新概念英語第三冊(含lrc文本)Lesson 29 Funny or not?

Lesson 29
Funny or not?
是否可笑？
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問題。

What is the basis of 'sick' humour?

    Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on were 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 the U.S., has recently come into fashion. It is called 'sick humour'. Comedians base their jokes on tragic situation 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 doctors 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 good. The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Years' 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.
 
New words and expressions 生詞和短語

     largely
adv. 在很大程度上

     comic
adj. 喜劇的，可笑的

     universal
adj. 普通的

     comedian
n.   滑稽演員，喜劇演員

     distasteful
adj. 討厭的

     pester
v.   一再要求，糾纏

     dread
v.   懼怕

     recovery
n.   康復

     plaster
n.   熟石膏

     console
v.   安慰，慰問

     hobble
v.   瘸著腿走

     compensate
v.   補償

     mumble
v.   喃喃而語