better known as mark twain

Better Known as Mark Twain

Distant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

1. Background Knowledge2. Text Analysis3. Exercises

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

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

Exercises


1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

Return

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



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.




Answer




2. His jokes often led to violence when he was a boy. T




Answer





3. Mark Twain earned a large sum of money by collecting and selling cocoa. F



Answer






4. During the Civil War Mark Twain became a river pilot. F


Answer






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



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



6. Mark Twain’s marriage was peaceful and balanced. T

7. Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer.




Answer




7. Mark Twain was a successful businessman as well as an outstanding writer. F




Answer





8. In his later years, Mark Twain always wore white clothes possibly because life seemed colorless to him by then. T



Answer






9. Though his family was poor, Mark Twain received a formal education. He was a graduate of Yale University. F


Answer






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



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



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.



Answer




12. Mark Twain wrote some of his stories based on his boyhood experience. T



Answer





13. Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. T


Answer





13. Mark Twain’s marriage was a successful one. The couple were devoted to each other. T


F

Return

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



Next

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



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



Next

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



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



Next

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



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



Next

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



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



Next

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”.



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



Next

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



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



Return

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

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

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

Text Analysis


Next

Unfortunately, Mark Twain had no business ability at all. He made vast profits 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

Text Analysis


Return

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

Words to Know

remarkable [] 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。


Return

Words to Know

literary [] 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。


Return

Words to Know

generation [] 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。


Return

Words to Know

fiction [] n. 小说=novele.g. He likes to read science fictions.他喜欢读科幻小说。


Return

Words to Know

collapse [] vi. 崩溃，倒坍= to fall down or inward suddenly; cave ine.g. The roof of the old house collapsed. 这座旧房子的房顶坍了。


Return

Words to Know

prosperity [] n. 繁荣，昌盛=state of being successful; good fortunee.g. Peace brings prosperity.和平带来繁荣。


Return

Words to Know

panic [] n. 恐慌= a sudden, overpowering terrore.g. When the theater caught fire, there was a panic. 剧院失火时，引起一阵恐慌。


Return

Words to Know

fascinate [] vt. 迷住，强烈地吸引= to hold an intense interest or attraction fore.g. The changing vivid colours of the sunset fascinated the eye.日落时变化多端的色彩使人看得入迷。


Return

Words to Know

drown [] vt. 淹死，淹没= to kill by submerging and suffocating in watere.g. The cheers of the audience drowned the professor's voice.听众的欢呼声淹没了这位教授的声音。


Return

Words to Know

inherit [] vt. 继承= to receive (property or a title, for example) from an ancestor by legal succession or wille.g. The eldest son will inherit the title. 长子将继承爵位。


Return

Words to Know

apprentice [] n. 学徒= a learnere.g. The new apprentices are doing quite well.新艺徒们进步很快。


Return

Words to Know

urge [] n. 强烈的愿望= an impulse that prompts action or efforte.g. I had an urge to see him. 我迫切希望见到他。


Return

Words to Know

responsibility [] n. 责任，职责= a duty, an obligatione.g. A father has many responsibilities. 父亲要尽许多责任。


Return

Words to Know

navigation [] n. 航行，航海= the practice of navigating, especially in a ship or an aircrafte.g. He will never forget that underwater navigation.他永远也忘不了那次水下航行。


Return

Words to Know

adopt [] vt. 采用，采纳= to take and followe.g. They adopted our methods. 他们采用了我们的办法。


Return

Words to Know

vast [] adj. 巨额的，广阔的= very great in size, number, amount, or quantitye.g. The city is vast compared to our village. 和我们村相比，这个城市非常大。


Return

Words to Know

profit [] n. 受益，利润= benefite.g. This new invention will bring you great profits like a goldmine.这项新发明会像一座金矿一样给你们带来利润。


Return

Words to Know

investment [] n. 投资= the act of investinge.g. He own a small investment trust.他拥有一家小投资信托公司。


Return

Words to Know

devoted [] adj. 恩爱的，忠实的= dedicatede.g. She is devoted to her studies.她专心于她的学习。


Return

Words to Know

tragedy [] n. 悲剧，不幸的事= a disastrous evente.g. Their holiday ended in tragedy when their hotel caught fire.他们住的旅馆着了火 , 他们的假日就以不幸而告终。


Return

Words to Know

financial [] adj. 财政的，金融的= relating to, or involving financee.g. Mr. Danial is our financial adviser.丹尼尔先生是我们的财政顾问。


Return

Useful Phrases and Expressions

in spite of 尽管，不顾，虽然e.g. I went out in spite of the rain. 尽管下雨我还是出去了。


Return


at hand 即将发生，即将来临e.g. The day of retribution is at hand.最后的审判日即将来临。


Return


on the other hand (on the one hand) 另一方面（一方面）e.g. On the one hand, I want to go to the party, but on the other hand, I ought to be studying. 一方面 , 我想去参加聚会，但从另一方面来说，我应该留下来学习。


Return


as a result of 以…为结果e.g. The experiment ended up in failure as a result of his carelessness.因为他的粗心，实验失败了。


