English Core > Reading Skills > Comprehension Passage

Read the following passage carefully:

(1) Having a sense of humour might mean having the ability to entertain other people by making them laugh, but it can also mean having a quick wit that is frequently employed to criticize other people with snide comments. Some might define the sense of humour as the ability to see humour in everyday life or as appreciating the cleverness of puns and other wordplay, and may think it entirely possible to possess a good sense of humour without ever having those around them become aware of it. (2) In any case, a sense of humour is a socially valued trait that almost all of us would prefer to have more, rather than less, of akin to the way that we think about intelligence or good looks. A person with an undeveloped sense of humour lacks a social skill that puts him or her at a severe disadvantage in the hurly-burly of everyday social life. (3) Freud thought of humour as an outlet for forbidden impulses, and philosophers ranging from Aristotle to Descartes believed that we are amused by something when it makes us feel superior to other people. (4) Evolutionary psychologists believe that humour, along with other creative abilities, such as art and music, evolved as an honest signal of intelligence and genetic quality. The value of such a skill in defusing tense, aggressive situations and in managing alliances and friendships should not be underestimated either. (5) Schmoozing with a bunch of new people at a cocktail party is an opportunity to engage in light hearted banter, and other people are grateful when someone is skillful enough to turn a stiff and awkward situation into fun. Cracking jokes, making witty remarks, and engaging in tongue-in-cheek observations about the social world can be like fishing for other minds that connect naturally with one's own. In other words, humour can be a device for connecting people who are operating on the same wavelength. (6) Observing the performance of other people in such situations tips you off as to who you might like to get to know better and who might be best left behind, wallowing in indignation and blank stares. In short, a sense of humour is the Swiss Army Knife of social skills. Perhaps it is indeed a single instrument, but it contains an arsenal of tools - each exquisitely designed for a unique social purpose.

Answer the following questions, based on the given passage above: (i) How does the author prove in paragraph 1 that sense of humour is a double edged sword? (1 mark) (ii) Cite evidences from the passage to prove that sense of humour is a valuable tool to make someone's life better. (2 marks) (iii) Complete the following sentence suitably with reference to paragraph 3. One significant advantage of humour is that it helps one ________. (1 mark) (iv) Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 5, how a good sense of humour can be a great ice breaker. (1 mark) (v) Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank: According to evolutionary psychologists, people with a sense of humour can ________ (trigger / lighten) tense situation. (1 mark) (vi) Choose the correct option: "....humour can be a device for connecting people who are operating on the same wavelength." By the phrase 'same wavelength' the author refers to (1 mark) (A) people of age group (B) people who belong to same line of profession. (C) people having similar interests and attitudes. (D) people who are working in the same organisation. (vii) Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph 6: advantage : benefit :: ________ : anger (1 mark) (A) situation (B) stare (C) indignation (D) arsenal (viii) In the line 'perhaps it is indeed a single instrument, but it contains an arsenal of tools......' What does the phrase 'arsenal of tools' refer to? (2 marks) (ix) Provide ONE textual evidence from the text which states lack of sense of humour may prove to be a handicap in one's life. (1 mark) (x) Choose the correct option (A) or (B) which reaffirms the idea conveyed in the above extract. (1 mark) (A) Sense of humour elevates the status of a person in the social circle. (B) People with sense of humour are not taken seriously in the society.