Text 课文
What is the basis of‘sick’humour?
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.
I found it difficult to finish the work in a day.
It was difficult not to be attempted.
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.
be based upon… 基于…
-- This news report is based entirely on fact. 这篇新闻报导是完全根据实际情况写成的。
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.
stem from 源自, 起源于
-- His feeling of hate stem from envy.（n.羡慕, 妒嫉）
-- Her interest in flowers stemmed from her childhood in the country.
stem from 源自, 起源于
= come from 出身于, 由...引起, 是...的结果, 是在...生长大的
= arise from 由...而引起, 由...而产生
= originate from 由某人发起(首创)
Originate vi.发源, 开始, 发生
-- The quarrel originated in a misunderstanding. 争吵是由于误解而引起的。
-- The film originated from a short story. 这部电影取材于一篇短篇小说。
Originate vt.使产生, 创始, 创办, 发明, 发起, 引起
-- They originated the plan. 他们首先提出这一计划。
come into fashion 流行起来, 开始风行
come into power (开始)掌权, 上台
call into being 使产生, 使出现, 建立, 成立
It is called‘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.
Dread to do = dread doing
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.
Miserable adj.痛苦的, 悲惨的, 可怜
A miserable day = a terrible day
think of 考虑, 设想, 想象
-- When I saw you I thought of my sister
think of doing sth
-- He is thinking of setting a school.
Spend time doing sth.
By通过某种方式
-- I arrive here by train.
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.
Chance在表达机会这个概念的时候, 经常采用复数形式。
One’s chances of doing sth are good 某人做某事的可能性很大
-- My chances of passing the examination are good.
-- His chances of being dismissed are good.
remote adj.遥远的, 偏僻的
adj.极小的, 细微的, 模糊的（= slight adj.轻微的, 微小的）
One’s chances of doing sth are remote 某人做某事的可能性很小
-- His chances of arriving here by bicycle are remote.
The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year's Eve he was able to hobble along to a
party.
take heart 鼓起勇气, 打起精神
-- He took heart when he got the good news.
lose heart 灰心, 泄气
-- If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock they will lose heart.
To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him.
To = in order to
More than… 超出…范围
-- The cake is more than I can eat.
More than后面可以引导省略主语的比较从句, 从句中常见的形容词有：necessary, good,
Possible, anticipate, expect, feel, suggest, report, require, think.
-- The man drank a little more than was good for him. = The man drank a little more than what was good for him.
-- There were more accidents than (what) was reported.
-- He eats more than (what/it) is good for him.
As后面可以引导省略主语的比较从句
-- He arrived as I expected. = He arrived as (what) was expected.
-- He eats as much as (what/it) is good for him.
-- The man drank as much as (what) was good for him.
比较：
1>-- He eats more than is good for him. 他总是吃的正好。
-- He eats as much as is good for him. 他总是吃的过多。
2>-- The man drank a little more than was good for him.
-- The man drank as much as was good for him.
委婉的表达方式：
The man drank a little more than was good for him.
She is quite fat. = She isn’t right fat.（Right adv.正确的, 合适的, 恰当的）
In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated
hospitals.
in the process of… 在...的过程中
In the process = during the party（上文中的party） 27-04
-- Yesterday I went swimming. In the process, I have a very good time.
-- I was looking for your house and got lost in the process.
Keep telling = keep on telling
How much = To what extent
-- How much can I trust him? = To what extend can I trust him?
Extent n.程度, 范围, 广度, 宽度, 长度
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.
When = at that moment
