Developing ideas 课文精读 · 幽默的重要性
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
Humour has been an essential part of human behaviour for thousands of years. There is comedy in the texts of Ancient Greece, and medieval writings are filled with jokes. While these same jokes might not be as funny to us now as they were then, their authors understood that humour could not only entertain but also throw new light on sensitive or emotive issues.
数千年来，幽默一直是人类行为的重要组成部分。古希腊的文字中记载有喜剧，而中世纪的作品中也常常出现笑话。虽然那些笑话对现在的我们来说可能不像当时那么有趣，但是它们的作者明白，幽默不仅娱乐大众，而且可以使人们对敏感问题或有争议的问题产生新的认识。
第2段
Closer to modern times, someone who is remembered for his ability to combine humour with more serious messages is American writer, Mark Twain. Twain’s particular style of writing is funny and often mischievous. For example, in his classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, he famously says, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” But he is equally well known for his witty remarks in his everyday interactions with people. For instance, while on a lecturing tour of the United States, Twain went into a barber’s shop to get a haircut and a shave. The barber, not recognising him, asked if he had a ticket to the lecture. When Twain replied that he didn’t, the barber told him that if he wanted to go to the event he would have to stand, as there were no seats left in the theatre. Twain’s response was, “That’s just my luck. I always have to stand when that fellow lectures!”
到了近现代，美国作家马克·吐温因擅长用幽默的方式表达严肃的内容而著称。吐温独特的写作风格幽默风趣，而且常常带有调侃意味。例如，在他的经典小说《汤姆·索耶历险记》中有一句名言"写作很容易，你要做的就是把错误的单词划掉。"他日常与人交流中的诙谐言论同样出名。比如，有一次在美国做巡回演讲时，马克·吐温走进一家理发店去理发和刮脸。理发师没有认出他来，问他有没有这场演讲的门票，马克·吐温说没有。理发师告诉他，如果他想去听演讲就只能站着了，因为剧院里已经没有座位了。马克·吐温回答说："真倒霉。只要那个家伙演讲，我总是要站着！"
第3段
Like Twain, but on the other side of the world, Lin Yutang was soon to become famous for his unique brand of humour. A well-known bilingual writer, Lin brought the concept of humour to modern Chinese literature. In 1924, he creatively borrowed “youmo” from Ancient Chinese as the translation for the English word “humour”. “Youmo” is still being used in this way today.
和马克·吐温类似，在世界的另一端，林语堂很快也因其独特的幽默风格而闻名。作为著名的双语作家，林语堂将幽默的概念引入了中国现代文学。1924年，他创造性地借用古汉语中的"幽默"作为英文单词"humour"的翻译。今天，"幽默"一词仍在以这种方式被人们使用。
第4段
Lin’s quick wit helped make him famous as a master of humour. Once, having been invited to dinner at a university, he was put on the spot when the president suddenly asked him to give a speech. Thinking on his feet, Lin started to tell a story about a cruel Roman emperor who tried to feed a man to wild animals. First came a lion. The man whispered something in the lion’s ear, after which the lion shook its head and walked away unhappily. Then along came a tiger. Again, the man whispered in the tiger’s ear. The tiger looked shocked and hurried away. “What did you say to my animals?” said the emperor, astonished. “I told them they had to make a speech after eating me for dinner.” Lin’s audience roared with laughter. With this little joke, Lin was able to make people laugh, while gently telling off the president.
林语堂的机智使他成为著名的幽默大师。有一次，他被邀请去一所大学吃晚饭，当校长突然让他做演讲时，他感到很为难。林语堂急中生智，开始讲述一个残忍的罗马皇帝试图把一个人喂给野兽的故事。首先来了一头狮子，那人对狮子耳语了几句，狮子摇了摇头，不高兴地走开了。然后来了一只老虎，那人又对老虎耳语了几句，老虎看起来很震惊，急忙跑开了。"你对我的动物们说了什么？" 皇帝惊讶地说道。"我告诉它们，把我作为晚饭吃掉后，它们必须要演讲一番。" 林语堂的听众们哄堂大笑。通过这个小笑话，林语堂既能让大家哈哈大笑，同时也委婉地表达了对校长的不满。
第5段
Both Twain and Lin understood that humour isn’t just about laughter, but is a way of life and a tool that can be used to illuminate the world. Lin even created an equation to explain this concept: Reality + Dreams + Humour = Wisdom. Living and working with others can sometimes be complicated, and humour makes this easier. Sharing jokes and laughing together can bring individuals and even communities together. Indeed, some may argue that our need for humour is almost as great as our need for water and air. In the words of Mark Twain, “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing”.
