Summary

“Advice to Youth” by Mark Twain, written in 1882 is full of jokes and funny advice for young people. Twain
starts by saying that kids should always listen to their parents when they’re around. This is because parents
think they know better, and it’s easier to just go along with what they say.

He also says that kids should be respectful to people who are in charge and to strangers. If someone upsets
you, he jokes that you should wait for a chance and hit them with a brick. But he also says that violence isn’t a
good idea.

Twain suggests that it’s a good idea to go to bed early and wake up early. He makes a joke about waking up
with a bird called a lark. He says you can train the bird to wake up late, so you can still seem like you’re
waking up early.

When it comes to lying, Twain says to be careful. If you get caught lying, people might not trust you anymore.
He makes a joke that a good lie can last forever, using the example of a man who lied about discovering
something important.

Twain also talks about being careful with guns. He tells a story about a boy who pointed a gun at his grandma
as a joke, thinking it wasn’t loaded. Luckily, it wasn’t, but Twain uses this story to show that playing with
guns can be dangerous.

He tells kids to read good books, and he jokingly suggests a few, including one of his own books.

Twain ends by saying that he hopes kids will remember his advice and use it to build their character. He jokes
that if they do, they’ll be surprised to see how much they’re like everyone else.

About the author

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a famous American author,
humorist, businessman, publisher, and speaker. He was considered the “funniest person in America” and
William Faulkner even called him “the father of American literature”. He wrote famous books like The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which many people call the
“Great American Novel”. He also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and Pudd’nhead
Wilson.

Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which he later used as the setting for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry
Finn. He started his career as a printer’s apprentice and then worked as a typesetter, writing articles for his
older brother Orion’s newspaper. He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before moving
west to join Orion in Nevada. He joked about his failure at mining and became a journalist for the Virginia
City Territorial Enterprise. His funny story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” was
published in 1865 and was based on a story he heard while he was a miner in Angels Camp, California. This
short story made him famous around the world and was even translated into French. His funny writing and
speeches earned him praise from critics and other writers.
Mark Twain’s writing is known for its humor, strong storytelling, and vivid descriptions. He was a funny
writer, journalist, and novelist who became famous around the world for his unique writing style.

In his piece “Advice to Youth” written in 1882, Twain talks about how young people are being molded to fit
society’s expectations. He believes that these expectations are hiding their true selves. He uses this piece to
criticize the standards of society and the people in power who are shaping the young. In this “Advice”, he uses
sarcasm to make fun of these people. The essay is satirical, meaning it uses humor to criticize people or things.
Twain surprises the reader who might expect the piece to be another boring life lesson, by making it funny and
satirical. He uses suggestion, hints, and paradoxes (statements that seem to contradict themselves but may still
be true) to criticize the standards set by a society that only cares about itself, making us think deeply about
these issues.

Workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
(i) Mark Twain gave this advice:

Answer: (c) He delivered this lecture

(ii) Twain thinks about the young age:

Answer: (c) It is a crucial point

(iii) The young people should obey their parents

Answer: (c) when they are present

(iv) The young people avoid violence:

Answer: (d) Always

(v) The best thing to wake up the youth is a (an):

Answer: (a) lark

(vi) The author calls telling a lie:

Answer: (c) an art

(vii) The author says that the monument in Boston shows:

Answer: (d) a stolen discovery

(viii) The firearms are, many times, handled by:

Answer: (c) careless people

(ix) Which are the “most deadly and unerring things”?

Answer: (c) old unloaded firearms

(x) What types of books does the author recommend?

Answer: (d) religious

Logic-based questions
(i) The young people should obey their parents because _________

Answer: this is the best policy in the long run. If they don’t, their parents will make them.

(i) If a person offends the young people, their reaction should vary because _________

Answer: they should not resort to extreme measures. Instead, they should watch their chance and hit the
offender with a brick.

(ii) The young people should “always avoid violence” because _________

Answer: in this age of charity and kindliness, the time has gone by for such things. They should leave
dynamite to the low and unrefined.

(iv) “….. a lark is really the best thing to get up” because _________

Answer: it gives young people a splendid reputation with everybody to know that they get up with the lark.

