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Lesson 29 Funny or not? 是否可笑？
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 the U.S., has recently come into fashion. 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. 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 unpleas-ant 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 some-thing about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg.
Language points
（Attention：The following points are not covered by the video. It is better for you to watch the video or listen to the MP3 first and try to take notes on your own. Then you may check here to get more details. ）
1, Most funny stories are based on comic situations.
be based on:以......作为基础
It was difficult not to be tempted
Stem from, come from, arise from, originate from
His feeling of hate stems from envy
Her interest in flowers stemed from her childhood in the country
come into fashion 开始流行
come into being 开始形成
come into power 开始执政
2, In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.
keep doing sth. 不间断的，不停的做某事
keep on doing sth. 反复、重复干某事(中间可以有短暂的暂停) (keep: vi.)
Don't keep on asking silly questions.
He kept smoking all the while.
He kept on smoking all the while.
keep +宾语+动词ing形式，keep on 不能用于该句型
He kept me waiting for an hour.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long.
3，He spent a miserable day in bed thinking of all the fun he was missing.
think of:想到，想起，想着
When I saw you I thought of my sister.
think of doing sth.
He is thinking of setting up a school.
4, 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.
by 通过某种方式手段
dread to do = dread doing
a miserable day: a terrible day
think of:想到，想起，想着
When I saw you I thought of my sister.
think of doing sth.
He is thinking of setting up a school.
spend time doing sth.
by:通过某种方式手段
I arrived here by train.
在表达可能性这个语句的时候，经常采用复数形式
5, His chances of being dismissed are good.
his chances of doing sth. are good. / remote 做......可能性极大/极小
6, In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.
how much ----to what extent
How much can I trust him?
7, In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.
keep telling ==keep on telling
Key structures
定语从句（八）
6．非限定性定语从句不用that，只用who（whose, whom）和which代表人和物；
例：Her brothers, both of whom work in America, ring her up every week。
她的兄弟们？？两个人都在美国工作？？每个星期都给她打电话。
The buses, most of which were already full, were surrounded by an angry crowd，
那些公共汽车？？大多已经坐满了人？？被一群愤怒的人围着。
7．关系副词（=介词+关系代词）：
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关系副词 |
先行词 |
在从句中的作用 |
说明 |
|
when(=at / on / in / during which) |
时间名词 |
时间状语 |
非正式文体中，有时用that代替关系副词 |
|
where(=in / at which) |
地点名词 |
地点状语 | |
|
why=(for which) |
只有reason |
原因状语 |
例：I shall never forget the day when (=on which) we first met.
我永远也不会忘记我们第一次见面的那一天。
The rain came at a time when (=at which) it was not needed.
雨下得不是时候。Exercises
Multiple choices
1 Whether you find ‘sick humour' funny or not will depend on _____ .
a. your having been brought up in America
b. the joke being related to a fundamentally comic situation
c. your ability to see the funny side of an unpleasant event
d. your ability to laugh until you cry
2 The man spent Christmas Day feeling miserable because _____ .
a. the doctor had failed to attend to him
b. he was not able to be with his friends.
c. being unable to walk, he did not enjoy the celebrations at the hospital
d. he thought he might also miss the New Year's Eve celebrations
Translation
3,This is the computer where (=by/on which) he has stolen top-secret documents.
4，Here is the place where (=at which) the murder took place.
5，He didn't give any reason why (=for which) I had been fired.
6，This is the house in which (=where) my parents used to live.
7，That tower block, which cost five million dollars to build, has been empty for five years.
8，The accounts of the company ,which I've been paying great attention to, are in balance.
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