嘣，嘣”的声音？
**Spring cabbage.
**
春甘蓝。
**What do traffic wardens like in their sandwiches?
**
交通监督员喜欢在他们的三明治里放什么？
**Traffic jam.
**
交通堵塞酱。
**
Why can't car play football?
**
小汽车为什么不能踢足球？
**
It's only got one boot.
**
因为它只有一只球靴。
**How can you tell when a train has gone?
**
你怎么知道一辆火车刚刚离开？
**It leaves tracks behind.
**
因为它留下了痕迹。
**Why isn't it safe to go to bed on a train?
**
为什么在火车上睡觉不安全？
**Because trains run over slippers.
**
因为火车会碾过睡觉的人。
**What happened when the wheel has invented?
**
轮子发明以后会怎么样？
**It's caused a revolution.
**
导致了革命的发生。
**What are the signs of iron defficiency?
**
缺铁会有什么症状？
**Crumpled clothes.
**
衣服就会皱巴巴的。
**Which is heavier, a full moon or a half moon?
**
一轮圆月和一轮残月，哪个更重？
**A half moon, because, a full moon is lighter.
**
残月中，因为圆月更轻。
**Why did the apple go out with the prune?
**
为什么苹果和果脯一起出去了？
**Because he couldn't find a date.
**
因为他找不到约会对象。