The Americans have been voted the world’s “funniest nationality” ---the one “best at making people laugh” ---in a global poll (民意调查), which also names the Germans the “least funny” nationality and the British “not as funny as they think”.
30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the “funniest” and “least funny” nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world’s largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide.
The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh.
The voting for the “least funny” nationality confirmed the view of America’s Mark Twain that “a German joke is no laughing matter”. The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to derive from their reputation for efficiency, punctuality and rationality(理性). Examples of German jokes include: “Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He’d swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn’t hurt but he’s always thirsty.”
“When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh”, says Lloyd Price, Badoo’s Marketing Director. “America is a worthy poll winner”, says Price. “It’s the world’s only comedy superpower.”
The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they’re not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans.
26. According to the poll, which is the right order from the funniest nationality to the least funny one?
A. Spanish, Americans, French, Mexicans, British
B. Americans, Spanish, Italians, Brazilians, French
C. British, Mexicans, Brazilians, Spanish, Americans
D. Italians, French, British, Mexicans, Brazilians
27. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The poll was conducted among 119 million people by Badoo. com.
B. Spanish are the funniest nationality in Europe.
C. That Germans are named the “least funny” nationality is because of Mark Twain.
D. Some people think that British are funny while others think the opposite in the poll.
28. Which can be the substitute of the word “derive” in the fourth paragraph?
A. acquire B. suffer C. translate D. accomplish
29. What is the author’s purpose of telling us a German joke?
A. The author wants to show that Germans are good at telling jokes.
B. The author wants to confirm what Mark Twain said.
C. The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all.
D. The author just wants to say that swallowing a sponge is no harm.
30. It seems that the best title for this passage is ______.
A. The Funniest Nationality
B. A Global Poll Conducted by Badoo.Com
C. Americans Won the Funniest Nationality
D. Americans Voted “Funniest Nation”, Germans “Least Funny”