马克·吐温和林语堂都明白，幽默不仅仅能带来笑声，它还是一种生活方式，是一种可以用来阐明世界的工具。林语堂甚至还创造了一个公式来解释他的理念：现实+梦想+幽默=智慧。和其他人在一起生活和工作有时候并不是一件容易的事，而幽默可以让事情变得更简单。一起讲笑话、一起欢笑可以使不同的个体甚至是团体凝聚在一起。事实上，有些人甚至会认为我们对幽默的需求几乎与我们对水和空气的需求一样强烈。用马克吐温的话来说："幽默是人类头等的幸事。"
二、重点单词
essential adj.：必不可少的；本质的。Humour has been an essential part of human behaviour
medieval adj.：中世纪的。medieval writings are filled with jokes
emotive adj.：情感的；易动感情的。sensitive or emotive issues（敏感或有争议的问题）
mischievous adj.：顽皮的；爱恶作剧的。Twain’s style is funny and often mischievous
witty adj.：诙谐的；机智的。his witty remarks in everyday interactions
bilingual adj.：双语的。A well-known bilingual writer
concept n.：概念；观念。brought the concept of humour to ... literature
creatively adv.：创造性地。he creatively borrowed “youmo”
wit n.：机智；才智。Lin’s quick wit helped make him famous
cruel adj.：残忍的；残酷的。a cruel Roman emperor
equation n.：等式；公式。Lin even created an equation
illuminate v.：阐明；照亮。a tool that can be used to illuminate the world
complicated adj.：复杂的。Living and working with others can be complicated
blessing n.：幸事；祝福。Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing
interaction n.：互动；交流。his everyday interactions with people
三、一词多义与熟词生义
brand 本义"品牌、商标"，课文 unique brand of humour 中为引申义"风格、类型"，即"独特的幽默风格"。
lecture 常见义"讲座、讲课"，课文 a lecturing tour 指"巡回演讲"；that fellow lectures 中作动词"做演讲"。
fellow 常见义"家伙、小伙子"（口语），课文 that fellow lectures 中带轻微调侃，指"那个家伙（指吐温自己）"。
shave 作动词本义"剃、刮"，get a haircut and a shave 指"理发和刮脸"，shave 此处名词化为"刮脸"。
equation 常见义数学"等式、方程"，课文 Reality + Dreams + Humour = Wisdom 用作比喻义"人生公式、理念等式"。
blessing 作名词本义"上帝的祝福"，课文 mankind’s greatest blessing 意为"人类最大的幸事/福祉"。
四、重点词块
an essential part of 的重要组成部分
be filled with 充满
throw new light on 使对……产生新的认识
combine ... with ... 把……与……结合
be remembered for 因……而被记住
on a lecturing tour 在巡回演讲中
not recognise 没有认出
a brand of 一种……的风格/类型
put sb on the spot 使某人陷入窘境；为难某人
think on one’s feet 急中生智；反应敏捷
roar with laughter 哄堂大笑；放声大笑
tell off 责备；斥责
in the words of 用……的话来说
as great as 与……一样强烈/大
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】While these same jokes might not be as funny to us now as they were then, their authors understood that humour could not only entertain but also throw new light on sensitive or emotive issues.
【主干】their authors understood that ...
【分层】While 引导让步状语从句，含 as ... as 比较结构；主句谓语 understood 后接 that 宾语从句，从句用 not only ... but also ... 连接两个并列谓语 entertain 与 throw new light on。
【译文】虽然那些笑话对现在的我们来说可能不像当时那么有趣，但是它们的作者明白，幽默不仅娱乐大众，而且可以使人们对敏感问题产生新的认识。
【考点】while 让步状语从句；as ... as 比较；not only ... but also 并列结构；that 宾语从句。
【原句 2】Closer to modern times, someone who is remembered for his ability to combine humour with more serious messages is American writer, Mark Twain.
【主干】someone ... is American writer, Mark Twain.
【分层】Closer to modern times 为状语前置；who is remembered for ... 为修饰 someone 的定语从句，其中 to combine ... 为不定式作后置定语修饰 ability；Mark Twain 与 American writer 为同位语。
【译文】到了近现代，美国作家马克·吐温因擅长用幽默的方式表达严肃的内容而著称。
【考点】who 定语从句；不定式作后置定语；同位语。
【原句 3】The barber, not recognising him, asked if he had a ticket to the lecture.
