Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension

Part A   

Directions: Reading the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by   choosing A，B，C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. （40 points）   

Text 1

Biologically，there is only one quality which distinguishes us from animals: the ability   to laugh. In a universe which appears to be utterly devoid of humor，we enjoy this supreme   luxury. And it is a luxury，for unlike any other bodily process，laughter does not seem serve a biologically useful purpose. In a divided world，a laughter is a unifying force. Human begins oppose each other on a great many issues. Nations may disagree about systems of government and human relations may be plagued by ideological factions and political camps，but we all share the ability to laugh. And laughter，in turn，depends on the most complex and subtle of all-human qualities: a sense of humor. Certain comic stereotypes have a universal appeal. This can best be seen from the world-wide popularity of Charlie Chaplain's early films. The little man at odds with society never fails to amuse no matter which country we come from. As that great commentator on human affairs， Dr. Samuel Johnson，once remarked，“Men have been wise in very different modes; but they have always laughed in the same way.” 

A sense of humor may take various forms and laughter may be anything from refined   tinkle to an earth-quaking roar，but the effect is always the same. Humor helps us to maintain a correct sense of values. It is the one quality which political fanatics appear to lack. If we can see the funny side，we never make the mistake of taking ourselves too seriously. We are always reminded that tragedy is not really far removed from comedy，so we never get a lop-sided view of things. 

This is one of the chief functions of satire and irony. Human pain and suffering are so   grim; we hover so often on the brink of war，political realities are usually enough to plunge us into total despair. In such circumstances，cartoons and satirical accounts of somber political events redress the balance. They take the wind out of pompous and arrogant politicians who have lost their sense of proportion. They enable us to see that many of our most profound actions are merely comic or absurd. We laugh when a great satirist like Swift writes about wars in Gulliver's Travels. The Lilliputians and their neighbors attack each other because they can't agree which end to break an egg. We laugh because we are meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep too. It is no wonder that in totalitarian regimes any satire against the Establishment is wholly banned. It is too powerful weapon to be allowed to flourish. 

The sense of humor must be singled out as man's most important quality because it is   associated with laughter. And laughter，in turn，is associated with happiness. Courage，   determination，initiative—these are qualities we share with other forms of life. But the sense of humor is uniquely human. If happiness is one of the great goals of life， then it is   the sense of humor that provides the key.  

21. The author quotes Dr. Samuel Johnson's words to  

［A］ criticize the hypocrisy of politicians. 

［B］ readdress the popularity of Chaplin. 

［C］ illustrate a universal appeal of humor. 

［D］ ban satires in totalitarian regimes.

22. According to the author， which of the following can be a chief function of the sense of   humor? 

［A］ Strengthening human relations.                   ［B］ Keeping a correct sense of values. 

［C］ Eliminating comic stereotypes.                   ［D］ Singling out adverse comments. 

23. If one gets a lop-sided view of things， he is likely to  

［A］ detach tragedy from comedy.                            ［B］ associate humor with laughter. 

［C］ identify pain with happiness.                      ［D］ combine satire with irony. 

24. We can infer from Paragraph 3 that  

［A］ satires and ironies overemphasize less serious aspects of human life. 

［B］ arrogant politicians enable others to appreciate profound actions. 

［C］ many issues on trivialities may arise for lack of a touch of humor. 

［D］ a sense of humor inevitably prompts us to take ourselves seriously. 

25. To which of the following is the author likely to agree? 

［A］ Satire and irony can be very harsh and cruel，not funny at all. 

［B］ It is absurd to stress the quality of humor at the expense of others. 

［C］ Human affairs are often an inappropriate subject for humor. 

［D］ A sense of humor is the most important of all human qualities.