READING PASSAGE-B1(with sound and exercises&key)

OVERREACTING TO A JOKE
More often than not, the person who habitually laughs longest and loudest when a joke is retold does not possess a particularly keen sense of humour. Though he may not admit it, he is vaguely aware of his deficiency, and frequently goes to  extremes to cover it up. A mediocre joke is likely to get as big a rise out of him as a truly humorous one. Psychological studies, likewise, show that people with a really keen sense of humour are not prone to much laughter. They are highly appreciative of humour, but they are also discriminating. And they never overreact.

EXERCISE 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:

a) usually; according to someone’s usual behaviour……………….
b) tell; repeat, having heard it from someone else……………………..
c) have; own…………….
d) more than normally; noticeably…………………..
e) sharp; strong; active; very aware………………..
f) ability to see when something is amusing (phrase)……………………….
g) only to a small degree; not clearly……………………
h) shortage or lack of something; weakness…………………..
i) often…………………
j) do more than is considered reasonable or acceptable (phrase)………………………
k) not very good; of a poor standard………………….
I) very probably the case; to be expected…………………..
m) cause someone to react with laughter, anger, etc. (phrase)……………………..
n) moreover; in a similar way……………………..
o) have a tendency; generally behave in a certain way (phrase)……………………………..
p) feeling enjoyment, pleasure and understanding…………………………..
q) able to recognize good quality; able to see…………………………
small differences between good and bad………………………….

EXERCISE 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the writer, it isn’t necessarily true that
A) mediocre jokes are only laughed at by people with no sense of humour
B) people with a keen sense of humour never overreact
C) a person who is aware of his weak sense of humour will always overreact
D) some jokes are better than others
E) the longer a person laughs, the keener his sense of humour

2. Those with a really keen sense of humour
A) never show it through laughter
B) tell mediocre jokes to make other people overreact
C) don’t appreciate the company of those with a poor sense of humour
D) are able to distinguish between good and bad jokes
E) will laugh for a long time at a truly humorous joke

3. The writer believes that by overreacting to a joke
A) some people are trying to hide the shortcomings in their sense of humour
B) you make the person who told it feel inadequate in some way
C) you spoil the humour for other people
D) a person can demonstrate how mediocre it is
E) a person shows how discriminating he is about humour

EXERCISE 3.” Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1. As young children, we absorb a lot of language before we utter our first words………….
, when we’re learning a second language, we shouldn’t be expected to
produce it until we have taken it in.
2. He’s very……………………….. you know, and he will immediately notice if we serve him a
cheap bottle of wine.
3. I……………………………….. remember you telling me this before, but tell me again as I’ve
forgotten most of the details.
4. He’s good at all the sciences………………………….. physics, and he seems to understand
even the most complicated concepts with no effort at all.
5. I’m …………………………….to be home late this evening, so don’t wait to eat if you’re hungry.

KEY

Ex.1: a) habitually b) retell c) possess d) particularly e) keen f) sense of humour g) vaguely h) deficiency i) frequently j) go to extremes k) mediocre I) likely m) get a rise out of someone n) likewise o) be prone
p) appreciative q) discriminating

Ex.2: 1.E 2.D 3.A
Ex. 3: 1.Likewise 2.discriminating 3.vaguely 4.particularly 5.likely