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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 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.
二、【New words and expressions】生词和短语
●largely adv. 在很大程度上
●comic adj. 喜剧的，可笑的
●universal adj. 普遍的
●comedian n. 滑稽演员，喜剧演员
●distasteful adj. 讨厌的
●pester v. 一再要求，纠缠
●dread v. 惧怕
●recovery n. 康复
●plaster n. 熟石膏
●console v. 安慰，慰问
●hobble v. 瘸着腿走
●compensate v. 补偿
●mumble v. 喃喃而语
■largely adv. 在很大程度上
Eg.: He success was largely due to luck.
■comic adj. 喜剧的，可笑的
■universal adj. 普遍的
universal agent 全权代理人
universal time 世界时
universal joint 万向接头
universality n. 普遍性
universally adv.
Eg.: It universally acknowledged that English is getting more and more important.
universe 宇宙
■comedian n. 滑稽演员，喜剧演员
comedy 喜剧
tragedy 悲剧
tragic 悲剧的
comic 喜剧的
■distasteful adj. 讨厌的
Eg.: The idea is distasteful to me.
distastefully adv.
■pester v. 一再要求，纠缠
==assail (l28)
pester sb. to do
pester sb. with
Eg.: He contunually pesters his boss with demands.
pester sb. for sth.
■dread v. 惧怕
后面可以跟名词、动名词、不定式搭配连用
Eg.: We were dreading his arrival.我们正担心他来呢。
I dread to think what will happened if she find out.
He dread having to meet his parents.
dreadful adj.
dreaded
in dread of
fear 一般的恐惧
horrify 使恐怖，使极度恐惧
■recovery n. 康复
■plaster n. 熟石膏
■console v. 安慰，慰问
Eg.: He is consoling his friend in grief for the loss of child.
■hobble v. 瘸着腿走
■compensate v. 补偿
■mumble v. 喃喃而语
三、【课文精析】
Key sentence:
I found it difficult to finish the work in a day.
此句话是文章的topic
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
Key sentence:
Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents.
Some funny stories are based on tragic situations.
Key sentence:
From the moment he arrived at party, he enjoyed himself very much.
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.
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
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
chances of
My chances of passing the examination are good.
It is quite possible for me to pass the examination.
His chances of being dismissed are good.
his chances of doing sth. are good. / remote 做……可能性极大/极小
remote
His chances of arriving here by bicycle are remote.
slight
He took heart when he got the good news.
lose heart :失去信心，失去勇气
The cake is more than I can eat.
mecessary, gook, possible, anticipate, expect, feel, suggest, report, require, think
He eats more than is good for him.
as
He arrived as I expected. / He arrived as was expected.
He eats just as much as is good for him.
He eats more than is good for him.
The man drank just as much was good for him.
She is quite fat. ==She isn’t right fat.
Yesterday I went swimming. In the process, I had a very good time.
I was lookingfor yourhouse and got lostin the process.
keep telling ==keep on telling
how much ----to what extent
How much can I trust him?
when: at that moment |
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发表于 2016-7-11 23:03:11