(v) The author advises the youngsters to be very careful about lying because _________

Answer: they are nearly sure to get caught. Once caught, they can never again be in the eyes of the good and
the pure, what they were before.

(vi) There are certain qualities which can make the students perfect because _________
Answer: patience, diligence, and painstaking attention to detail are requirements that, in time, will make the
student perfect.

(vii) The author mentions the monument in Boston because _________

Answer: it represents a lie that has outlasted the truth.

(viii) The author calls lying an art because _________

Answer: it requires practice and experience to gain the confidence, elegance, and precision which alone can
make the accomplishment of lying graceful and profitable.

(ix) “Never handle firearms carelessly” because _________

Answer: the sorrow and suffering that have been caused through the innocent but heedless handling of
firearms by the young are immense.

(x) The author recommends certain books to the young people to study because _________

Answer: good books are a great, an inestimable, and unspeakable means of improvement. Therefore, young
people should be very careful in their selection and confine themselves exclusively to good ones like
Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, The Innocents Abroad, and works of that kind.

Short answer questions

1. Why has the author to give an advice to the youth?

Answer: The author, Mark Twain, was expected to give a talk suitable for youth, something didactic,
instructive, or something in the nature of good advice. He believed that it is in one’s tender early years that
such advice will best take root and be most enduring and most valuable.

2. What are the two different reactions to an offence faced by the youth?

Answer: According to the author, if a person offends a youth and they are in doubt as to whether it was
intentional or not, they should not resort to extreme measures. Instead, they should watch their chance and hit
the offender with a brick. If they find that the offender had not intended any offense, they should come out
frankly and confess that they were in the wrong when they struck him.

3. What are the author’s ideas on telling a lie? Is he justified? How?

Answer: The author advises the youth to be very careful about lying as they are nearly sure to get caught.
Once caught, they can never again be in the eyes of the good and the pure, what they were before. He believes
that the young ought to be temperate in the use of this great art until practice and experience shall give them
that confidence, elegance, and precision which alone can make the accomplishment graceful and profitable.

4. Which qualities are required to make the student perfect?

Answer: According to the author, patience, diligence, and painstaking attention to detail are the requirements
that will make the student perfect. These qualities, in time, will make the student perfect and they may rely on
these as the sure foundation for future eminence.

5. “A truth is not hard to kill and that a lie well told is immortal.” How?

Answer: The author suggests that a well-told lie can outlast the truth. He uses the example of a monument in
Boston dedicated to the man who supposedly discovered anesthesia, but in reality, this man stole the discovery
from another. Despite this truth, the lie told by the monument will outlast it for a million years. This suggests
that a well-crafted lie can become immortal, outliving the truth it was meant to hide.

6. Why does the author mention the monument in Boston?

Answer: The author mentions the monument in Boston to illustrate the power of a well-told lie. He uses the
example of the monument dedicated to the man who supposedly discovered anesthesia, but who, in reality,
stole the discovery from someone else. Despite this, the lie of his discovery has outlasted the monument itself,
demonstrating how a lie can become “immortal” if it’s told well enough.

7. What are the author’s views on handling firearms?

Answer: The author’s views on handling firearms are that they should never be handled carelessly, especially
by the young. He uses a story of a young boy who, thinking a gun was unloaded, pointed it at his grandmother
and pulled the trigger. Although no harm was done, the author uses this story to emphasize the potential
dangers and sorrows that can come from the heedless handling of firearms.

8. For what purpose does the author mention the grandmother’s incident?

Answer: The author mentions the grandmother’s incident to emphasize the dangers of handling firearms
carelessly. He uses this story to illustrate the potential harm that can come from such actions, even if the
firearm is believed to be unloaded.

9. Towards the end of the essay the author gives a moral advice, which advice does he give? Why?

Answer: Towards the end of the essay, the author advises the young to be careful in their selection of books.
He emphasizes that good books are an invaluable means of improvement and advises the young to confine
themselves to certain types of books, such as Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, and The Innocents
Abroad.
10. Is the essay an advice or a satire? Justify your answer.

