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，医生安慰他说，出院欢度新年的可能性还是很大的，那人听后振作了精神。

语言点:句子结构分析:“console sb.by doing+宾语从句”的意思是“通过做某事安慰某人”，是这句话的主体结构。of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations看着特别长，实际上是chances的后置定语，即“…的机会”。

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

果然，除夕时他可以一瘸一拐地去参加晚会了。

语言点:句子结构分析:sure enough即“果不其然”的意思，起强调和补充的作用，用来验证上下文医生所说的话。

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

为了补偿住院这一段不愉快的经历，那人喝得稍许多了一点。

语言点:句子结构分析:the man drank…for him的意思是“这人喝酒过量了”。Than引导的是比较状语从句，这种从句常用省略式，在本句中，than的后面省略了主语what（=the wine which）。a little more than was good for him相当于too much for him。