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The
room exploded in laughter. (15)The
supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam
Maynard had saved his job --- with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective,
yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in
our lives.(16)
It can be used for patching up differences,
apologizing, saying “no,” criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what
you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it’s the only tool
that can succeed.
It is a way to discuss subjects
so sensitive that serious dialog may start a riot. (17)
For example, many believe that comedians on television
are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than are people
in any other forum.
(18)
Humor is often the best way to keep a small misunderstanding
from escalating into a big deal. Recently a neighbor
of mine had a squabble with his wife as she drove him to the airport. (19)
Airborne, he felt miserable, and he knew she
did, too. Two hours after she returned home, she received a long-distance
phone call. (20)
“Person-to-person for Mrs. I. A. Pologize,” intoned
the operator. (21)
“That’s spelled ‘P’ as in …”(22)
In a twinkling, the whole day changed from grim to
lovely at both ends of the wire.
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English
Intensive Reading 
Introduction