Answer: The essay can be seen as both an advice and a satire. While the author does provide advice to the
youth on various topics such as obeying parents, avoiding violence, and being careful about lying, the manner
in which he presents this advice is often satirical. For example, he suggests hitting someone with a brick if they
offend you, and then confessing if it turns out they didn’t mean to offend. This satirical tone is used throughout
the essay, making it both a piece of advice and a satire.

Long answer questions

1. Which are the main virtues about which the author advises the young people?

Answer: The main virtues that the author advises the young people about include obedience to parents, respect
for superiors and strangers, avoidance of violence, truthfulness, and careful handling of firearms. He also
advises them to go to bed early and wake up early, to be careful in their selection of books, and to be patient,
diligent, and pay painstaking attention to detail. He emphasizes the importance of these virtues in building
one’s character and achieving future eminence.

2. Discuss the main literary devices used by the author in this essay. (These devices are irony, satire,
parallalism etc.)

Answer: The author uses several literary devices in this essay. Irony is used when he advises the youth to
always obey their parents when they are present, implying that they need not do so when their parents are not
around. Satire is evident throughout the essay, as the author humorously critiques various aspects of society
and human behavior. For example, he satirizes the reverence for truth by pointing out how a well-told lie can
become immortal. Parallelism is used in sentences like “Patience, diligence, painstaking attention to detail–
these are requirements; these in time, will make the student perfect; upon these only, may he rely as the sure
foundation for future eminence.”

3. Which are the main qualities which are required to be a perfect student?

Answer: The main qualities required to be a perfect student, according to the author, are patience, diligence,
and painstaking attention to detail. These qualities, in time, will make the student perfect and they may rely on
these as the sure foundation for future eminence. The author emphasizes that these qualities are necessary for
the practice of the “gracious and beautiful art” of lying, which he humorously presents as a necessary skill for
navigating life.

4. The author was asked to say something, “didactic, instructive or something in the nature of good
advice.” Do you think the author follows the advice?

Answer: Yes, the author does follow the advice, but in a satirical and humorous way. He provides advice on
various topics such as obeying parents, avoiding violence, and being careful about lying. However, the manner
in which he presents this advice is often satirical and humorous, which adds a layer of entertainment and
thought-provoking commentary to the didactic and instructive nature of the essay.
5. Which are the habits the author urges the youth do avoid? Why?

Answer: The author urges the youth to avoid lying, violence, and careless handling of firearms. He advises
against lying because once caught, a person can never again be in the eyes of the good and the pure, what they
were before. He advises against violence because in this age of charity and kindliness, the time has gone by for
such things. He advises against careless handling of firearms because of the sorrow and suffering that have
been caused through the innocent but heedless handling of firearms by the young.

Additional questions and answers

1. What is the advice Mark Twain gives about obeying parents?

Answer: The advice Mark Twain gives about obeying parents is to always obey them when they are present.
He suggests that this is the best policy in the long run because if you don’t, they will make you. He also
humorously suggests that most parents think they know better than you do, and you can generally benefit more
by humoring that belief than you can by acting on your own better judgment.

2. How does Twain suggest dealing with someone who offends you?

Answer: Twain suggests dealing with someone who offends you by not resorting to extreme measures
immediately. Instead, he humorously advises to simply wait for your chance and hit the offender with a brick.
If you find out that the person had not intended any offense, Twain advises to come out frankly, admit your
mistake, and say you didn’t mean to hit them. He emphasizes avoiding violence and leaves extreme measures
to those he considers low and unrefined.

3. What is Twain’s humorous advice about waking up early?

Answer: Twain’s humorous advice about waking up early is to get up with a lark. He suggests that it gives
you a splendid reputation with everybody to know that you get up with the lark. However, he humorously adds
that if you get the right kind of lark and train it right, you can easily make it get up at half past nine every time,
implying that you don’t really have to wake up that early.

