IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 46

The answer is E. Paragraph E plainly states: "Humor can also be subjective, as some people find jokes funny that others do not. A number of factors seem to be at play with humor, such as personality differences, and intelligence levels, as well as current mood or status." This information from paragraph E shows that differences in personality or mood can affect how humor is perceived.

Associated Text:
Humor can also be subjective, as some people find jokes funny that others do not. A number of factors seem to be at play with humor, such as personality differences, and intelligence levels, as well as current mood or status.

The answer is F. Paragraph F identifies the location of the brain responsible for the recognition of a joke: "The 'funny bone' of our brains seems to be located in our right frontal lobes, right over the right eye. When this area is affected, our ability to recognize a joke is also impacted." This clearly places the function in the right frontal lobe as described in paragraph F.

Associated Text:
The 'funny bone' of our brains seems to be located in our right frontal lobes, right over the right eye. When this area is affected, our ability to recognize a joke is also impacted.

The answer is D. Paragraph D specifically says: "It seems that the brain needs tenseness and surprise to produce a response of laughter. There is no tension or surprise when you try to tickle yourself." This sentence makes clear that self-tickling is ineffective because it lacks these two elements.

Associated Text:
It seems that the brain needs tenseness and surprise to produce a response of laughter. There is no tension or surprise when you try to tickle yourself.

The answer is B. Paragraph B states: "Muscle tension tends to go down after laughing, so perhaps it’s a good way for some to relax. Experiments on humans have revealed some evidence suggesting watching humorous videos and tapes can reduce feelings of pain, stop negative stress reactions and improve our defenses against infection." This shows that laughter can lower muscle tension and stress.

Associated Text:
Muscle tension tends to go down after laughing, so perhaps it’s a good way for some to relax. Experiments on humans have revealed some evidence suggesting watching humorous videos and tapes can reduce feelings of pain, stop negative stress reactions and improve our defenses against infection.

The answer is C. In paragraph C, it is stated: "Researchers believe that processing humor and laughter requires a complicated network of brain activity involving three main brain components" and "The first results suggest that the pathway of the brain processing humor appears in parts of the frontal lobe brain area, important for cognitive processing, the supplementary motor area, used for movement, and the nucleus accumbens, connected to pleasure." This gives the neuropsychological mechanisms by which humor and laughter work.

Associated Text:
Researchers believe that processing humor and laughter requires a complicated network of brain activity involving three main brain components... The first results suggest that the pathway of the brain processing humor appears in parts of the frontal lobe brain area, important for cognitive processing, the supplementary motor area, used for movement, and the nucleus accumbens, connected to pleasure.

The answer is A. Paragraph A explains: "Zotterman has found tickling sensations are not only connected with nerve fibers, but also with our sense of touch. This is from information which shows people who have lost pain sensations still laugh when tickled." This demonstrates that tickling sensations involve more than just nerve fibers.

Associated Text:
Zotterman has found tickling sensations are not only connected with nerve fibers, but also with our sense of touch. This is from information which shows people who have lost pain sensations still laugh when tickled.

The answer is D. Paragraph D reports: "Research suggests that during self-tickling, the cerebellum communicates with another area, the somatosensory cortex, and therefore lessening the tickling sensation. It seems that the cerebellum is responsible for 'warning' the body that the tickler is actually him or herself." This indicates the involvement of brain parts in controlling the tickling reflex.

Associated Text:
Research suggests that during self-tickling, the cerebellum communicates with another area, the somatosensory cortex, and therefore lessening the tickling sensation. It seems that the cerebellum is responsible for 'warning' the body that the tickler is actually him or herself.

The answer is C. Paragraph C notes: "Research investigations support the notion that parts of the frontal lobe are involved in humor. Images were taken from subjects’ brains as they listened to jokes. Part of the frontal lobe only became active when subjects found a joke humorous. Another study compared healthy individuals with those whose frontal lobes were damaged. Results showed that people with damaged frontal lobes tended to choose incorrect punch lines to written jokes and didn’t laugh or smile as often with funny stimulus." This shows involvement of brain parts in humor processing.

Associated Text:
Research investigations support the notion that parts of the frontal lobe are involved in humor. Images were taken from subjects’ brains as they listened to jokes. Part of the frontal lobe only became active when subjects found a joke humorous. Another study compared healthy individuals with those whose frontal lobes were damaged. Results showed that people with damaged frontal lobes tended to choose incorrect punch lines to written jokes and didn’t laugh or smile as often with funny stimulus.