Return


make a fortune 发财e.g. He made a fortune by selling houses. 他靠卖房子发了财。


Return


run out of （供应）用完，耗尽e.g. We have run out of fund.我们已经用光了资金。


Return


have a (strong, good) influence on. 对…产生（强烈的，好的）影响e.g. The weather has a strong influence on crops.天气对农作物有很大影响。


Return

Notes

a log-cabin school: a simple one-room school made from logs


Return

Notes

Yale University: a privately endowed university in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S., founded in 1701. Colonial-born English merchant and philanthropist who made a series of contributions to the Collegiate School in Connecticut, which was renamed in Yale's honor (1718). 耶鲁，伊莱休 1649-1721 生于殖民地的英国商人和慈善家，曾向康涅狄格的学院做过一系列捐献，为纪念他更名为耶鲁 (1718年）


Return

.

A state of the central United States. It was admitted as the 24th state in 1821. Under Spanish control from 1762 to 1800, the area passed to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Organized as a territory in 1812, Missouri's application for admission as a slaveholding state in 1817 sparked a bitter controversy over the question of extending slavery into new territories. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 provided for the admission of Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state in the following year. Jefferson City is the capital and St. Louis the largest city. Population, 5,137,804. 密苏里州美国中部的一个州。于 1821年被接受为第二十四个州。 1762年到 1800年，此地区处于西班牙的控制下，美国于 1803年在路易斯安那购买行动中获得这一地域。 1812年成为一个地区。 1817年密苏里申请以蓄奴州身份加入联邦导致了关于是否将奴隶制扩大到新地区的争论。 1820年的密苏里协议为次年作为自由州的缅因州和作为蓄奴州的密苏里州加入联邦铺平了道路。杰斐逊城是州首府，圣路易斯为最大城市。人口 5,137,804


Return

Notes

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845): the 7th President of the U.S., a

veteran of the American War of Independence


Return

A state of the north-central United States. It was admitted as the 21st state in 1818. The area was explored by the French in the late 1600's, ceded by France to the British in 1763, and ceded by them to the newly formed United States in 1783. Springfield is the capital and Chicago the largest city. Population, 11,466,682. 伊利诺斯州美国中北部的一个州。 1818年作为第二十一个州加入美国。法国人在 17 世纪后期首先开发了此地， 1763年法国又将其割让给英国， 1783年英法两国共同将其割让给新建立的美利坚合众国。斯普林菲尔德是该州首府，芝加哥为最大城市。人口 11,466,682


Return

Notes

St. Louis [] 圣路易斯 : a port in eastern Missouri


Return

The largest city of Pennsylvania, in the southeast part of the state on the Delaware River. It was fThe largest city of Pennsylvania, in the southeast part of the state on the Delaware River. It was founded as a Quaker colony by William Penn in 1681 on the site of an earlier Swedish settlement. ounded as a Quaker colony by William Penn in 1681 on the site of an earlier Swedish settlement. The First and Second Continental Congresses (1774 and 1775-1776) and the Constitutional ConvThe First and Second Continental Congresses (1774 and 1775-1776) and the Constitutional Convention (1787) met in the city, which served as the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. Pention (1787) met in the city, which served as the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. Population, 1,585,577.opulation, 1,585,577. 费城美国宾夕法尼亚州最大的城市，位于该州东南部、特拉华河上沿岸。它由威廉费城美国宾夕法尼亚州最大的城市，位于该州东南部、特拉华河上沿岸。它由威廉 ··彭于彭于 16811681年在原瑞典领地上建立起来。第一和第二次大陆会议年在原瑞典领地上建立起来。第一和第二次大陆会议 (1774(1774 和和 1775-17761775-1776 年）和制宪会议年）和制宪会议 (1787(1787年）均在该城市召开，从年）均在该城市召开，从 17901790 年到年到 18001800 年曾作为美国的首都。人口年曾作为美国的首都。人口 1,585,5771,585,577


Return

Notes

The Amazon [] River 亚马逊河 : the principal river of South America


Return

A city of southeast Louisiana between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. Founded in 1718, it became the capital of a French colony in 1722 and passed to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. French influence continued to dominate the city, however, especially in the Vieux Carré and in the celebration of Mardi Gras. New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana. Population, 496,938. 新奥尔良美国路易丝安那州东南部城市，位于密西西比河和庞恰特雷息湖之间。 1718年建立，1722年成为法国殖民地的首都并于 1803年作为路易丝安那购买的一部分移交美国管理。然而，法国的影响支配着这个城市，特别是在教学法事和狂欢节的庆祝活动中。新奥尔良是路易丝安那州最大的城市。人口 496,938


Return

Notes

the Confederate Army 南部邦联军 : the army of 11 southern States that wished to be separated from the United States in 1860-1861


Return

A state of the western United States. It was admitted as the 36th state in 1864. Part of the area ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1848, it was made into a separate territory in 1861 after an influx of settlers who were drawn by the discovery (1859) of the Comstock Lode. Carson City is the capital and Las Vegas the largest city. Population, 1,206,152.

