a humorous narrative can pose difficulties for a writer. Everybody has a different sense of humour. What makes one person laugh may not be funny to someone else. If they are written well, these narratives are popular. They can be found in books and often in newspapers or magazines. Humorous narratives can be stories or just a writer's views on life and the things they see around them. The best ones do not simply make you laugh, but also say something more important or give the reader extra information. You may need more practice for this form of writing. Try it out on your friends. See if you can make them laugh. Hong Kong is a funny place It is very strange being young in Hong Kong. For one thing, my parents are totally mad. When I am wide awake and full of energy at night, they insist that I go to bed. And, to make matters worse, when I am comfortable and fast asleep in bed in the morning, they wake me up! Honestly, I think parents should get some kind of licence before they are allowed to have children. And when I go on the Star Ferry, there are hundreds of people who rush and push to scramble on to the ferry as if their lives depended on it. And when they get on, they all sit peacefully and enjoy the slowest form of transport in Hong Kong. I just don't understand. During the week, I have to attend school. My teachers are really nice, but they have no idea about what to do. They treat us like caged animals, not human beings. They pack us into classrooms where there is no space; they make us sit next to people we don't like and they try and talk to us about things we don't know about. And then they expect us to learn. Teachers should give us lots of money and send us to the shops to learn about mathematics and ask us to write notes to our friends to improve our writing skills. Honestly, if it was me, I would sack all the teachers and just let the students get on with it. But the worst thing about being young in Hong Kong is dating. Boys and girls spend all day ignoring each other and pretending they don't care, when all the time, the opposite is true. And when you do get a date, everybody is suddenly interested and want to know everything! I just don't get it. Some say that when you are young, they are the best days of your life. Personally, I can't wait to grow up and be an adult! Glossary strange (adj) - unusual; out of the ordinary to insist (v) - to firmly ask licence (n) - official approval (to do something) to scramble (v) - to move around hurriedly to sack (v) - to take a person's job away Comprehension 1. Who does the writer say are totally mad? 2. Where do hundreds of people rush and push? 3. When does the writer have to attend school? 4. Who should send people to the shops with lots of money? 5. What's the worst thing about being young? 6. When do they say are the best years of your life? Writing style The writer talks about the Star Ferry being the slowest form of transport in Hong Kong. Some transport is slow, others are slower, but the ferry is the slowest. Look at the sentences below and fill in the blanks. fastest, small, older, loud, higher 7. Horses are fast animals but cheetahs are the _______________ animals in the world. 8. I am ________________ but my brother is smaller. 9. My dad is old but grand-dad is ______________. 10. My school bell is ___________ but thunder is louder. 11. A helicopter flies high, but an airliner flies _________. Crossword The writer is joking when he says teachers treat students like caged animals. There are many different types of animals. Look at the words below and write the answers to the clues in the crossword. giraffe, elephant, lion, monkey, snake, camel 1. This animal has a very long neck 2. King of the jungle that roars 3. It can have one or two humps 4. Big ears, tusks and very strong 5. Slithers along the floor and hisses 6. These creatures swing from trees and eat nuts Answers: 1. parents; 2. Star Ferry; 3. during the week; 4. teachers; 5. dating; 6. when you are young; 7. fastest; 8. small; 9. older; 10. loud; 11. higher Crossword: 1. giraffe; 2. lion; 3. camel; 4. elephant; 5. snake; 6. monkey
