Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
I do not claim to tell a story as it ought to be told, but I know how a story should be told, for I have been in the company of expert storytellers for years. There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind-the humorous story. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter.
A humorous story can be long and meander without arriving at a particular point, but comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a punch. The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell, whereas the comic and witty stories do not need artistic skill. The humorous story is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor. The comic storyteller, on the other hand, announces beforehand that the story is very funny and laughs at his own jokes.
Often, a rambling, humorous story may finish with a point, but the storyteller drops it casually, with the pretense that he does not know it is a nub. In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks, which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.
The expression "In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub" implies that the comic story teller _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → emphatically highlights the punchline of the story
To slur something is to pass over it lightly, without stress, and the nub is the main point, here the punchline. So "does not slur the nub" means the comic teller stresses the punchline; the passage adds that he shouts it and, in print, marks it with italics and exclamation marks.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: deliberately avoids mentioning the punchline of the story — Incorrect. Contradicted: he does the opposite; he shouts the punchline at the listener.
Option 3: subtly hides the humour at the end of the story — Incorrect. Wrong link: hiding the humour belongs to the humorous storyteller, who tells his tale gravely.
Option 4: is skillfully casual in his treatment of the punchline — Incorrect. Wrong link: dropping the point casually is again the humorous teller's art, not the comic teller's.