In a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied with current materials.

　　A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humor in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is called caricature. The artist uses such exaggeration to put his message across.

　　Useful Words and Expressions:

　　1. cartoonist 漫画家

　　2. campaign 活动

　　3. controversial 争论的，争议的

　　4. sketch 素描

　　5. prominent 卓越的

　　6. exaggerate 夸张

　　7. lengthen 延长

　　8. grin 露齿笑