Whether we find a joke funny or largely depends on where we have been brought up．The sense of humor is mysteriously(神秘地)bound up with national characteristics(性格)．A Frenchman, for instance(例如), 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(滑稽的)situations．In spite of national differences have a universal appeal．No matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say, Charplin’s early films．However, a new type of humour, which stems largely from the USA, has recently come into fashion．It is called “sick humour”．Comedians(戏剧演员)basic their jokes on tragic(悲惨的)situations like violent death or serious accidents．Many people find this sort of joke distasteful(讨厌的)．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(纠缠)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(恢复)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 by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations(庆祝)were good．The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year’ 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．

How do you think about “sick humor”?

1．A senior citizen’s view：This sort of joke is distasteful(使人不愉快的)．

2．A humanist’s view：Too much this kind of humour will make people hard-hearted(铁石心肠)．It is especially harmful to the growth of the juvenile(青少年)．

3．A housewife’s view：It’s just a humorous story．We need not take it seriously．

4．A teenager’s view：We do not care the form of the humour, only if it can make us laugh．

5．A writer’s view：It is a form of art, just like we need tragedies(悲剧)as well as comedies(喜剧)．

My view：________　________