内华达州美国西部的一州。 1864年被承认为第 36 个州。 1848年，墨西哥将其部分地区割让给美国。随着 1859年康斯托克矿的发现而涌入大量定居者之后， 1816年内华达州成为独立地区。卡森城是其首府，最大城市是拉斯维加斯。人口 1,206,152


Return

Notes

The Industrial Revolution refers to the second industrial revolution, i.e., the spread of industrialization throughout the world in the late 19th and the 20th centuries.


Return

Difficult Sentences

He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors. The nature of his jokes often led to violence.他老是戏弄他的朋友和邻居，由于这些玩笑令人难堪，往往最后大家动起手来。

to play practical jokes: to play humorous tricks


Return

Difficult Sentences

His mother had the rare ability to say humorous things with perfect innocence.他的母亲讲话很幽默，逗得人们哄堂大笑，而自己则一本正经，实属难得。


Return

Difficult Sentences

By 1853, Mark Twain was tired of Missouri. He got an urge to see the world and started out with empty pockets.到了 1853年，马克•吐温对密苏里感到厌倦了，他迫切地想去看看世界，于是身无分文就出发了。


Return

Difficult Sentences

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.这个新的行当他干了 15 个月。他记熟了从圣路易斯到新奥尔良全长 1200英哩的河道中所有的湾口、浅滩和险礁。


Return

Difficult Sentences

His wife Olivia had a strong and lasting influence on his writing.他的夫人奥莉维亚对他的写作有着强烈而深远的影响。


Return

Difficult Sentences

He took the responsibility for all of his debts. He wrote large numbers of stories in order to pay those debts.他承担起全部债务的责任，为了还债，他写了大量的故事。


Return

Difficult Sentences

His life had worse tragedies than the financial ones, however.然而，他一生中还有比经济困难更悲惨的遭遇。


Return

Difficult Sentences

But with his mother’s tender care, he managed to survive.但是在母亲的精心照顾下，他活了下来。

manage to (＝ succeed in)表示一个过去的行为动作已经成功地完成。但它表示要通过努力，克服困难后才能做到某事：e.g. He didn't agree with me at first, but I managed to persuade him.他起初不同意我的观点，但我想方设法说服了他。


Return

Difficult SentencesHe worked for the printer as an apprentice for two years.他当了两年印刷学徒。

He worked as a printer in St. Louis, New York, and Philadelphia.

他在圣路易斯 ,纽约和费城当印刷工。

However, his life as a pilot came to a sudden end.然而他的领航员生涯突然结束了。

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.内华达州弗吉尼亚市企业出版商看出了马克•吐温的能力，从而给他提供了周薪 25美元的编辑工作。


Next

Difficult Sentences

as (prep.)表示“作为，以……的身份”；有时， as 后面的冠词 a／ an可省略：e.g. I like her as a person, but I don't think much of her as a writer.我喜欢作为普通人的她，但作为一位作家，我认为她不怎么样。


Return

Difficult Sentences

He also brought realism and western local color to American fiction.他还将现实主义和西部地方色彩融入美国小说。


Return

Difficult Sentences

The river was closed to navigation at the outbreak of the Civil War.这条河流因内战爆发而停止航行。


Return

Difficult Sentences

He walked 125 miles over bad roads and rough country to accept the job.他在崎岖不平的乡间土路上步行 125英里去干那份工作。


Return

Difficult Sentences

They were devoted to each other throughout their lives.他们—生都相敬相爱，忠贞不渝。


Return

Difficult Sentences

He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death in Redding, Connecticut on April 21, 1910.他从头到脚—身白，直到于 1910年 4月 21 日在康涅狄格州莱丁去世。


Return

Questions

Did Mark Twain receive much education?


Return

Questions

How did his family affect his writing?


Return

Questions

What did he become after he left school?


Return

Questions

Did he stay long at the printing house? Where did he go and what did he do there?


Return

Questions

What happened then? How did the Mississippi River affect Mark Twain’s life?


Return

Questions

How did he become a miner?


Return

Questions

What makes Mark Twain a popular writer?


Return


Return

Mark TwainMark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Samuel Langhorne ClemensClemens

American short story American short story writer, Humoristwriter, Humorist

1835 ---19101835 ---1910

Notes

Notes


Return

Pilot is one who, though not belonging to a ship's company, is licensed to conduct a ship into and out of port or through dangerous waters.

导航员虽不属于轮船的船员但有资格引导一艘轮船进出港或通过危险水域的人


Return

Notes

The Adventures The Adventures of Tom Sawyer of Tom Sawyer written by Mark written by Mark Twain in 1876Twain in 1876


Return

The Adventures The Adventures of Huckleberry of Huckleberry Finn written by Finn written by Mark Twain in Mark Twain in 18841884

Notes


Return

The war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865.

美国内战，美国南北战争 1861年至 1865年美国北方联邦与南部联盟之间的战争

better known as mark twain

Documents

life mark twain

civil war mark twain

twain fathoms

river pilot

jilin university1

mississippi river

largest river

mark twains nonfiction