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 to serve a biologically useful purpose. In a divide world, laughter is a unifying force. Human beings 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 that 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 Chaplin'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 a refined tingle 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 war 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 meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep too. It is too powerful a 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.
1. The most important of all human qualities is
[A] a sense of humor.
[B] A sense of satire.
[C] A sense of laughter.
[D] A sense of history.
2. The author mentions about Charlie Chaplin's early films because
[A] they can amuse people.
[B] Human beings are different from animals.
[C] They show that certain comic stereotypes have a universal appeal.
[D] They show that people have the same ability to laugh.
3. One of the chief functions of irony and satire is
[A] to show absurdity of actions.
[B] to redress balance.
[C] to take the wind out of politicians.
[D] to show too much grimness in the world.
4. What do we learn from the sentence 'it is too powerful a weapon to be allowed to flourish in totalitarian regimes? '
[A] It can reveal the truth of political events with satire.
[B] It can arouse people to riot.
[C] It shows tragedy and comedy are related.
[D] It can make people laugh.
5. Who is Swift?
[A] A novelist.
[B] A poet.
[C] A dramatist.
[D] A essayist.
寫作方法與文章大意
文章以部部深入，一般到具體的寫作手法論及笑是人類特有的功能。
形式多種、效果一樣。天下人有各種觀點、制度、人際關係，對滑稽的東西都會報之以笑――一種一致的力量。
笑基於幽默感，有了它，人們會樂觀、愉快、輕鬆，不偏不倚地對待一切，悲劇中寓以喜劇，幽默感又是人類開啟幸福之門的鑰匙。
論及的同時作者佐以例子，卓別林的早期電影，《格列佛遊記》中的小人國戰爭等。
答案詳解
1. A 幽默感。文章一開始就提出人類有別於動物是人有笑的功能，世界紛爭繁雜、人際關係因意識觀點差異而對峙，國家制度不一，但人們都能笑。笑基於人類最複雜而又微妙的品質――幽默感。反過來說沒有幽默感的人恐怕難以笑。第二段正式指出：幽默感表現形式多種多樣，而笑可由微笑到狂笑種種，但其效果相同，幽默感有助於我們保持正確的價值觀。這是政治狂熱者所缺乏的特徵。如果我們能看見滑稽可笑的一面，我們就不會犯過於看重自己的錯誤。我們總會記得悲劇離喜劇不願，因此，我們不會有偏重某一測的觀點。第四段畫龍點睛的指出幽默是人類最重要的特徵，因為它和笑聲結合在一起。而笑又是和幸福聯繫在一起。勇氣、決心、創造力特徵，我們和其他生命形式共享，而幽默感是人類所獨有的。如果幸福是我們生活的偉大目標，那幽默感就是開啟幸福的鑰匙。B.諷刺感。這是第三段講的內容，諷刺的功能，但不是人類最重要的特徵。C.笑感。D.歷史觀點。
2. C 作者提卓別林的電影的目的是證明某些喜劇模式對全世界都有吸引力。A.它可以取悅任何人。B.人類和動物不同。D.證明人有同樣笑的功能。
3. B 使各種事情重新相等和均衡。第三段著重講了這一點。人類在痛苦中掙扎，常處於戰爭的邊緣。政治實現令人絕望，在這種處境中，對某些政治事物的諷刺挖苦和漫畫可以使各種心理重新平衡，可使失去均衡感的政客地下高傲頭顱;可使我看見許多深邃的事情荒謬可笑。A.表現行為的荒唐。C.使政治家氣餒。D.表現世界上太多的令人沮喪之事。
4. A 它可以以諷刺的手法解釋政治時間的真相。B.這可促使人民暴動。C.它表示了悲劇和喜劇相聯繫。D.它能使人哭。
5. A 小說家。B.詩人。C.戲劇家。D.散文家。