Difference between ridiculed and laughed at

[Katia]

Test No. incompl/inter-28 "The Hare and the Tortoise", question 1

One day a hare looked at a tortoise and ......... the short feet of the tortoise.

(a) laughed
(b) ridiculed
(c) ridiculous
(d) laughter

Test No. incompl/inter-28 "The Hare and the Tortoise", answer 1

One day a hare looked at a tortoise and ridiculed the short feet of the tortoise.

Correct answer: (b) ridiculed

Your answer was: incorrect
One day a hare looked at a tortoise and laughed the short feet of the tortoise.
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Why "laughed" is not correct?
Thanks in advance!

[Alan]

If you wanted to use laugh, you would have to say laughed AT.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Saying It Twice

[Guest]

Thanks!