What makes us laugh? – C1 English Reading Test

C1 English Reading Test

Read the text about humour and laughter. For questions 1 to 6, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).

What makes us laugh?

We all love a good laugh, but have you ever tried to explain why something is funny? It’s surprisingly difficult. The moment you start analysing a joke, it dies on the spot — like a frog in biology class. Still, humour fascinates us because it sits somewhere between logic and madness: there’s order in the chaos, sense in the silliness. And when a joke really lands, we burst out laughing, unable to stop ourselves.

According to psychologists, most laughter begins when our brain spots something unanticipated — a twist, a mismatch, a sudden change of direction. It’s that instant when we think, ‘Wait, what just happened?’ and then realise everything still makes sense. The surprise releases tension, and boom — we laugh. A punchline is basically a friendly ambush.

But the science only tells half the story. Laughter isn’t a solo sport; it’s contagious. We are thirty times more likely to laugh when we’re with other people than when we’re alone. You can sit through a comedy special in silent amusement, but stick you in a crowd and suddenly you’re snorting like a donkey. Laughter connects us — it’s a social signal that says, ‘We’re getting each other.’

And, of course, humour is deeply cultural. British people love irony, understatement — playing down the importance of something — and self-deprecation, making themselves the butt of the joke. Americans, on the other hand, prefer stories, anecdotes and exaggeration. Then there’s sarcasm, wordplay and absurdity — a full menu of comedy styles. The problem is, jokes don’t always travel well. A pun that brings the house down in London might leave a room in Lisbon completely silent, making even the comedian cringe at the awkward silence.

But perhaps the most admirable kind of humour is laughing at ourselves. Self-deprecating jokes show confidence, not weakness. They turn embarrassment into charm. When we can see the funny side of our own mistakes, we stop pretending to be perfect — and that’s something everyone can relate to.

Humour also has its darker corners. Some jokes cross a line and start to offend people; others simply fall flat because the timing and tone are not on point — what sounds hilarious in a pub might seem cruel in a meeting. As any stand-up will tell you, the difference between ‘you killed it’ and ‘you died on stage’ can come down to just one poorly timed pause.

So, what makes something truly funny? It isn’t just clever writing or perfect timing. It’s that spark of shared recognition — the moment when we all laugh and think, ‘Yes, that’s so true.’ Because deep down, every good joke reminds us that being human is both ridiculous… and wonderful.

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Page 1 of 6

1 What is the author trying to explain with the frog metaphor?

A. How difficult it is to recreate laughter.

B. That it's hard to explain why we laugh.

C. That some jokes make no sense.

Page 2 of 6

2 What would be a punchline, according to the author?

A. An unexpected turn of events.

B. An expected surprise.

C. A moment of confusion.

Page 3 of 6

3 What does the author imply in paragraph 3?

A. You often don't find comedy funny while alone.

B. Laughing is a bonding experience.

C. We laugh 30 times as much when we aren't alone.

Page 4 of 6

4 Which of these lines wouldn't sound like typical British humour according to the text?

A. Well, cannibalism is a bit frowned upon in this area.

B. I chose to do comedy because everybody said I'm a joke.

C. He was so fat that he fell off the bed on both sides at the same time.

Page 5 of 6

5 Which of these lines would the author prefer?

A. Well, cannibalism is a bit frowned upon in this area.

B. I chose to do comedy because everybody said I'm a joke.

C. He was so fat that he fell off the bed on both sides at the same time.

Page 6 of 6

6 What does the author mean by the 'darker corners' of humour in paragraph 6?

A. Humour is fragile and can easily fail if delivered badly.

B. Timing is the most important part of performing comedy.

C. People should be careful where they tell certain jokes.

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Explanation

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