N18 : Eighteenth lesson S00-TITLE : British humour S01 : A typical Brit works for a Chinese-owned company, drives a Japanese car, hangs out in Irish pubs, S02 : wears Italian-made clothes, eats Indian curry and drinks German beer, uses a Finnish phone, S03 : watches American shows on a Korean-made television - and is suspicious of everything foreign. S04 : The British are known for many things but arguably their most endearing trait is their sense of humour. S05 : It has been argued that English weather is so bad that humour is needed just to make life bearable. S06 : Be that as it may, its key ingredients are self-deprecation, irony, nonsense and - above all - understatement. S07 : For example, a swarm of bees was sucked into the engines of a passenger plane en route for South Africa. S08 : The pilot announced over the PA system - Ladies and gentleman, both engines have stopped and we're losing altitude; S09 : we're trying our utmost to get them going again. Meanwhile, I trust that you are not too upset. S10 : Or take this conversation between two foodies discussing the latest trendy restaurant to hit the High Street. S11 : The food was dire, the portions were tiny, the service was snooty and the prices were eye-popping. S12 : Oh, said her friend dryly. So you wouldn't recommend it, then? S13 : Another rich vein of humour in Britain is the rivalry between the three nations, which love to loathe each other. S14 : Many jokes begin with the words: There was an Englishman, a Scotsman and a Welshman (or an Irishman). S15 : Each country delights in poking fun at the others' perceived failings or foibles. S16 : For example, an Englishman says: I was born English and by God, I hope to die English. S17 : To which the Scotsman replies: Aye, I know; but don't you have any ambition at all? S18 : But one thing the English are very good at is laughing at themselves, often saying outrageous things tongue in cheek. S19 : Such as - The English are moral, the English are good. And clever and modest and misunderstood. S20 : But whether it's irony, dry wit or a pithy putdown, humour is an essential part of British life. S21 : So remember: don't fret if your parrot looks dead, it's probably only resting. T00-TRANSLATE : Exercise: Translate T01 : Sammy loathes spending money on new clothes. T02 : It is argued that global warming will lead to food shortages. T03 : I know he was angry. Be that as it may, he should have been polite. T04 : We're doing our utmost, but the situation is very difficult. T05 : The refugees are living in dire straits.