欧米のジョークはもう一つ分かりにくいと感じる人も多いかもしれません。よくあるのがその国の文化、宗教、人種、社会問題などをブラックジョーク的な笑いにするタイプのお笑いです。そうなると笑いのツボもオチもさっぱりわからないことは確かに多々あります。ただ文化的な背景は一切関係なく笑える鉄板ネタの一つが動物関連です。
今回のショートストーリーは、とても無礼なオウムが「あるもの」を目撃して態度が激変する理由がオチ(Punch line)となります。オウムの気持ちになって考えると笑えない結末でした。最後に英単語クイズのおまけ付きなので、ひと笑いした後にストーリーに出てきた英単語の復習をしてください。(尚、今回はボキャブラリーレベルが高めです。)それでは英語ジョーク&ショートストーリー #4「無礼なオウムの態度を矯正するには?」を楽しんでください。
【英語ジョーク&ショートストーリー #4】「無礼なオウムの態度を矯正するには?」
タイトル:”Parrot Attitude”
引用元:Inspire21.com
A young woman named Jessie received a parrot as a gift many years ago. Over time the parrot developed an extremely bad attitude.
It got to the point that every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude and obnoxious. Jessie tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else she could think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s attitude and by then ‘foul language.’
- parrot = オウム
- develop = 発展させる
- extremely = 非常に、とても
- attitude = 態度
- rude = 無礼な
- obnoxious = とても不快な、醜悪な
- consistently = 矛盾なく、一貫して
- foul language = 汚い言葉遣い
Finally, Jessie was fed up and yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. Jessie lost it and shook the parrot. The parrot became uncontrollable and even more rude. Jessie, in desperation, threw up her hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked, kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that she’d hurt the parrot, Jessie quickly opened the door to the freezer.
- be fed up = うんざりしている
- yell at = ~を怒鳴りつける
- lose it = キレる、カッとなる、怒る (lose – lost – lost)
- uncontrollable = コントロール[制御]できない
- in desperation = 必死の思いで、死に物狂いで
- grab = 掴む
- squawk = 〔大声で〕泣きわめく
- peep = ピヨピヨ[ピーピー]鳴く声
- hurt = 傷つける、怪我をさせる
The parrot calmly stepped out onto Jessie’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”
Jessie was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.
As she was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke up, very softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”
- calmly = 静かに、落ち着いて
- outstretch = 〔手などを〕差し伸べる
- offend = 気分を害する
- sincerely = 心から、誠実に
- remorseful = 後悔して
- inappropriate = 不適切な
- transgression = 〔宗教・道徳上の〕罪
- intend = ~するつもりである
- unforgivable = 許せない、弁解[言い訳]できない
- behavior = 態度
- be stunned = あぜん[がくぜん・ぼうぜん]としている
Grammar Check! 最後の一文、”As she was about to ask the parrot what had made(←過去完了形)… ” の表現に注目してみました。ここで使用されている「過去完了形」は、”she was about to ask”の「過去形」より更に前に起きた(完了した)事柄(つまり過去x2)を表現するために使用されています。
過去完了形の例文:Sandy had already eaten all the chocolate in the fridge when we arrived. ※太字が過去完了形です。(サンディーは我々が到着するより前にチョコレートを食べてしまった。)
Punch lineは?
さて、「無礼なオウムの態度を矯正するには?」のオチ(Punch line)は理解できましたか?
オウムはTurkey(七面鳥)が冷凍庫で以下のような姿になっているのを目撃したのでした。自分もこうなるのでは?と思ったんですね(笑)。七面鳥の調理前の姿は確かにグロテスクですよね。

【英語ジョーク&ショートストーリー #4】おさらい英単語クイズ
今回のショートストーリーはボキャブラリーの難易度も高かったので、英単語のヒントも多めに加えています。オチも理解ができたところで、英単語クイズでおさらいをしましょう!15の英単語(表現)と英語の定義(Definition)とのマッチングクイズにチャレンジしてください。
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【英語ジョーク&ショートストーリー】おさらい英単語クイズ: #1 -15
Matching words with definitions.
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Question 1 of 3
1. Question
Q. Match the word with the correct definition.
#1-15
Sort elements
- intend
- be stunned
- inappropriate
- extremely
- hurt
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to plan or want to do (something)
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to surprise or upset (someone) very much
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not right or suited for some purpose or situation
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very great in degree
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to cause pain or injury to (yourself, someone else, or a part of your body)
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Question 2 of 3
2. Question
Q. Match the word with the correct definition.
#1-15
Sort elements
- attitude
- obnoxious
- offend
- remorseful
- grab
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the way you think and feel about someone or something
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extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people
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to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done
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feeling extremely sorry for something wrong or bad that you have done
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to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms
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Question 3 of 3
3. Question
Q. Match the word with the correct definition.
#1-15
Sort elements
- in desperation
- lose it
- behavior
- consistently
- be fed up
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having a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope
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to start behaving in an uncontrolled way because you are angry or upset
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the way a person or animal acts or behaves
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in a way that does not change and continues for a period of time
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very tired of something : angry about something that has continued for a long time
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