4. What does Twain say about lying and its consequences?

Answer: Twain advises to be very careful about lying because you are nearly sure to get caught. Once caught,
you can never again be seen as good and pure as you were before. He suggests that many young people have
permanently harmed themselves through a single clumsy and poorly executed lie, the result of carelessness
born of incomplete training. He humorously suggests that while some people believe young people should not
lie at all, he believes that young people should be moderate in their use of this “great art” until practice and
experience give them the confidence, elegance, and precision that can make the act of lying graceful and
profitable.

5. How does Twain describe a well-told lie?

Answer: Twain describes a well-told lie as immortal, suggesting that a truth is not hard to kill, and a lie that is
well told can live forever. He humorously points out that an awkward, feeble, leaky lie should be avoided as it
has no more real permanence than an average truth. He suggests that a feeble, stupid, preposterous lie will not
live two years unless it is a slander upon somebody. He concludes by encouraging the practice of this
“gracious and beautiful art” early on.

6. What story does Twain tell about handling firearms?

Answer: Twain tells a story about a young boy who found an old, rusty gun that hadn’t been used for many
years and was thought to be unloaded. The boy pointed the gun at his grandmother, who was terrified and ran
away. The boy pulled the trigger, but fortunately, the gun was indeed unloaded, so no harm was done. This
story is used to illustrate the dangers of carelessly handling firearms, especially those thought to be unloaded.

7. What does Twain suggest about the danger of unloaded firearms?

Answer: Twain suggests that unloaded firearms are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. He humorously
states that they are the most deadly and unerring things created by man. He warns that you don’t need to aim or
even have a rest to hit your target with an unloaded firearm. He emphasizes that even a youth who can’t hit a
large target with a powerful gun can easily hit a relative with an old, supposedly unloaded musket.

8. What types of books does Twain recommend for young people to read?

Answer: Twain recommends that young people read good books, which he describes as a great and
inestimable means of improvement. He advises young people to be very careful in their selection of books and
suggests they confine themselves to works like Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, and The Innocents
Abroad.

9. How does Twain conclude his advice to the youth?

Answer: Twain concludes his advice to the youth by encouraging them to treasure up the instructions he has
given and use them as a guide. He suggests that they should build their character thoughtfully and
painstakingly upon these precepts. He ends with a humorous note saying that once they have built their
character, they will be surprised and gratified to see how nicely and sharply it resembles everybody else’s.

10. How does Twain use humor in his advice about obeying parents?

Answer: Twain uses humor in his advice about obeying parents by suggesting that youth should always obey
their parents when they are present. He humorously states that this is the best policy in the long run because if
they don’t, their parents will make them. He also adds that most parents think they know better than their
children do, and one can generally gain more by humoring this belief than by acting on their own better
judgment.

11. What is the tone of Twain’s essay?

Answer: The tone of Twain’s essay is humorous and satirical. He uses irony and exaggeration to mock
conventional wisdom and societal norms, while also providing his own unique perspective on various topics.
His tone is also somewhat didactic, as he is providing advice to the youth, albeit in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

12. How does Twain use satire in his advice about dealing with offense?

Answer: Twain uses satire in his advice about dealing with offense by suggesting an exaggerated response. He
advises that if a person offends you and you are unsure if it was intentional, you should not resort to extreme
measures; instead, you should simply wait for your chance and hit them with a brick. He then adds that if you
find out that the person had not intended any offense, you should confess that you were wrong to strike them,
acknowledge it like a man, and say you didn’t mean to.

13. What is the significance of the story about the boy and his grandmother in Twain’s advice?

Answer: The story about the boy and his grandmother in Twain’s advice is significant as it serves as a satirical
cautionary tale about the dangers of carelessness, particularly with firearms. Twain humorously describes a
situation where a boy points an old, supposedly unloaded gun at his grandmother, causing her great fright.
However, the gun was indeed not loaded, and no harm was done. Twain uses this story to emphasize his point
that even unloaded firearms can be dangerous due to the fear and panic they can cause. He concludes by
advising the youth not to meddle with old unloaded firearms, stating that they are the most deadly and unerring
things ever created by man.

