Find the correct phrase to complete gaps.

This reading text is followed by 5 exercises. You can choose one of four possible choices to fill the gaps in the text. Enter the letter of your choice in each blank space to confirm your selection.

(1) the last joke had been told, every one of the twelve people attending the reading out of Henry's will was sitting perfectly still, desperately holding in the laughter that was bursting to get out. The suppressed laughter (2) a pressure that it was like a volcano ready to erupt. Silence. Painful silence. Suddenly the lawyer sneezed. Then he took out a large red spotted handkerchief and blew his nose. Bbbrrrrrrppp. That was enough. Someone burst out laughing, (3) to hold it any longer. That started the others off. (4) they were all doubled up, tears streaming from their eyes, their shoulders heaving with laughter. Of course, they were not just laughing at the sneeze, nor even at the jokes. No, they were laughing at themselves (5) that Henry had led them into his last, and funniest, practical joke, setting their need to laugh against their greed for money.