Better Known as Mark Twain

1. Distant Education College, Jilin University Better Known as Mark Twain 1.Background Knowledge 2.Text Analysis 3.Exercises

2. Distant Education College, Jilin University Background Knowledge 1. The Mississippi River is 3780 kilometers long and it runs from Minnesota in the northern central part of the United States down to New Orleans, Louisiana, into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the third largest river in the world, after the Nile and the Amazon. The Mississippi became part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. When the first steamboat on the Mississippi became operational in 1811, the river became a major mode of transportation. The railroads, however, lessened its importance as a cargo carrier. Mark Twain’s nonfiction book, Life on the Mississippi, gives a splendid picture of life on the river. Next

3. Distant Education College, Jilin University Background Knowledge 2. The pen name “Mark Twain” came from a term used by riverboat men. In his time as a river pilot ­— the person who tells the captain of the steamboat about the dangerous currents and obstacles in the river — he had to figure out the depth of the river at certain places. Of course, if the river was too shallow, the boat would run aground. A pilot would lower a line into the water to sound the depth. “Mark Twain” means that the depth is two (twain) fathoms, or twelve feet (approximately two meters), which is a navigable depth. Return

4. Distant Education College, Jilin University Exercises 1. True/False Questions 2. Multiple-choice Questions Return

5. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. Answer

6. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. F 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. Answer

7. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. F 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. T 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. Answer

8. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. F 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. T 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. F 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. Answer

9. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. F 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. T 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. F 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. F 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. Answer

10. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.Mark Twain was born during the period of the Industrial Revolution. F 2.His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. T 3.Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. F 4.During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. F 5.During his life Mark Twain was a miner only once. F Next

11. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. Answer

12. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. Answer

13. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. F 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. Answer

14. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. F 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. T 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. Answer

15. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. F 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. T 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. F 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. Answer

16. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 6.Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T 7.Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. F 8.In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. T 9.Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. F 10. Mark Twain’s genius for humor was inherited from his father. F Next

17. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 11.When he began to write stories, he used “Mark Twain” as his pen name. 12.Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. 13.Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. 14.Mark Twain wore white clothes in memory of his dead wife. Answer

18. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 11.When he began to write stories, he used “Mark Twain” as his pen name. T 12.Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. 13.Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. 14.Mark Twain wore white clothes in memory of his dead wife. Answer

19. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 11.When he began to write stories, he used “Mark Twain” as his pen name. T 12.Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. T 13.Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. 14.Mark Twain wore white clothes in memory of his dead wife. Answer

20. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 11.When he began to write stories, he used “Mark Twain” as his pen name. T 12.Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. T 13.Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. T 14.Mark Twain wore white clothes in memory of his dead wife. Answer

21. Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 11.When he began to write stories, he used “Mark Twain” as his pen name. T 12.Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. T 13.Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. T 14.Mark Twain wore white clothes in memory of his dead wife. F Return

22. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 1.Mark Twain became the most outstanding writer of his time because _____. A)he was a born genius B)he had been a good student from the start and received his education at Yale University when he grew up C)he knew his people and the Mississippi River very well, and he inherited from his mother a genius for humor D) he was very productive and wrote many articles, short stories, and books Answer

23. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 1.Mark Twain became the most outstanding writer of his time because _____. C A)he was a born genius B)he had been a good student from the start and received his education at Yale University when he grew up C)he knew his people and the Mississippi River very well, and he inherited from his mother a genius for humor D) he was very productive and wrote many articles, short stories, and books Next

24. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 2.“His mother had the rare ability to say humorous things with perfect innocence” can be paraphrased as _________. A)his mother had a good sense of humor though she was an innocent woman B)his mother often said humorous things without laughing C)it was rare for his mother to tell humorous stories without getting herself involved D)his mother was capable of saying humorous things in a very serious manner Answer

25. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 2.“His mother had the rare ability to say humorous things with perfect innocence” can be paraphrased as _________. B A)his mother had a good sense of humor though she was an innocent woman B)his mother often said humorous things without laughing C)it was rare for his mother to tell humorous stories without getting herself involved D)his mother was capable of saying humorous things in a very serious manner Next

26. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 3.Mark Twain left school when he was twelve because ____. A)he got an urge to see the world B)his father died and he needed to make a living C)he was punished for often staying away from school D)he liked the Mississippi River and became a river-boat pilot Answer

27. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 3.Mark Twain left school when he was twelve because ____. B A)he got an urge to see the world B)his father died and he needed to make a living C)he was punished for often staying away from school D)he liked the Mississippi River and became a river-boat pilot Next

28. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 4.The pen name “Mark Twain” ________. A)was associated with Mark Twain’s life in Missouri B)was a name chosen by himself C)had to do with Mark Twain’s life as a printer’s apprentice D)was only used when he became a full-time writer Answer

29. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 4.The pen name “Mark Twain” ________. B A)was associated with Mark Twain’s life in Missouri B)was a name chosen by himself C)had to do with Mark Twain’s life as a printer’s apprentice D)was only used when he became a full-time writer Next

30. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 5.Which of his stories first made Mark Twain known all over the country? A)Innocents Abroad. B)Tom Sawyer. C)Huckleberry Finn. D)“The Celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County”. Answer

31. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 5.Which of his stories first made Mark Twain known all over the country? D A)Innocents Abroad. B)Tom Sawyer. C)Huckleberry Finn. D)“The Celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County”. Next

32. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 6.“As a Westerner saw it” means _______. A)as an American who had never toured Europe would see it B)as someone from a Western country would see it C)as any one who was typically American would see it D) as an American who lived west of the Mississippi River would see it Answer

33. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 6.“As a Westerner saw it” means _______. D A)as an American who had never toured Europe would see it B)as someone from a Western country would see it C)as any one who was typically American would see it D) as an American who lived west of the Mississippi River would see it Next

34. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 7.Mark Twain seemed unhappy in his later years because ______. A)he lost all his fortune B)he had to write large numbers of stories to pay his debts C)his wife and three of his children had died D)he had no other clothes to wear but white ones Answer

35. Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 7.Mark Twain seemed unhappy in his later years because ______. C A)he lost all his fortune B)he had to write large numbers of stories to pay his debts C)his wife and three of his children had died D)he had no other clothes to wear but white ones Return

36. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Mark Twain is a well-known American writer. Do you know how he became such a remarkable writer? In his later years, he decided to wear nothing but white from head to foot. Can you guess why? This remarkable man went to a log-cabin school until he was twelve years old. That was the end of his formal education. In spite of this, he became the most famous literary figure of his generation. He received honorary degrees from Oxford University and Yale University. People speak of him as the best known humorous writer of all times. He also brought realism and western local color to American fiction. He made millions of dollars by writing articles, short stories, and books. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but he is better known all over the world as Mark Twain. Next

37. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Mark Twain was born in a small Missouri village near the Mississippi River in 1835. At that time, Andrew Jackson was the president of the country. Abraham Lincoln was still a young farm laborer in Illinois. The first railroad had been built seven years before. The Industrial Revolution was at hand. The economic collapse of American prosperity, called the Panic of 1837, still lay ahead. This was also the literary period later called the “New England Renaissance.” Mark Twain was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mother’s tender care, he managed to survive. He had been born in a tiny two-room cabin. Eight people lived together there. He had four brothers and sisters. A slave girl lived with them too. Previous Next

38. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis As a boy, Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors. The nature of his jokes often led to violence. He hated to go to school, and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was fascinated by that mighty river. He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time and just gaze at the mysterious islands and passing boats and rafts. He was nearly drowned nine different times. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and the unusual people who rode up and down it. He never forgot those scenes and those people. He later made them part of the history of America in his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Previous Next

39. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Mark Twain inherited his genius for humor from his mother. Obviously, he did not inherit it from his father. He once stated that he had never seen a smile on his father’s face. On the other hand, his mother had the rare ability to say humorous things with perfect innocence. This same ability made Mark Twain an extremely humorous public speaker. After his father’s death in 1847, Mark Twain left school and became a printer’s apprentice. His mother felt that he could make a living and get some education in this way. He worked for the printer as an apprentice for two years. During that time he received only his board and clothes as pay. Previous Next

40. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis By 1853, Mark Twain was tired of Missouri. He got an urge to see the world and started out with empty pockets. He worked as a printer in St. Louis, New York, and Philadelphia. Then, as a result of reading a book, he decided to go to the upper part of the Amazon River. He planned to make a fortune by collecting and selling cocoa. His only problem was money for the trip. That problem was solved in an unusual way. He found a fifty-dollar bill on the sidewalk and left for Brazil the next day. He got as far as the Mississippi River and then ran out of money. Previous Next

41. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Next Mark Twain decided to become a river-boat pilot on the Mississippi. He followed his new profession for fifteen months. He memorized all the turns, shallow spots, and dangerous rocks in the 1200 miles from St. Louis to New Orleans. He learned about the pride and responsibilities of the pilots. He became an excellent pilot. However, his life as a pilot came to a sudden end. The river was closed to navigation at the outbreak of the Civil War. Then he joined the Confederate Army, but shortly after that, his company was disbanded. He did not join the army again. Previous Next

42. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis He followed his brother Orion to Nevada in 1861 and consequently took up his next profession. He became a miner in this frontier region. During this period, he started to write short articles. The publisher of the Enterprise in Virginia City, Nevada, recognized Mark Twain’s ability and offered him a job as an editor with a salary of $25 a week. He walked 125 miles over bad roads and rough country to accept the job. It was at this time that he adopted the pen name “Mark Twain.” Previous Next

43. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Later Mark Twain worked in San Francisco for a while and then became a miner again. In his spare time, he wrote a short story called “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” This story made him known all over the country, and he decided to become a full-time writer and lecturer. He went to New York in 1867 and published his first book that year. His next book, Innocents Abroad, was published in 1869. It was a report of his European tour as a Westerner saw it. It was a completely new kind of travel book. It gave him a national reputation. Previous Next

44. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis In 1870, Mark Twain was married to Olivia Langdon in Elmira, New York. It was an extremely successful marriage. They were devoted to each other throughout their lives. His wife Olivia had a strong and lasting influence on his writing. She was always careful to remove all of the bad words. He always accepted her changes without argument. In the years following his marriage, he wrote the book for which he is most famous: Tom Sawyer in 1876, Huckleberry Finn in 1884, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court in1889. Previous Next

45. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Unfortunately, Mark Twain had no business ability at all. He made vastprofits from writing and lecturing, but time after time, he lost money in bad investments. He finally lost his entire fortune in the publishing business in 1895. He took the responsibility for all of his debts. He wrote large numbers of stories in order to pay those debts. He made a successful tour around the world. He was finally able to pay. Despite the tremendous effort this had required, he had been able to keep his health. His life had worse tragedies than the financial ones, however. His wife Olivia died in 1904. Three of his children had died previously. Previous Next

46. Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis At the age of seventy, his hair was completely white. He decided to buy fourteen white suits and a hundred white neckties. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death in Redding, Connecticut on April 21, 1910. From American English Reader, ed., William Morrow, 1959. Approximately 1,200 words. Previous Return

47. Distant Education College, Jilin University remarkable [rI5mB:kEbl] adj. 引人注目的= unusual or extraordinarye.g. Your work has been remarkable this week. 这星期你的工作很出色。 Words to Know Return

48. Distant Education College, Jilin University literary [5lItErErI] adj. 文学上的= relating to, or dealing with literaturee.g. For a long period of time Latin was the literary language of Italy.很长一段时期, 拉丁语是意大利的文学语言。 Words to Know Return

49. Distant Education College, Jilin University generation [dVenE5reIFEn] n. （一）代，世代= all of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestore.g. We belong to the same generation. 我们是同龄人。 Words to Know Return

50. Distant Education College, Jilin University fiction [5fIkFEn] n. 小说=novele.g. He likes to read science fictions.他喜欢读科幻小说。 Words to Know Return