14. How does Twain use irony in his advice about lying?

Answer: Twain uses irony in his advice about lying by suggesting that lying is an art that requires practice and
experience. He ironically states that one should be careful about lying because they are nearly sure to get
caught. He also suggests that a well-told lie is immortal, and that a truth is not hard to kill, which is a reversal
of the common wisdom that truth will always prevail. He further states that a feeble, stupid, preposterous lie
will not live two years, except if it’s a slander upon somebody, then it’s indestructible.

15. What is Twain’s advice about the practice of lying?

Answer: Twain’s advice about the practice of lying is presented with a sense of irony and humor. He suggests
that lying is an art that requires practice and experience to be done gracefully and profitably. He advises the
youth to be very careful about lying because they are nearly sure to get caught. Once caught, they can never
again be in the eyes of the good and the pure, what they were before. He also suggests that a well-told lie is
immortal, and that a truth is not hard to kill. He further states that an awkward, feeble, leaky lie should be
avoided as it has no more real permanence than an average truth. He concludes by advising the youth to begin
their practice of this “gracious and beautiful art” early.

16. How does Twain use humor in his advice about waking up early?

Answer: Twain uses humor in his advice about waking up early by suggesting that the best thing to get up
with is a lark. He humorously states that it gives you a splendid reputation with everybody to know that you
get up with the lark. He then adds that if you get the right kind of lark and work at it right, you can easily train
it to get up at half past nine, every time, implying that waking up early is not necessarily as early as dawn, but
rather a relative concept that can be adjusted to one’s convenience.

17. What does Twain mean when he says a well-told lie is immortal?

Answer: When Twain says a well-told lie is immortal, he is using irony to highlight the power and endurance
of a well-crafted lie. He suggests that a lie, if told well, can outlive truths and even become accepted as truth
itself. He uses the example of a monument in Boston dedicated to the man who supposedly discovered
anesthesia, stating that many people are now aware that the man didn’t discover it at all but stole the discovery
from another man. Despite this, the lie perpetuated by the monument will outlast the monument itself by a
million years.

18. How does Twain use humor in his advice about reading books?

Answer: Twain uses humor in his advice about reading books by suggesting that the young should confine
themselves exclusively to certain types of books for their improvement. He humorously lists Robertson’s
Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, and The Innocents Abroad as examples of the kind of books they should read.
The humor lies in the fact that The Innocents Abroad is one of Twain’s own works, known for its satirical and
humorous content, which contrasts with the serious religious works he mentions alongside it.

19. What does Twain suggest about the nature of truth and lies?

Answer: Twain suggests that the nature of truth and lies is such that a truth is not hard to kill, and a well-told
lie can become immortal. He implies that lies, if told well and convincingly, can outlive truths and become
accepted as truth. He uses the example of a monument in Boston dedicated to the man who supposedly
discovered anesthesia, stating that many people are now aware that the man didn’t discover it at all but stole
the discovery from another man. Despite this, the lie perpetuated by the monument will outlast the monument
itself by a million years. This suggests that lies can have a lasting impact and can even replace the truth in
people’s minds.

20. What does Twain mean when he says a character built upon his precepts will resemble everybody
else’s?

Answer: When Twain says a character built upon his precepts will resemble everybody else’s, he is using
irony to suggest that if one follows his advice, their character will be no different from the average person’s.
This is because his advice, while presented as unique and insightful, is actually filled with common sense and
conventional wisdom, albeit presented in a humorous and satirical manner.

21. How does Mark Twain use satire and humor to convey his advice in “Advice to Youth”?

Answer: Mark Twain uses satire and humor throughout his essay “Advice to Youth” to convey his advice in a
manner that is engaging and entertaining, while also thought-provoking. He uses irony and exaggeration to
satirize conventional wisdom and societal norms. For instance, he advises the youth to always obey their
parents when they are present, implying that obedience is not necessary when the parents are not around. He
also humorously advises the youth to hit someone with a brick if they offend them, and then confess if they
find out the offense was not intentional.
Twain’s advice about waking up early is also filled with humor. He suggests that one should get up with the
lark, and if they get the right kind of lark, they can train it to get up at half past nine, which is a satirical take on
the common advice to wake up early.