【主干】The barber asked if ...
【分层】not recognising him 为现在分词否定式作原因状语；asked 后接 if 引导的宾语从句。
【译文】理发师没有认出他来，问他有没有这场演讲的门票。
【考点】现在分词作状语；if 宾语从句。
【原句 4】Having been invited to dinner at a university, he was put on the spot when the president suddenly asked him to give a speech.
【主干】he was put on the spot.
【分层】Having been invited ... 为现在分词完成被动式作时间状语，强调"被邀请"先于"陷入窘境"；when 引导时间状语从句。
【译文】有一次，他被邀请去一所大学吃晚饭，当校长突然让他做演讲时，他感到很为难。
【考点】现在分词完成被动式作状语；when 时间状语从句；被动语态。
【原句 5】Both Twain and Lin understood that humour isn’t just about laughter, but is a way of life and a tool that can be used to illuminate the world.
【主干】Both Twain and Lin understood that ...
【分层】that 引导宾语从句；从句中 not just about ... but is ... 并列；a tool 后接 that 引导的定语从句，谓语 can be used 为情态动词被动语态，to illuminate 为不定式作目的状语。
【译文】马克·吐温和林语堂都明白，幽默不仅仅能带来笑声，它还是一种生活方式，是一种可以用来阐明世界的工具。
【考点】that 宾语从句；not just ... but ... 并列；that 定语从句；情态动词被动语态。
六、语法点清单
1. 现在完成时（持续与经历）
Humour has been an essential part ... for thousands of years；is still being used。强调从过去持续至今的状态。
2. 让步状语从句（while）
While these same jokes might not be as funny ...。while 位于句首表"虽然"，不与 but 连用。
3. 定语从句（who / that）
someone who is remembered ...；a tool that can be used ...。注意 who 指人作主语，that 指物。
4. 现在分词作状语
not recognising him（原因）；having been invited ...（时间，完成被动）；Thinking on his feet（伴随）。
5. 倒装句（全部倒装）
First came a lion.；Then along came a tiger.。副词 first / then 置于句首，谓语动词 came 提前构成全部倒装。
6. 并列与对照（not just ... but ...）
humour isn’t just about laughter, but is a way of life。连接两个表语，表递进。
七、逻辑链
总起（第1段）：幽默数千年都是人类重要组成部分，既能娱乐也能启发思考
↓
例证一（第2段）：马克·吐温——以幽默表达严肃内容，理发店小故事见其诙谐
↓
例证二（第3段）：林语堂——将"幽默"概念引入中国现代文学
↓
例证三（第4段）：林语堂急中生智，用笑话委婉"责备"校长，显其机智
↓
总结（第5段）：幽默是生活方式与工具，能凝聚人心，需求如空气般重要
这是一篇"总—分—总"的议论文/说明文：第1段提出幽默的价值；第2—4段分别用马克·吐温与林语堂的具体事例支撑观点；第5段收束，点明幽默作为"生活方式与工具"的深层意义并引用名言升华。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：... has been an essential part of ... for thousands of years.
课文：Humour has been an essential part of human behaviour for thousands of years.
仿写：Music has been an essential part of human culture for thousands of years.（数千年来，音乐一直是人类文化的重要组成部分。）——用于开篇点明某事物的重要性。
模板 2：someone who is remembered for ... is ...
课文：someone who is remembered for his ability to combine humour with more serious messages is Mark Twain.
仿写：someone who is remembered for her devotion to education is Zhang Guimei.（因献身教育而被铭记的人之一是张桂梅。）——用于引述人物及其特质。
模板 3：... was put on the spot when ...
课文：he was put on the spot when the president suddenly asked him to give a speech.
仿写：She was put on the spot when the teacher suddenly called her name.（当老师突然叫到她的名字时，她一下子慌了。）——用于描写被迫应对突发状况。
模板 4：Thinking on his feet, ... started to ...
课文：Thinking on his feet, Lin started to tell a story ...
仿写：Thinking on his feet, the debater quickly found a perfect example.（辩手急中生智，迅速找到了一个绝佳的例子。）——用于表现临场机智。
模板 5：In the words of ..., “...”
课文：In the words of Mark Twain, “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing”.
仿写：In the words of Einstein, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”（用爱因斯坦的话来说："想象力比知识更重要。"）——用于引用名言收尾升华。
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