Lesson 29Funny or not Part 1: Text Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up. The sense of humour is mysteriously bound up with national characteristics. A Frenchman, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke. In the same way, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears. Most funny stories are based on comic situations. In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have a universal appeal. No matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say, Charlie Chaplin's early films. However, a new type of humour, which stems largely from America, has recently come into fashion. It is cal1ed' sick humour '. Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents. Many people find this sort of joke distasteful. The following example of 'sick humour' will enable you to judge for yourself. A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas. From the moment he arrived there, he kept on pestering his doctor to tell him when he would be able to go home. He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. Though the doctor did his best, the patient's recovery was slow. On Christmas day, the man still had his right leg in plaster. He spent a miserable day in bed thinking of all the fun he was missing. The following day, however, the doctor consoled him by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good. The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year's Eve he was able to hobble along to a party. To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him. In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals. He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. Part 2: New words and expression 1.largely ['la:d li] ad.在很大程度上 2.comic ['k mik] a.喜剧的，可笑的 3.universal ['ju:ni'v :s l] a.普遍的 4.comedian [k 'mi:dj n] n.滑稽演员，喜剧演员 5.distasteful [dis'teistful] a.讨厌的 6.pester ['pest ] v.一再要求，纠缠 7.dread [dred] v.惧怕 8.recovery [ri'k v ri] n.康复 9.plaster ['pla:st ] n.熟石膏 10.console [k n's ul] v.安慰，慰问 11.hobble ['h bl] v.瘸着腿走 12.compensate ['k mpenseit] v.补偿 13.mumble ['m mbl] v.喃喃而语 ★largely ['la:d li] ad.在很大程度上 同义词：mostly, greatly, mainly 例句：His success is largely due to his own hard work. 他的成功主要是靠他自己的努力。 Our country exported largely corn. 我国大规模出口玉米。 ★comic ['k mik] a.喜剧的，可笑的 1.n. 连环图画；喜剧演员 read a comic 看一本漫画书 science fiction comic 科幻连环漫画杂志 2.adj. 有趣的；喜剧的 comic book 滑稽的书 comic character 喜剧人物 例句：The ending of the play is comic.此剧的结局是喜剧的。 I saw the child reading a comic.我看见那孩子在看一本 ... ...
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