Funny or Not 好笑不好笑

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 tragics 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.

19. 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.

然而，第二天，醫生安慰他說，出院歡度新年的可能性還是很大的，那人聽后振作了精神。

語言點:句子結構分析:“console sb.by doing+賓語從句”的意思是“通過做某事安慰某人”，是這句話的主體結構。of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations看著特別長，實際上是chances的后置定語，即“…的機會”。

20. The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year’s Eve he was able to hobble along to a party.

果然，除夕時他可以一瘸一拐地去參加晚會了。

語言點:句子結構分析:sure enough即“果不其然”的意思，起強調和補充的作用，用來驗證上下文醫生所說的話。

21. To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him.

為了補償住院這一段不愉快的經歷，那人喝得稍許多了一點。

語言點:句子結構分析:the man drank…for him的意思是“這人喝酒過量了”。Than引導的是比較狀語從句，這種從句常用省略式，在本句中，than的后面省略了主語what（=the wine which）。a little more than was good for him相當于too much for him。