What is the basis of 'sick' humor? Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up. The sense of humor is mysteriously connected 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, Chaplin's early films. However, a new type of humor, which comes largely from US, has recently come into fashion. It is called 'sick humor'. 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 humor' 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 begging his doctor to tell him when he would be able to go home. He was afraid of having to spend Christmas in hospital and missing the fun. 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 sadly. The following day, however, the doctor comforted 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（蹒跚）along to a party. In order to make up 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.

The man spent Christmas day feeling miserable because ________.

A. he thought he would miss the New Year’s Eve celebration

B. the doctor had failed to cure him

C. he hated the hospital and his roommates

D. being unable to walk, he could not enjoy himself.

The point of the joke taken to explain “sick humor” is that________.

   A. the man should have said how much he hated hospitals

   B. the man had not got a leg to stand on

C. no sooner had the man been out of hospital than he had to go back in again

D. being unable to walk, he did not enjoy the celebration

What can you learn about the man from the story?

A. The man got well soon because the doctor took good care of him.

B. He had to go to hospital again though he hated it.

C. On New Year’s Eve, the man was able to walk properly to the party.

D. At the party, he enjoyed himself but only drank a little.  

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　　The idea of becoming a writer had come to me since my childhood, but it wasn't until my third year in high school that I was sure I could 1 it. Until then I'd been 2 by everything with English. I found grammar dull and I 3 the homework.

　　However, things changed when one day Mr Fleagle--my third-year English teacher handed out a homework sheet 4 us a choice of topics for writing essays(作文) for the week. As usual I took the list home and did 5 until the night before the essay was 6 . Lying on the sofa, I finally faced up to the 7 task and the 8 on which my eyes stopped was“The Art of Eating Spaghetti(通心粉)”. Soon it recalled me of the beautiful and vivid 9 of one night when my family were seated around the supper table, having 10 .

　　Suddenly I wanted to put it down simply for my own joy 11 I would break the rules of formal essay, I'd learned in school and Mr Fleagle would surely give it a 12 grade. Two days passed 13 Mr Fleagle returned the graded paper, and he returned everyone's 14 mine. I was 15 myself for an order from Mr Fleagle to 16 after school for punishment when I saw him lift my paper and knock for the class's attention. To my 17 , he started to read my words! The entire class laughed with open-hearted enjoyment.

　　I did my best to 18 showing pleasure, but what I was feeling was pure delight that my words had the 19 to make people laugh. When Mr Fleagle finished, he made my happiness 20 by saying, “Congratulations, Mrs Baker.”

1．

[　　]

A．make　　　　B．do

C．become　　　D．have

2．

[　　]

A．amused　　　B．attracted

C．bored　　　　D．puzzled

3．

[　　]

A．enjoyed　　 B．forgot

C．missed　　　D．hated

4．

[　　]

A．offering　　　B．choosing

C．suggesting　　D．leaving

5．

[　　]

A．something　　B．anything

C．everything　　D．nothing

6．

[　　]

A．ready　　　B．done

C．finished　　D．graded

7．

[　　]

A．uneasy　　　B．unpopular

C．unwelcome　 D．unexpected

8．

[　　]

A．idea　　　　　B．list

C．unwelcome　　D．unexpected

9．

[　　]

A．impression　　B．memories

C．stories　　　　D．description

10．

[　　]

A．spaghetti　　B．super

C．art　　　　 D．tea

11．

[　　]

A．because　　B．in case

C．as if　　　 D．even if

12．

[　　]

A．failing　　　B．winning

C．worrying　　D．encouraging

13．

[　　]

A．before　　　B．when

C．until　　　 D．after

14．

[　　]

A．and　　　　 B．but

C．as well as　　D．instead of

15．

[　　]

A．pretending　B．persuading

C．preparing　 D．protecting

16．

[　　]

A．clean　　　B．write

C．leave　　　D．protecting

17．

[　　]

A．movement　　　B．disappointment

C．astonishment　　D．encouragement

18．

[　　]

A．control　　 B．continue

C．avoid　　　D．support

19．

[　　]

A．experience　　 B．power

C．chance　　　　D．favour

20．

[　　]

A．complete　　B．useless

C．ordinary　　 D．suitable

Matt and his wife lived in the country. Matt was very mean and hated spending money. One day a fair（交易会）came to the nearby town.
They went to the fair and looked at all the things to buy. Matt’s wife wanted to buy a hat only costing $28, but was refused. Later on, a comb of $5 attracted her attention, but he would not let her spend any money.
Then, in a nearby field, they saw a small airplane. “Fun flight!” the notice said, “$10 for 10 minutes.”
Matt had never been in an airplane and he wanted to go on a fun flight. However, he didn’t want to pay for his wife either. “I’ve only got $10,” he told the pilot. “Can my wife come with me for free?” The pilot wasn’t selling many tickets, so he said, “I’ll make a bargain with you. If your wife doesn’t scream, she can have a free flight.”
Matt agreed, and got into the small airplane with his wife. The pilot took off and made his airplane do all kinds of things. At one moment it was flying upside down.
When the plane landed, the pilot said, “OK, your wife didn’t make a sound. She can have her ride free.”
“Thank you,” Matt said, “it wasn’t easy for her, you know, especially when she fell out.”
【小题1】How much did the couple spend at the fair?