Mock Test # 14 Reading Passage 3

Questions 27–31

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27 When referring to laughter in the first paragraphs, the writer emphasises

A its impact on language.

B its function in human culture.

C its value to scientific research.

D its universality in animal societies.

None

28 What does the writer suggest about Charley Douglass?

A He understood the importance of enjoying humour in a group setting.

B He believed that TV viewers at home needed to be told when to laugh.

C He wanted his shows to appeal to audiences across the social spectrum.

D He preferred shows where audiences were present in the recording studio.

None

29 What makes the Santa Cruz study particularly significant?

A the various different types of laughter that were studied

B the similar results produced by a wide range of cultures

C the number of different academic disciplines involved

D the many kinds of people whose laughter was recorded

None

30 Which of the following happened in the San Diego study?

A Some participants became very upset.

B Participants exchanged roles.

C Participants who had not met before became friends.

D Some participants were unable to laugh.

None

31 In the fifth paragraph, what did the results of the San Diego study suggest?

A It is clear whether a dominant laugh is produced by a high- or low-status person.

B Low-status individuals in a position of power will still produce submissive laughs.

C The submissive laughs of low- and high-status individuals are surprisingly similar.

D High-status individuals can always be identified by their way of laughing.

None

Questions 32–36

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.

Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 32-36

The benefits of humour

In one study at Australian National University, randomly chosen groups of participants were shown one of three videos, each designed to generate a different kind of 32 ......... . When all participants were then given a deliberately frustrating task to do, it was found that those who had watched the 33 ............ video persisted with the task for longer and tried harder to accomplish the task than either of the other two groups.

A second study in which participants were asked to perform a particularly 34 .......... task produced similar results. According to researchers David Cheng and Lu Wang, these findings suggest that humour not only reduces 35 ............... and helps build social connections but it may also have a 36 ............... Effect on the body and mind.

A laughter B relaxing C boring
D anxiety E stimulating F emotion
G enjoyment H amusing

Q 32

Q 33.

Q 34.

Q 35.

Q 36.

Questions 37–40

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

TRUE if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

FALSE if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

37 Participants in the Santa Cruz study were more accurate at identifying the laughs of friends than those of strangers.

38 The researchers in the San Diego study were correct in their predictions regarding the behaviour of the high-status individuals.

39 The participants in the Australian National University study were given a fixed amount of time to complete the task focusing on employee profiles.

40 Cheng and Wang’s conclusions were in line with established notions regarding task performance.

Time's up

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.

The benefits of humour

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

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