Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

HAVING A LAUGH
QUESTIONS 27 – 31: CHOOSE THE CORRECT LETTER, A, B, C OR 
D. 
27. Answer: C its value to scientific research
Keywords: first paragraph, language, human culture, scientific research, universality, animal 
societies
In paragraph 1, laughter is said to “provide psychological scientists with rich resources for studying 
human psychology”, which is an emphasis on its value. Although the relationship between laughter 
and the development of language is mentioned, this is only one part of its value to scientific 
research. The main point is that as the “study of human psychology” is a part of “scientific research”, 
we could infer that the value of laughter to scientific research in general is emphasised in paragraph 1. 
Therefore, C is the answer. 
 
28. Answer: A He understood the importance of enjoying humour in a group setting
Keywords: Charley Douglass, group setting, TV viewers, social spectrum, recording studio
Charley Douglass is mentioned in paragraph 2, so we would look in this one. It is stated that Douglass 
recorded “laugh tracks” with the intention to “help people at home feel like they were in a social 
situation such as a crowded theatre”. As such, it could be understood that he had realized that people 
would enjoy humour more in a “social situation”, or in other words, in a “group setting”. Therefore, A 
is the answer. 

group setting = social situation 
 
29. Answer: B the similar results produced by a wide range of cultures
Keywords: Santa Cruz, different, cultures, academic disciplines, recorded
Santa Cruz is mentioned in paragraph 3, which describes a study made up of 30 people listening to the 
reaction to recorded laughter of people from 24 diverse societies, representing a wide range of 
cultures, “…from indigenous tribes in New Guinea to city-dwellers in India and Europe”. The result 
was that people‟s guesses were correct about 60% of the time worldwide, meaning that the outcome 
was similar for diverse cultures that were involved in the study. Thus, B is the answer. 

a wide range of cultures = diverse societies