In his advice about lying, Twain humorously suggests that the young should be careful about lying because
they are nearly sure to get caught. He also ironically states that a well-told lie is immortal, suggesting that lies
can have a lasting impact and can even replace the truth in people’s minds.

In his advice about reading books, Twain humorously suggests that the young should confine themselves
exclusively to certain types of books for their improvement, including one of his own works known for its
satirical and humorous content.

22. What is the underlying message in Twain’s advice about obeying parents?

Answer: The underlying message in Twain’s advice about obeying parents is that it’s often more beneficial to
humor their beliefs and expectations, even if you disagree with them. Twain suggests that parents often believe
they know better than their children, and by obeying them, especially when they are present, you can avoid
unnecessary conflicts. This advice is given with a touch of humor and irony, as Twain is subtly critiquing the
notion that parents always know best.

23. In what ways does Twain challenge conventional wisdom in his advice about waking up early?

Answer: Twain challenges the conventional wisdom of waking up early by humorously suggesting that one
should get up with the lark, a bird known for its early morning song. However, he adds that if you train the
right kind of lark properly, you can have it wake up at half past nine every time, which is considerably later
than the traditional early morning wake-up time. This advice is a satirical critique of the societal expectation of
waking up early, suggesting that it’s more important to maintain a good reputation than to strictly adhere to the
norm.

24. How does Twain’s perspective on lying reflect his views on honesty and integrity?

Answer: Twain’s perspective on lying is presented with a great deal of irony and humor. He suggests that
lying is an art that requires practice and experience to be done gracefully and profitably. He also implies that a
well-told lie can be more enduring than an average truth. However, he warns against clumsy and ill-finished
lies, suggesting that once caught lying, a person’s reputation can be permanently damaged. This reflects his
view that while honesty and integrity are important, they are often at odds with societal practices and
expectations.

25. How does Twain use irony to critique societal standards and expectations in “Advice to Youth”?

Answer: Twain uses irony to critique societal standards and expectations by giving advice that appears to
uphold these standards on the surface, but upon closer examination, actually challenges them. For instance, he
advises the youth to always obey their parents when they are present, implying that obedience is not necessary
when they are not around. Similarly, his advice about waking up with the lark, but training the lark to wake up
at half past nine, is a subtle critique of the societal expectation of waking up early.
26. How does Twain use humor and satire to critique societal norms and expectations in “Advice to
Youth”?

Answer: Twain uses humor and satire to critique societal norms and expectations by presenting them in a way
that highlights their absurdity or contradiction. His advice about obeying parents only when they are present,
waking up with the lark at half past nine, and the artful practice of lying all serve to humorously challenge the
conventional wisdom of his time. His satirical approach encourages the reader to question these societal norms
and expectations rather than accepting them at face value.

Additional MCQs
1. According to Twain, what is the best policy in the long run when it comes to obeying parents?

A. Always obey your parents, even when they are not present. B. Always obey your parents, when they are
present. C. Never obey your parents. D. Obey your parents only when they ask you to do something you agree
with.

Answer: B. Always obey your parents, when they are present.

2. What does Twain suggest you do if a person offends you and you are unsure if it was intentional?

A. Ignore them. B. Ask them if they intended to offend you. C. Resort to extreme measures. D. Watch your
chance and hit them with a brick.

Answer: D. Watch your chance and hit them with a brick.

3. According to Twain, what is the best thing to get up with?

A. The sun. B. An alarm clock. C. A rooster. D. A lark.

Answer: D. A lark.

4. What does Twain suggest about the nature of truth and lies?

A. A truth is hard to kill, and a well-told lie is mortal. B. A truth is not hard to kill, and a well-told lie is
immortal. C. Both truth and lies are equally hard to kill. D. Both truth and lies are equally immortal.

Answer: B. A truth is not hard to kill, and a well-told lie is immortal.

5. According to Twain, what are the most deadly and unerring things that have ever been created by
man?
A. Dynamite. B. Swords. C. Old unloaded firearms. D. Lies.

Answer: C. Old unloaded firearms.

6. What does Twain suggest about the nature of a well-told lie?

A. It is easy to detect. B. It is immortal. C. It is always harmful. D. It is always beneficial.

Answer: B. It is immortal.

