Question

The paradox about the "chestnut" or bad joke is that it is bad, yet _____?

1) it still makes people laugh
2) it is often repeated
3) it is widely known
4) it is considered a classic

Answer 1

The paradox of a "chestnut" or bad joke is that while it's considered bad, it still manages to make people laugh.

Step-by-step explanation:

The paradox about the "chestnut" or bad joke is that although it is considered bad or overused, it still manages to fulfill its primary purpose in some way, which is to amuse people. This contradictory situation arises because even though the joke is not original, fresh, or particularly clever, it often has an endearing quality or a familiar punchline that can still elicit a chuckle, especially in a social context where people are prepared to be entertained.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: 1) it still makes people laugh. Despite its poor reputation, the chestnut or bad joke continues to be amusing, which explains why it is frequently repeated and can remain widely known among various social groups or within different cultures.