阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。

　　Dr Wiseman started“the laugh lab” project in September 2001．It is the largest study of humour．Participants（参加者）are invited to log on to the laugh lab website，give a few personal details，tell their favourite jokes and judge the jokes told by other people．

　　The project will last for a year，and the organizers hope to finally discover the world's funniest joke．But there is also a serious purpose．The researchers want to know what people from different nations and cultures find funny．And they want to find out the differences between the male and female sense of humour．The idea is that if we want to understand each other，we have to find out what makes us laugh．

　　This is a subject that has long interested psychologists（心理学家）and philosophers（哲学家）．Most of the time，people are not completely honest． We do things that society expects of us and say things that help us get what we want．But laughing cannot be controlled．When we laugh，we tell the truth about ourselves．

　　By December 2001，over 10 000 jokes had been submitted（提交）．This gave the scientists enough evidence（证据）to make early conclusions（结论）．It seems that men and do have different of humour，for example．

　　“Our findings show the major differences in the ways in which males and females use humour，”said Dr Wiseman，“Males use humour to appear superior （优越）to others．While women are more skilled in languages and prefer word play．”

　　Researchers also found that there really is such a thing as a national sense of humour．The British enjoy what is usually called“toilet humour”．But the French like their jokes short and sharp：“You're a high priced lawyer．Will you answer two questions for ＄500？”“Yes．What's the second question？”

　　The Germans are famous for not having a sense of humour．But the survey found that German participants were more likely to find submitted jokes funny than any other nationality．Perhaps that proves the point．Is this joke funny？I don't know，but let's say yes，just to be safe．

　　Dr Wiseman and his workmates also submitted jokes created by computer．But none of those who took part in the survey found any of them amusing．Perhaps this is relief．Computers already seem like they can do everything．At least they should leave the funny stuff（材料）to us．

1．Scientist started“the laugh lab”project ________．

[　　]

A．to find the funniest joke in European countries

B．to know what funny people are from different nations and cultures

C．to find out the differences between the male and female sense of humour

D．to get more personal details about participants

2．The writer gave the examples of the British，the French and the Ger－mans ________．

[　　]

A．to prove that the Germans have no sense of humour

B．to prove the British people have a sense of“toilet humour”

C．to show people from different nations have different senses of humour

D．to show that the French people have a better sense of humour

3．Which statement is true according to the passage？

[　　]

A．Females like to use to show that they are superior

B．The Germans cannot find the submitted jokes amusing

C．Males are better at word play compared with women

D．The jokes by computer are less funny than those by humans

　　The United States has many famous cities. The southern part of the US has a business and cultural center in New Orleans. The people of New Orleans are of mixture of backgrounds. The main group is called Greole. They are descendants（后裔）of French and Spanish settlers. Since New Orleans was a slave center before the Civil War, one third of the population is black. Other groups include Ger mans, Italians, and Latin Americans.

　　New Orleans is perhaps best known as the birthplace of jazz. There are many places of interest to see in New Orleans. There are two celebrations there each year which draw people from all of the country.

　　Mardi Gras is one of the celebrations. It takes place before Christian （基督教的）period of fasting（禁食）called Lent. On the last day of Mardi Gras, which is also called Fat Tuesday, people dress up in costumes and march in parades or just go to various places to listen to music. The second celebration, which is called the Spring Fiesta, is less crazy. It consists of candlelight tours of some of the older and more famous houses in the French Quarter.

　　All in all, New Orleans should be counted as one of the great cities in the United States.

(1) People with different ______ form the population of New Orleans.

[　　]

A．groups

B．settlers

C．descendants

D．backgrounds

(2) Which of the statements is not true?

[　　]

A．Jazz was born in New Orleans.

B．Tourists come to New Orleans.

C．Most music lovers like to see New Orleans.

D．There are two attractive celebrations in New Orleans.

(3) People who take part in Mardi Gras parade are_______.

[　　]

A．well-dressed

B．dressed up

C．in beautiful clothes

D．formally dressed

(4) People in New Orleans ______ when they celebrate the Spring Fiesta.

[　　]

A．go to every famous house

B．are not crazy

C．hold candles

D．walk with French people

　　The United States has many famous cities. The southern part of the US has a business and cultural center in New Orleans. The people of New Orleans are of mixture of backgrounds. The main group is called Greole. They are descendants（后裔）of French and Spanish settlers. Since New Orleans was a slave center before the Civil War, one third of the population is black. Other groups include Ger mans, Italians, and Latin Americans.

　　New Orleans is perhaps best known as the birthplace of jazz. There are many places of interest to see in New Orleans. There are two celebrations there each year which draw people from all of the country.

　　Mardi Gras is one of the celebrations. It takes place before Christian （基督教的）period of fasting（禁食）called Lent. On the last day of Mardi Gras, which is also called Fat Tuesday, people dress up in costumes and march in parades or just go to various places to listen to music. The second celebration, which is called the Spring Fiesta, is less crazy. It consists of candlelight tours of some of the older and more famous houses in the French Quarter.

　　All in all, New Orleans should be counted as one of the great cities in the United States.

(1) People with different ______ form the population of New Orleans.

[　　]

A．groups

B．settlers

C．descendants

D．backgrounds

(2) Which of the statements is not true?

[　　]

A．Jazz was born in New Orleans.

B．Tourists come to New Orleans.

C．Most music lovers like to see New Orleans.

D．There are two attractive celebrations in New Orleans.

(3) People who take part in Mardi Gras parade are_______.

[　　]

A．well-dressed

B．dressed up

C．in beautiful clothes

D．formally dressed

(4) People in New Orleans ______ when they celebrate the Spring Fiesta.

[　　]

A．go to every famous house

B．are not crazy

C．hold candles

D．walk with French people