There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind--the humorous… The humorous story is American, the comic story is English, the witty story is French. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the MANNER of the telling; the comic story upon the MATTER.

The humorous story may be spun out to great length, and may wander around as much as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in particular; but the comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a point. The humorous story bubbles gently along, the others burst. The humorous story is strictly a work of art--high and delicate art--and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and the witty story; anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story--understand, I mean by word of mouth, not print--was created in America, and has remained at home.

The humorous story is told gravely; the teller does his best to conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it; but the teller of the comic story tells you beforehand that it is one of the funniest things he has ever heard, then tells it with eager delight, and is the first person to laugh when he gets through. It is a pathetic thing to see.

--Mark Twain, “How to Tell a Story” – Wikipedia Content


1. Based on the information in the passage, we can most strongly infer that the author believes what about humorous storytellers?

A. They are a more grave and serious type of person than other story-tellers.
B. They are always more skilled speakers than comedians and joke-tellers.
C. The distinctly American origin of their medium generally prohibits French and British humorists from attaining the same sophistication in delivery.
D. They cannot be trusted.
E. They must use greater finesse and artistry to elicit laughter from an audience than a comic story-teller must.
2. Which of the following best describes how the author organizes his main argument?

A. By comparing and contrasting the difference between story types, then illustrating successful examples of each one.
B. By identifying a distinction in storytelling, and then elaborating one’s merits over the other’s weakness.
C. By claiming not to take a side, but subtly employing the conventions of humorous storytelling to show its superiority over the comic.
D. By defining a cultural distinction, then giving an inventory of what each story type brings to the craft of oral tradition and performance.
E. By neutrally juxtaposing the strengths and weaknesses of each story type, then states a preference.