SMILE

READING INTERMEDIATE

Did you know that you can tell where someone is from just from their smile? A researcher in America believes he can. Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at the University of California, carried out an extensive study into the 43 facial muscles that are used when making a smile. One of his conclusions was that the smile of British people is more sincere and genuine than the smiles of Americans. Mr. Keltner was spot on in identifying a British or American smile when asked to identify which side of the Atlantic someone was from, just by looking at a photograph. He identified the correct nationality nine times out of ten. A genuine British smile means pulling the lips backwards and upwards to reveal the bottom teeth. The cheeks are raised and the crow’s feet wrinkles to the side of the eyes show. Keltner said Prince Charles has the most typical warm British smile. The average American smile is less expressive because the eye muscles are not part of the smile. He likened it to a Botox injection, which leaves the upper half of the face motionless. He also said smiling means you have a more successful life.

2. TRUE / FALSE: Students look at the headline and predict whether they believe the following statements about the article are true or false:

a.                 You can tell which country someone is from just from their smile.  T / F

b.     We use 16 different facial muscles when we smile.  T / F

c.      British people have more genuine smiles than American people.  T / F

d.     A researcher had a 100% success rate in identifying a smile as British or American.  T / F

e.     A genuine British smile means pulling the lips backwards and upwards to reveal the bottom teeth.  T / F

f.      Prince Charles has the most typical warm British smile. T / F

g.     Americans don’t use their eye muscles when they smile.  T / F

h.     Smiling doesn’t mean you will have a more successful life.  T / F

3. SYNONYM MATCH: Students match the following synonyms from the article:

	tell	wide
	smile	characteristic
	carried out	show
	extensive	correct
	conclusions	understand
	sincere	findings
	spot on	alive
	reveal	grin
	typical	honest
	expressive	undertook

6. DISCUSSION:  Students ask each other the following questions:

a.                 Do you like smiling?

b.                 What percentage of your day do you smile?

c.                  How many different smiles do you have?

d.                 Do you have different smiles for different people?

e.                 Do you ever fake a smile?

f.                  Is smiling good for your heart?

g.                 Would you try to smile less if it meant you looked younger later in life?

h.                 Do you worry about your crow’s feet?

i.                    What do you think of Prince Charles’ smile?

j.                   What do you think of my smile?

k.                 Do you think that British people have friendlier smiles than Americans?

l.                    Do you ever use / draw the smiley character?

m.               Who has the best smile of anyone you know?

TRUE / FALSE:

a.                 You can tell which country someone is from just from their smile.  T

b.                 We use 16 different facial muscles when we smile.  F

c.                  British people have more genuine smiles than American people.  T

d.                 A researcher had a 100% success rate in identifying a smile as British or American.  F

e.                 A genuine British smile means pulling the lips backwards and upwards to reveal the bottom teeth.  T

f.                  Prince Charles has the most typical warm British smile. T

g.                 Americans don’t use their eye muscles when they smile.  T

h.                 Smiling doesn’t mean you will have a more successful life.  F

SYNONYM MATCH:

	tell	understand
	smile	grin
	carried out	undertook
	extensive	wide
	conclusions	findings
	sincere	honest
	spot on	correct
	reveal	show
	typical	characteristic
	expressive	alive