7. According to Twain, what should you do if you find out that the person you hit with a brick had not
intended any offense?

A. Apologize to them. B. Hit them with a brick again. C. Ignore them. D. Ask them to hit you with a brick.

Answer: A. Apologize to them.

8. What does Twain suggest about the practice of lying?

A. It should be avoided at all costs. B. It is an art that requires practice and experience. C. It is always wrong.
D. It is always right.

Answer: B. It is an art that requires practice and experience.

9. According to Twain, what kind of books should the young read?

A. Any kind of books. B. Only books that are entertaining. C. Only books that are educational. D. Good ones
that are a great, an inestimable, and unspeakable means of improvement.

Answer: D. Good ones that are a great, an inestimable, and unspeakable means of improvement.

10. What does Twain mean when he says a character built upon his precepts will resemble everybody
else’s?

A. If you follow his advice, your character will be unique. B. If you follow his advice, your character will be
no different from the average person’s. C. If you follow his advice, your character will be better than
everybody else’s. D. If you follow his advice, your character will be worse than everybody else’s.

Answer: B. If you follow his advice, your character will be no different from the average person’s.

11. What does Twain suggest about the handling of firearms?

A. They should be handled carelessly. B. They should never be handled. C. They should be handled with care.
D. They should be handled only by adults.

Answer: C. They should be handled with care.

12. According to Twain, what is the result of a clumsy and ill-finished lie?

A. It can damage a person’s reputation permanently. B. It can improve a person’s reputation. C. It can make a
person more popular. D. It can make a person more trustworthy.

Answer: A. It can damage a person’s reputation permanently.

13. What does Twain suggest about the practice of lying?

A. It should be started early. B. It should be avoided until adulthood. C. It should be practiced only by adults.
D. It should never be started.

Answer: A. It should be started early.

14. According to Twain, what kind of books should the young confine themselves to?

A. Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, The Innocents Abroad, and works of that kind. B. Only
entertaining books. C. Only educational books. D. Any kind of books.

Answer: A. Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, The Innocents Abroad, and works of that kind.

15. According to Twain, what will happen if you build your character thoughtfully and painstakingly
upon his precepts?

A. You will be surprised and gratified to see how nicely and sharply it resembles everybody else’s. B. You will
be disappointed to see how different it is from everybody else’s. C. You will be surprised to see how unique it
is. D. You will be gratified to see how better it is than everybody else’s.

Answer: A. You will be surprised and gratified to see how nicely and sharply it resembles everybody else’s.

Fill in the blanks

1. According to Twain, always obey your parents, when they are _______.

Answer: present.
2. If a person offends you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, simply watch
your chance and hit him with a _______.

Answer: brick.

3. According to Twain, the best thing to get up with is a _______.

Answer: lark.

4. Twain suggests that a truth is not hard to kill, and a well-told lie is ______.

Answer: immortal.

5. According to Twain, the most deadly and unerring things that have ever been created by man are old
unloaded _______.

Answer: firearms.

6. A youth who can’t hit a cathedral at thirty yards with a Gatling gun in three quarters of an hour, can
take up an old empty musket and bag his _______ every time, at a hundred.

Answer: grandmother.

7. According to Twain, there are many sorts of books; but _______ ones are the sort for the young to
read.

Answer: good.

8. Twain suggests that you want to be very careful about _______; otherwise you are nearly sure to get
caught.

Answer: lying.

9. According to Twain, if you build your character thoughtfully and painstakingly upon his precepts,
you will be surprised and gratified to see how nicely and sharply it resembles _______ else’s.

Answer: everybody.

10. Twain suggests that a clumsy and ill finished lie, the result of carelessness born of incomplete
training, can injure oneself _______.
Answer: permanently.

11. Twain suggests that a feeble, stupid, preposterous lie will not live two years–except it be a slander
upon _______.

Answer: somebody.

12. According to Twain, never handle _______ carelessly.

Answer: firearms.

13. Twain suggests that if you get the right kind of lark, and work at him right, you can easily train him
to get up at half past _______, every time.

Answer: nine.

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